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LOT 1438
Colt Model 1902
Sporting Semi-
Automatic Pistol with
Factory Letter - Serial
no. 8760, 38 Colt auto
cal., 6 inch round bbl.,
blue finish, hard rubber grips. Manufactured in early 1905, this is a
very fine example of a Colt Model 1902 Sporting pistol. The closest
entries to this one, serial numbers 8754 and 8765, listed on p. 176 of Goddard’s book, “The Government Models: The Development of the
Colt Model of 1911”, were shipped to Copper Queen Mining Co. and
Smith & Wesson’s London agency respectively. The accompanying
factory letter confirms the 6 inch barrel in .38 caliber and blue finish
as well as shipped on November 15, 1905 to E.K. Tryon, Jr. & Co. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This was a two gun shipment. It has the
standard two-line, two-block patent dates and address on the left of
the slide 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, early forward slide serrations which were standard until April of 1905, checkered rounded hammer, and a smooth trigger. The hard rubber grips have the “COLT” banners at the top and circled Rampant Colts at the center. The full blue magazine is unmarked.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 60% plus of the bright, original, high polish blue finish with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina and some scattered light handling marks. The grips are also fine with some scattered light handling marks and well-defined checkering.
Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 1439
Outstanding Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket Semi-Automatic Pistol with Original Box - Serial no. 342253, 25 ACP cal., 2 inch round bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. Manufactured in 1924 with standard two-line address/ patent dates and Rampant Colt on the left of the slide, caliber marking on the right, serial number on the left of the frame, “1” over “VP” marked trigger guard, and standard features. Includes the original Colt box.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 99% plus of the original blue finish and vibrant original case colors on the trigger and grip safety with only the slightest handling marks. The grips are also excellent with only the slightest handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The box is fine with some mild edge/corner wear.
Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
LOT 1440
Documented Colt Model 1902
Sporting Semi-Automatic Pistol
- Serial no. 10893, 38 Colt auto cal.,
6 inch round bbl., blue finish, hard
rubber grips. Manufactured in early 1907, this is a fine example of a Colt Model 1902 Sporting pistol. This specific pistol is listed on p. 178 of Goddard’s book, “The Government Models: The Development of the Colt Model of 1911”, as shipped to Captain W.G. Cox of Whites Ltd. It has the standard two-line, two-block patent dates and address
and the circled Rampant Colt on the left of the slide and the standard “AUTOMATIC COLT/CALIBRE 38 RIMLESS SMOKELESS” marking on the right. The slide is fitted with a blade front and rounded top notch rear sight as well as the later production rear slide serrations which were introduced
in April of 1905. It also has a checkered rounded hammer and a smooth trigger. The hard rubber grips have the “COLT” banners at the top and circled Rampant Colts at the center. The full blue magazine is unmarked. CONDITION: Fine, retains 60% of the bright original high polish blue finish with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina, primarily on high edges and the grip straps. The grips are also fine showing an attractively aged chocolate tone, minimal light handling marks, and crisp checkering overall. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
LOT 1441
Documented World War I Era London Armoury Co. Shipped Colt Model 1902 Military Semi-Automatic Pistol with Factory Letter - Serial no. 38149, 38 Colt auto cal., 6 inch round bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. Manufactured
in 1915, this Military Model of
1902 pistol exhibits the mid-
production high polish blue
finish and spurred hammer
which was standard by
approximately serial number
37000. The left side of the slide is marked with the two-line patent date and two-line address arranged in two blocks with the Rampant Colt behind the serrations. The right side of the slide has the two-line caliber marking, “AUTOMATIC COLT/CALIBRE 38 RIMLESS SMOKELESS”. The left side of the frame has the serial number and “VP” and “1” on the left of the trigger guard. There are “crown/V” British proofs on the left rear of the slide and frame, two British proofs on the chamber of the barrel, and “J.J.” It is fitted with blade and rounded top notch sights, a lanyard swivel on the lower left of the grip frame, checkered hard rubber grips
with Rampant Colts and “COLT” banners, and an unmarked full blue magazine. The included factory letter confirms the current configuration, grips not listed, as well as shipment to the London Armoury Co. on 22 June 1915. London Armoury Co. was a large provider of private purchase sidearms for British officers during World War I, making it highly likely that was the fate of this pistol given the date in arrived it London.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 50% plus of the original high polish blue finish with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina and some scattered small patches of light pitting concentrated on the forward portion of the slide/frame. The grips are also fine showing an attractive chocolate tone, some light handling marks, a minor chip absent from the top of the right panel, and otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
LOT 1442
Outstanding Colt Model 1908
Vest Pocket Semi-Automatic
Pistol with Original Box - Serial
no. 388402, 25 ACP cal., 2 inch
round bbl., blue finish, walnut
grips. Manufactured in 1930 with
standard two-line address/patent
dates and Rampant Colt on the
left of the slide, caliber marking on
the right, serial number on the left
of the frame, “1” over “VP” marked
trigger guard, and standard
features apart from being fitted with a
pair of smooth grips. A note is included
indicating this pistol may have once
been a birthday gift for a spouse.
Includes the original Colt box, a set of
smooth grips, and a cleaning rod.
CONDITION: Excellent plus, retains 98%
plus of the original blue finish and vibrant case colors on the trigger and grip safety with only the slightest handling marks and overall crisp grip checkering. Mechanically excellent. The box is very fine with some light wear.
Estimate: 1,200 - 1,800
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LISTED BY SERIAL NUMBER IN THE BOOK THE GOVERNMENT MODELS BY GODDARD