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LOT 340
Iconic, Extremely Rare, One of Four Known Experimental/ Prototype Colt Model 1910 9.8 MM Semi-Automatic Pistol Serial Number 4 with Awards - Serial no. 4, 9.8mm cal., 4 1/2 inch bbl., blue finish, walnut checkered grips. The experimental Colt Model 1910 pistol is one of only four known and was developed by Colt
as a possible replacement for the Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammer Pistol and to compete against Fabrique Nationale in Eastern European markets. Although Winchester manufactured several thousand rounds of 9.8 mm ammunition for the experimental pistol, it did not enter production and only five examples of this pistol were manufactured by Colt circa 1911. Four of these ultra-rare handguns are in museums and private collections. An example of a Colt Model 1910 9.8 mm pistol is illustrated and described on pages 472-473 of “U.S. Military Automatic Pistols 1894-1920” by Edward S. Meadows. The 9.8 mm Experimental Pistol is a scaled down copy of the very rare Colt Model 1910 .45 ACP Pistol. The slide is shorter and narrower and the 4 1/2 inch barrel has four concentric locking rings. The hammer has flat sides and a checkered spur. The slide has the early rounded rear sight. The slide stop and safety lock appear to be Colt Model 1911 Special Army components. The magazine is a modified Model 1902 Military magazine with un-marked floor plate and a full blue finish. The checkered walnut grips have small diamonds surrounding the screws and are similar to those on the Model 1911 Special Army. The pistol has the high polish Colt commercial blue finish on major components and the bright niter blue finish on the rear sight, hammer, slide lock, trigger and other small components.
SIMILAR EXAMPLE PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN U.S. MILITARY AUTOMATIC PISTOLS (1894-1920) BY MEADOWS
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