The rarest Navy issued Victory Models may be the 50 or so that were shipped by Smith directly to the Coast Guard. The guns have Navy marks but will letter as shipped to the Coast Guard at Yorktown Virginia for PSUs. As late as 1983 some of these guns were still on duty at MSO Miami. An old CO was allowed to purchase one when he retired. He got the letter and I think they were shipped before June 42.

This information always puzzled me. I had several relative sever with as PSUs (Port Security Units) before the duty was turned over to the reserves. There was such a shortage of guns that my grandfather was allowed to supply his own 1911. From 12/7/1941 until he went overseas 11/1942 he carried my great grandfather’s WWI 1911 (not A1). We still have that gun.