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LOT 3342
Rare and Highly Desirable U.S. Army Test Trials Colt Model 1907 Military Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial no. 78, 45 ACP cal.,
5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in early 1908 as one of only a reported 205 of these Colt Model 1907
pistols made, 200 of which were for U.S. Army field trials and 5 for presentation, per page 52 of “U.S. Military Automatic Pistols
1894-1920” by Meadows. This particular pistol, bearing serial number 78, falls into the serial number range of the pistols which
were issued to various troops of cavalry for field testing, with this pistol in the specific range issued to Troop H of the 2nd Cavalry
at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. Most of the pistols were delivered to Springfield Armory in March 1908 to be issued for troop test trials
with the U.S. Cavalry, with the balance being for presentation purposes and many likely not surviving the grueling military trials,
making surviving examples few and far between. An important evolutionary step on the road to the iconic Model 1911, the Model
1907 represented the U.S. Army’s first use of the equally legendary .45 ACP chambering, both of which would go on to remain the
general issued sidearm and cartridge of the U.S. military for the better portion of the 20th century. This pistol is not listed by serial
number as one of the known surviving examples on p. 83 of the previously mentioned book.
The left side of the slide has the two-line, two-block patent dates and address, while the right
has the two-line caliber marking. The left of the frame is marked with the serial number and
the left of the trigger guard has the “K.M.” inspection marking. It is fitted with blade and notch
sights, the original style gently sloped hammer, a pair of diamond pattern checkered walnut
grips, and a correct, unmarked full-blue magazine.
CONDITION: Very good, retains 30% of the original blue finish and 25% of the original
nitre blue, which are almost unheard of amounts of original finish for these military field
trials pistols, the balance mostly a grey patina, a few patches of light surface pitting, and a
few scattered minor dings. The grips are also very good with a few minor flat spots in the
otherwise well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 15,000 - 22,500
According to "U.S. Military Automatic Pistols 1894-1920"
by Meadows, only 200 Colt Model 1907 Army Contract
pistols were produced for field trials.
Serial Number 78