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According to "U.S. Military Automatic Pistols 1894-1920" by Meadows, only 200 Colt Model 1902 pistols were contracted by the U.S. Army.
LOT 1320
Very Scarce Documented Martially Inspected Colt Military Model 1902 U.S. Army Contract Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial no. 15049, 38 Colt auto cal., 6 inch round bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. This Colt Military Model 1902 “U.S. Army” contract semi-automatic pistol was manufactured in 1902. This pistol is one of the key models required in any advanced
Colt martial arms collection. This pistol eventually lead to the development and adoption of the Colt Model 1911 pistol. There
were exactly 200 of this model manufactured, they were shipped on two different dates and serial number blocks on July 1902. This example was shipped in the first block of serial numbers as shipped to Springfield Armory in
15 July 1902, as noted on pages 42-47 in the excellent reference book “U.S. Military Automatic
Pistols 1894-1920” by Meadows. It is correctly marked with the “U.S.” on the left side trigger
guard bow, with the U.S. Ordnance inspector initials “J.T.T.” for Capt. John Thompson on the
right side of the frame and the sub-inspector initials “R.A.C.” for Rinaldo A. Carr on the upper
trigger guard bow. It has the correct military style square end butt with the lanyard loop on
the lower left rear side and sporting style round hammer spur. The left side of the slide is
marked with Colt’s two-line, two-block patent marking and address markings “BROWNING’S
PATENT PAT’ APRIL 20.1897” followed by “COLT’S PATENT FIREARMS MFG.CO./HARTFORD,
CONN.U.S.A.”, with the Rampant Colt logo stamped at the rear. The right side is marked
“MODEL 1902” directly behind the slide checkering with “AUTOMATIC COLT/CALIBRE 38 RIMLESS SMOKELESS” behind the
ejection port. The left side of the frame has the serial number stamped above the trigger guard bow. It is complete with
the an original nickel plated magazine marked “PAT’D Sept 9. 1894” on the base plate. These pistols have a Colt high polish
blue finish with checkered hard rubber grips with “Colt” at the top and the Rampant Colt logo in the center of the grip. The
trigger, slide stop and rear sight have the niter blue finish. The hammer and lanyard loop are casehardened.
The barrel is blue.
CONDITION: Very good with strong traces of the bright original high polish blue finish still remaining overall mostly in the protected areas of the frame, with the balance of the metal a mixed gray/brown patina finish in some areas. The grips are
very good with distinct checkering and markings on both sides showing even honest wear across the tops of each grip
panel. Mechanically excellent. This example will nicely fill that vacant slot in your U.S. military collection!
Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500
LOT 1321
Exceptional World War I U.S. Contract Remington-UMC Model 1911 Semi- Automatic Pistol - Serial no. 1270, 45 ACP cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. In late 1917 or early 1918, Colt was ordered by the U.S. government to provide
Remington-UMC with production drawings, sample pistols, and master gauges to produce the 150,000 Model 1911 pistols the government had ordered from them to support the war effort. In March of 1918 the initial order was increased to 500,000. By June of 1919, and the cancellation
of the contract, Remington had produced 21,676 Model 1911 pistols. Because they had been made using a different set of technical drawings than Colt and Springfield, the Remington 1911 was purged from the inventory after the war to ensure parts compatibility. It has fixed sights, with the two-block, three-line patent and address markings around the “REMINGTON/UMC” logo on the left side of the slide, “MODEL OF 1911/U.S. ARMY CALIBER .45” on the right, and the “E.E.C.” and “eagle head/E1” proofs on the left side of the frame. Fitted with a “P” proofed full blue barrel, two-tone magazine with pinned base,
and diamond pattern checkered grips.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 80% of the original blue finish with the
balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey-brown patina, most
noticeably on top of the slide and the mainspring housing. The grips
are very fine with a few scattered light blemishes in the otherwise crisp
checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500
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