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LOT 3262
Exceptional Colt Model 1902 Sporting Semi-Automatic Pistol with Factory Letter - Serial no. 6272, 38 Colt auto cal., 6 inch round bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. Manufactured in 1903, this is an very fine example of a Colt Model 1902 Sporting pistol, with the standard three-line patent mark and two-line address on the left of the slide with the circled Rampant Colt at the rear and the standard “”AUTOMATIC COLT/CALIBRE 38 RIMLESS SMOKELESS” marking on the right between the ejection port and the slide serrations. The slide is fitted with a blade front and rounded top notch rear sight, forward slide serrations, checkered spur hammer, and a smooth trigger. The hard rubber grips have the “COLT” banners at the top and circled Rampant Colts. The nickel plated magazine is marked “PAT’D SEPT.9, 1884” on the bottom.
The included factory letter confirms the current configuration (grips not listed) as well as shipment to Schoverling, Daly & Gales in New York on 20 November 1903. Also included are scans of a campaign postcard for the election of Charles B. Howard for sheriff of Siskiyou County in Northern California. An included framed picture that appears to be of Howard wearing a sheriffs badge depicts him with a Colt Model 1902 pistol like this one tucked in his gun belt. Period newspaper reports indicate Sheriff Charles “Charley” Byron Howard (1859-1921) was elected sheriff in 1902 and held the office until 1918 and was “one of the most exper murderer trailers in the State...” The papers relay tales of his capture of fugitives such as Domonic Corica, accused of killing William Amos at Red Cloud and captured by Howard in Los Angeles. In 1909, Sheriff Howard and his deputies stepped in to protect the McCloud River Lumber
Co. from striking Italian workers who then threatened to kill any worker who entered the box factory
and destroy the factory, mills, homes of the company’s officers, and disrupt the utilities for the town of McCloud despite the presence of law enforcement. Faced with around 700 angry strikers, he called for the California National Guard to aid in protecting the factory and non-striking workers, and ultimately the affair ended with little violence.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 80% plus of the original blue finish and 85% plus of the original case colors on the hammer with some light edge and holster type wear, and some scattered light spotting. The grips are also very fine with the left panel showing an attractively aged chocolate color, minimal handling evidence, and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500