Sort of a slow day here on the forum, so thought I would post something a little out of the ordinary. As the military started running out of the Colt Pocket Hammerless pistols in .32 and .380 ACP they began a search a new General Officers pistol. The National Match program was winding down with only Rock Island Arsenal still producing the NM pistols, and not wanting to lose their qualified pistol smiths, Rock Island requested that they be allowed to build the new GO pistol. The new pistol was a standard 1911A1 pistol with .75 inch cut off the slide. All the military marking were removed, and the new GO markings were put on.
This pistol was issued to Brigadier General Walter C. Cousland upon his attaining the rank of General. At the time he reached the rank of BG he was stationed in Hawaii, and the shipping address was Schofield Barrracks, Hawaii.
General Cousland was a Colonel in the 1st Air Cav during the Vietnam, and was highly decorated. It appears that General Cousland retired early, and only lived a few years after retirement. The belt had never been unfolded or had the buckle attached. Also, he had not had his name and rank engraved in the grip.
The family had retained all the paperwork where General Cousland was awarded the pistol, and the paperwork transferring it to him when he retired. Even though the pistols were presented to GO's, they were not the property of the General unless purchased from the government upon their retirement from the military.
The pistol came with a GO designated belt and buckle, holster, magazine pocket, and three magazines numbered to the pistol.
This pistol was issued to Brigadier General Walter C. Cousland upon his attaining the rank of General. At the time he reached the rank of BG he was stationed in Hawaii, and the shipping address was Schofield Barrracks, Hawaii.
General Cousland was a Colonel in the 1st Air Cav during the Vietnam, and was highly decorated. It appears that General Cousland retired early, and only lived a few years after retirement. The belt had never been unfolded or had the buckle attached. Also, he had not had his name and rank engraved in the grip.
The family had retained all the paperwork where General Cousland was awarded the pistol, and the paperwork transferring it to him when he retired. Even though the pistols were presented to GO's, they were not the property of the General unless purchased from the government upon their retirement from the military.
The pistol came with a GO designated belt and buckle, holster, magazine pocket, and three magazines numbered to the pistol.
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