1911A1 with an interesting history UPDATE Pistol returned to Bealke family! Post #25

[Saigon1965]

I like it!

A lot of pistols coming home from Vietnam was "done up" -

There was several plating shops in Saigon that was the go to shop for chrome plating -

Too bad this is not a VN piece or I'd be trying to peel it out of your hands Jim -

Cheers!

[Michael K]

This must have been one of Mahrholdt's last jobs before they went out of business. I think they would have done a neater job stamping the numbers and not used pyroxylin-like material for the grips which shrinks. I can't understand why they couldn't hire a US gunsmith to do this.

I feel the same way as when somebody at the Cow Palace showed me a uniform with Charlemagne cuffbands.

No disrespect to the colonel but I am unable to believe his story although he probably did actually own the gun, and "General" Colarusso might actually have been a general.

[cannon]

Lots of 1911's the left the service by the back door were scrubbed of their military markings.

[SVT-40]

This pistol always gets interesting comments. LOL. Some of them are pretty entertaining.

It is simply a US service pistol which has been refinished and re-numbered. Why the slide was marked "Browning Armes Belgium" I have no idea....

Based on the proof marking near the trigger guard, I'm surprised no one has determined who the original US contractor was who made this pistol...

[seabee1]

Based on the proof marking near the trigger guard, I'm surprised no one has determined who the original US contractor was who made this pistol...

I have no idea, but if you tell us it's a US&S, I'm gonna cry. If it's a Singer...

I did some looking on the web, Remington Rand. still a shame it's got hardly any of it's original character remaining

[SVT-40]

I have no idea, but if you tell us it's a US&S, I'm gonna cry. If it's a Singer...

I did some looking on the web, Remington Rand. still a shame it's got hardly any of it's original character remaining

You got it correct. A Remington Rand...

As to "Character"... Well it's been changed. Remember back 60 plus years ago these pistols were very common and not real collectable.

In addition many surplus firearms were "customized" by their owners. Those were the days of "bubba" and almost everyone was into "sporterizing" and customizing.

[Cato]

Something about it doesn't pass the smell test.

...and how!

Red Flags:

- suspicious serial number
- holster wear seems "un natural"
- why would a retired officer (with an O pension) sell his side arm - one that he carried for 36 years!

and let me add, the "letter of authenticity" isn't written according to military correspondence style. The General would be very familiar with the format.

[smle-man]

FN was contracted by the U.S. Army to overhaul a very large quantity of small arms held by the services in western Europe at the end of WW2. It put FN back into business. Perhaps the slide dates from that program?

[seabee1]

Let's see an enlisted guy try this....would still be locked up, or die in prison

[SVT-40]

interesting update on this pistol. A few weeks ago I was contacted by Karl Bealke the son of the original owner Col Fred Bealke.

Karl had been doing some internet research on his Father and came across this thread.



Here is one of his emails about his father.

"
Karl Beale
Tue, Apr 9, 5:35 PM (2 days ago)
to me

Jim, I’m so grateful. I’m planning a trip to my dad’s Camp Currahee Military Museum in Toccoa, GA tomorrow to meet with the curator. I have several of my dad’s things I’m going to donate. Dad was in the original 506th Paratroop Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Easy Company, 101st Airborne Band of Brothers. The museum is excited to get some of his stuff specific to his time in the 506th (post cards, mess hall menu, field manuals, newspaper clippings, etc.). The museum was only started in 2005 but thanks to the popularity of the TV series it’s really something.
Obviously I’m keeping all of my dad’s photos, medals and the like but I think it’s great to perpetuate their memory and help educate future generations about our dad’s’ generation and their commitment to our country.
I’ll keep you posted."




I'm very happy that this bit of Bealke family history will be returning to it's proper place.

Thanks also to EBR works who shipped the pistol to Georgia and helped save the Bealke family some money for shipping. Also to Cherokee Gun & Pawn in Canton GA. who, after hearing this story will do the transfer free of charge.

[drunktank]

Thanks for that update SVT. Really cool story.

[CWL]

Good story and great to know it has been returned to the family!

So he was a corporal in WWII when he dropped into Normandy with the 101st and retired a colonel after 36 years of service. I'm not at all surprised to see that it has been "pimped" to the tastes and fashion of the past.

[E Michael]

Nice read, thank you.

[redcliff]

I commend you for getting this pistol back to the family! Well done sir!

[Dvrjon]

...Interesting story, but I’m completely confused as to why the corporal (presuming that’s his hand-tinted picture) has a Lieutenant Colonel’s silver oak leaf on his brain bucket.. that’s a LOT of battlefield commissions...

Regardless, good on you for re-uniting the weapon with the family.

.