Still bored and tired of being locked up at home, but looking on the bright side, this time has allowed me to get caught up on some picture taking and posting which I have always put off. So today I have an interesting Colt 1911 and wanted to throw it out for comments/thoughts. First the back story - this came out of New Hampshire and the seller had no history on it whatsoever. I bought the rig for the pistol itself as the holster has seen it's better days. When I got it, I found a name written on the inside of the flap (no mention of this name was made before hand). It is tough to figure out exactly other than this person was a Lieutenant in the Army, but after doing internet searches of possible names, I got a 'hit' with H.E. Tingley. Upon further research, it turns out that there was an H.E. (Harold Elliott) Tingley who was from Cambridge, Mass (graduated Harvard Dental School). He was commissioned as a Lieutenant in Sept of 1917 and served in France during the war and later in Germany as part of the occupation forces as a dentist. He later worked at Harvard in the capacity of Dentist (Harvard Dental School).
To me, it is a high probability that this is his gun. Here are the facts:
1. Gun came from New England, which corresponds to where he came from and lived after the war.
2. The gun was made in 1917, which corresponds to when he entered the service, was commissioned and went overseas.
3. It displays wear, but nothing that would correspond to the rigors of having been carried in combat. (i.e., it was likely carried by a rear echelon officer such as a dentist rather than an infantryman)
4. The initials "H.E." are prominently penned in, so at least the first/middle initials match.
5. The solider was a Lieutenant in the US Army - the same as Tingley
Holster is a bit rough, but it is what it is. Came with kind of a cool inner liner made from what appears to be a Kersey lining or blanket material.
Anyway, it is a bit of supposition on my part, but I think I have compiled a reasonable case to call this pistol as having been carried by H.E. Tingley. I would love to get others' thoughts and opinions. Thanks in advance.
To me, it is a high probability that this is his gun. Here are the facts:
1. Gun came from New England, which corresponds to where he came from and lived after the war.
2. The gun was made in 1917, which corresponds to when he entered the service, was commissioned and went overseas.
3. It displays wear, but nothing that would correspond to the rigors of having been carried in combat. (i.e., it was likely carried by a rear echelon officer such as a dentist rather than an infantryman)
4. The initials "H.E." are prominently penned in, so at least the first/middle initials match.
5. The solider was a Lieutenant in the US Army - the same as Tingley
Holster is a bit rough, but it is what it is. Came with kind of a cool inner liner made from what appears to be a Kersey lining or blanket material.
Anyway, it is a bit of supposition on my part, but I think I have compiled a reasonable case to call this pistol as having been carried by H.E. Tingley. I would love to get others' thoughts and opinions. Thanks in advance.