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This Colt 1903 Pocket auto pistol was presented to U.S. Military Academy cadet Clark Porter Chandler II on the occasion of his graduation from West Point, U.S.M.A. class of 1960, by classmates of his father, Col. William E Chandler, U.S.M.A. class of 1931.
The left grip has a very neatly inlaid silver presentation plaque which reads: "Clark P Chandler/With Affection and Pride/From His Father's Classmates/1931-1960". The markings remain crisp with the "U.S. Property" marking slightly light along its center, however the pistol is clearly unmolested with raised metal around the appropriate stampings, an additional "C.P.C." very neatly stamped just behind the serial number and the ordnance acceptance punch-dot is present on the left side of the trigger guard root.
Clark Porter Chandler II was born in 1937 at Fort Riley Kansas and was a third-generation West-pointer. He was admitted to West Point with a congressional appointment from Sen. Norris Cotton of New Hampshire and was by all accounts an excellent student.
This pistol was presented in May 1960, 2nd Lieut. Chandler would die tragically in an automobile accident at Fort Knox Kentucky just over a month later on June 16 of 1960; his father Col. William Chandler being the Deputy Assistant Commandant of the U.S. Army Armor School at Fort Knox.
The pistol is listed by serial number in Springfield Research Service volume 4 as being presented to C.P. Chandler, U.S.M.A., May 9 of 1960. Included with the pistol is a signed statement by a William Chandler, mentioning the presentation and that the firearm has been in the family since it was awarded in 1960 and to his knowledge has never been fired, a copy of the SRS page listing the pistol by serial number, and a short narrative from the U.S.M.A. alumni website about cadet Chandler.
The arm comes in a very nice walnut presentation case with green felt lining and a brass plaque on the lid very neatly stamped "C.P.C.". A single magazine is included with the arm and the slide is serial numbered to the frame. Overall an extremely nice Model M with a very neat presentation and also a sad story to tell. Slide and frame are numbered alike.
