*EXTRAORDINARILY RARE PROTOTYPE GEORGE WILSON SEMI-AUTO TARGET PISTOL.

Revised: 3/14/2009

Correction to Printed Catalogue: This item is a modern firearm.

*EXTRAORDINARILY RARE PROTOTYPE GEORGE WILSON SEMI-AUTO TARGET PISTOL. SN GAW3. Cal. 45 ACP. Extraordinary pistol, hand built by George A. Wilson of Pennsylvania back in the 1960’s. Mr. Wilson, a designer for High Standard, designed & patented this pistol and was granted a patent in 1961. He had actually built SN 1 back in 1959, which he used to win an NRA tournament. He subsequently built SN’s 2 & 3 which he apparently sold to the late well known collector, Sydney Aberman of Pittsburgh, PA. When Mr. Aberman passed away in 1993 well known handgun & military dealer, David Buehn, acquired SN’s 2 & 3 with Mr. Wilson having retained SN 1. There apparently was correspondence between Mr. Wilson and Mr. Robert Loveless, the legendary knife maker, after Mr. Loveless had acquired SN 1 and was trying to buy SN’s 2 & 3. In a hand written letter from Mr. Buehn, dated 1995 to the consignor he states that he took SN 3 to the Las Vegas Gun Show where it was noticed by a friend of Mr. Loveless who subsequently called & purchased it from Mr. Buehn but later returned it for a refund due to personal circumstances. Consignor purchased SN 3 from Mr. Buehn in 1995. Buehn’s letter and catalog is included with the lot. This unusual pistol is described as having a 5-3/4″ bbl with a heavy forward slide, tapered on front edges with grasping grooves, which slides into internal rails in the upper rear frame. It has a front sight similar to a Luger with rectangular base containing a thick partridge blade pinned in place with two pins. Rear sight is adjustable for windage & elevation. Frame is an engineering marvel with an unusual locking block that cams into the lower part of the slide when the pistol is in battery, creating a sort of delayed blow back operation. Left side of the frame has a short slide release. Grip is set at an ergonomic angle of the approx. same degree as High Standard & Colt Woodsman pistols and the renowned Luger pistol. It has an integral trigger guard with thin flat trigger and 1-pc wraparound, highly figured walnut grip with checkered back edge. Front strap is beautifully hand checkered. Magazine release is European style, in the butt. Magazine is similar to and appears to be made from a 1911-style magazine with thick Teflon follower leaving room for only about 5-rds. Each side of the front of the slide is marked “MATCH .45 ACP” with a bull’s eye target in the middle. Top right flat is marked “GEORGE A. WILSON / MEDIA, PENN., U.S.A.” and the left top flat is marked “PATENTED MAR. 21, 1961 / NO. 2, 975, 680”. The serial number “GAW3” is on top of the slide & right side of the frame with just the number “3” on bottom of the frame in front of the trigger guard. This is an extraordinarily rare & historic target pistol, probably still capable of winning iron sight matches. PROVENANCE: George A. Wilson; Syd Aberman Collection; Robert Loveless; David Buehn CONDITION: Extremely fine plus, appears to be all matching, no disassembly was attempted to verify matching parts. Overall retains 99%+ fine orig finish. Grip is sound and retains about all of its fine hand rubbed oil finish. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. 4-38069 JR294 (10,000-15,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2009

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1284	$10,350.00	Revised: 3/14/2009 Correction to Printed Catalogue: This item is a modern firearm. EXTRAORDINARILY RARE PROTOTYPE GEORGE WILSON SEMI-AUTO TARGET PISTOL. SN GAW3. Cal. 45 ACP. Extraordinary pistol, hand built by George A. Wilson of Pennsylvania back in the 1960’s. Mr. Wilson, a designer for High Standard, designed & patented this pistol and was granted a patent in 1961. He had actually built SN 1 back in 1959, which he used to win an NRA tournament. He subsequently built SN’s 2 & 3 which he apparently sold to the late well known collector, Sydney Aberman of Pittsburgh, PA. When Mr. Aberman passed away in 1993 well known handgun & military dealer, David Buehn, acquired SN’s 2 & 3 with Mr. Wilson having retained SN 1. There apparently was correspondence between Mr. Wilson and Mr. Robert Loveless, the legendary knife maker, after Mr. Loveless had acquired SN 1 and was trying to buy SN’s 2 & 3. In a hand written letter from Mr. Buehn, dated 1995 to the consignor he states that he took SN 3 to the Las Vegas Gun Show where it was noticed by a friend of Mr. Loveless who subsequently called & purchased it from Mr. Buehn but later returned it for a refund due to personal circumstances. Consignor purchased SN 3 from Mr. Buehn in 1995. Buehn’s letter and catalog is included with the lot. This unusual pistol is described as having a 5-3/4″ bbl with a heavy forward slide, tapered on front edges with grasping grooves, which slides into internal rails in the upper rear frame. It has a front sight similar to a Luger with rectangular base containing a thick partridge blade pinned in place with two pins. Rear sight is adjustable for windage & elevation. Frame is an engineering marvel with an unusual locking block that cams into the lower part of the slide when the pistol is in battery, creating a sort of delayed blow back operation. Left side of the frame has a short slide release. Grip is set at an ergonomic angle of the approx. same degree as High Standard & Colt Woodsman pistols and the renowned Luger pistol. It has an integral trigger guard with thin flat trigger and 1-pc wraparound, highly figured walnut grip with checkered back edge. Front strap is beautifully hand checkered. Magazine release is European style, in the butt. Magazine is similar to and appears to be made from a 1911-style magazine with thick Teflon follower leaving room for only about 5-rds. Each side of the front of the slide is marked “MATCH .45 ACP” with a bull’s eye target in the middle. Top right flat is marked “GEORGE A. WILSON / MEDIA, PENN., U.S.A.” and the left top flat is marked “PATENTED MAR. 21, 1961 / NO. 2, 975, 680”. The serial number “GAW3” is on top of the slide & right side of the frame with just the number “3” on bottom of the frame in front of the trigger guard. This is an extraordinarily rare & historic target pistol, probably still capable of winning iron sight matches. PROVENANCE: George A. Wilson; Syd Aberman Collection; Robert Loveless; David Buehn CONDITION: Extremely fine plus, appears to be all matching, no disassembly was attempted to verify matching parts. Overall retains 99%+ fine orig finish. Grip is sound and retains about all of its fine hand rubbed oil finish. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. 4-38069 JR294 (10,000-15,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2009 Please Note:* All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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