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LOT 3343
Desirable U.S. Contract
Colt Model 1902 Military
Semi-Automatic Pistol
with Factory Letter - Serial
no. 15177, 38 ACP cal., 6
inch round bbl., blue finish,
hard rubber grips. Manufactured in 1902, the first year of production, this pistol
was in the second shipment of 100 Military Model of 1902 pistols sent by Colt to
Springfield Armory on 25 July 1902 as noted in the included factory letter, which
also confirms the configuration. This was one of only 200 Model 1902 pistols ordered by
the Ordnance Department for testing in their continued efforts to find an automatic pistol suitable
for military adoption. They incorporated many of the recommendations from officers in the field
that were submitted during testing of the Model 1900, including very similar slide checkering to the
sketch submitted by Lieutenant Odus C. Horney, which is pictured on p. 34 of “U.S. Military Automatic
Pistols 1894-1920” by Meadows. The purchase of these pistols had been approved by the Board of
Ordnance and Fortification on 11 January 1902 after a sample pistol had been tested in December
of the previous year. After receiving and inspecting these 200 pistols at the armory, they were sent
to troops at Forts Riley and Leavenworth in Kansas, as well as Jefferson Barracks in Missouri for field
trials. Again, the feedback given from the field trials was mostly negative, and they were deemed “...
not as satisfactory a pistol as the revolver.” In 1909, 62 of these pistols that were deemed serviceable were sold off as surplus alongside some of the older Model 1900 pistols, with this example
being listed among the known surviving examples on p. 46 of the previously mentioned reference. This example is marked with the two-line Browning’s patent and Colt address markings on the left of the slide arranged in two
blocks, with a circled Rampant Colt at the rear. The right side is marked “MODEL 1902” and with the two-line caliber marking. The right side of the trigger guard and frame have the “R.A.C.” inspection mark of Rinaldo A. Carr and the
“J.T.T.” acceptance mark of Captain John T. Thompson. The left side of the frame and trigger guard have the serial number and “U.S.” marking. The slide has the forward checkering on each side and blade and notch sights. It is fitted
with a rounded checkered hammer, checkered hard rubber grips with “COLT” banners and Rampant Colts, the lanyard loop on the left of the grip frame, and a correct, nickeled magazine with 1884 patent date on the base.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine as professionally restored overall, retaining 98% of the blue and casehardened finishes and 90% of the nitre blue finish, with some very light edge wear, and a few light scratches. The grips are fine
with a few light handling marks and a minor flat spot in the otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. A solid representative example of one of only 200 of these U.S. Colt Model 1902 pistols!
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 3344
Very Scarce U.S. Marine Corps Contract Colt Model 1909 New Service Double Action Revolver
with Factory letter and U.S.M.C. Holster - Serial no. 24304, 45 Long Colt cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl.,
blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1909, one of just 1,300 Colt Model 1909 New Service double
action .45 caliber revolvers in the 23,101 to 26,300 frame serial number range ordered by the U.S. Marine
Corps through the U.S. Navy in May 1909. The included factory letter lists the revolver as configured with
a 5 1/2 inch barrel in .45 caliber, blue finish, checkered wood grips, engraved “U.S.M.C. No. 217” on the
butt, and furnished with a lanyard swivel, when included in a shipment of 350 revolvers of the same
type sent to the U.S. Marine Corps Depot Quartermaster in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on August 28, 1909.
Features fixed blade front and top strap notch rear sights, the two-line Colt address on top and “COLT D.A. 45” on the
left side of the barrel, Rampant Colt backed by a stylized “C” on the left of the side plate, Colt factory “triangle/VP” and
“3” proofs on the left of the trigger guard, along with “U.S./M.C.” and “No./217” marked on the butt next to the lanyard
swivel. Factory serial number “24304” is stamped on the forward portion of the frame under matching cylinder crane,
along with a matching numbered cylinder latch. Includes a “U.S.M.C.” embossed leather flap holster.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine as professionally restored overall, retaining 99% blue finish with some faint cylinder drag
lines, and limited minor handling evidence. The grips are very fine with crisp checkering, Mechanically excellent. The
holster is fine with light cracking to the securing flap.
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
LOT 3345
Very Scarce U.S. Navy Contract Colt Model 1909 Double Action Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 52532, 45 Long
Colt cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1911, as one of only 1,000 Colt Model 1909 double action
.45 caliber revolvers manufactured for the U.S. Navy. The included factory letter lists the revolver as configured with a 5 1/2 inch .45
caliber barrel, blue finish, wood grips, engraved “U.S.N.” with an anchor motif on the butt, and furnished with a lanyard swivel, when
included in a shipment of 200 revolver of the same type sent to the general storekeeper of the U.S. Navy Yard in Brooklyn, New York,
on April 22, 1911. Features fixed blade front and top strap notch rear sights, the two-line Colt address on top and “COLT D.A. 45” on
the left side of the barrel, Rampant Colt backed by a stylized “C” on the left of the side plate, Colt factory “triangle/VP” and “3” proofs
on the left of the trigger guard, along with “U.S.N./(anchor)/45D.A.” and “No./532” marked on the butt next to the lanyard swivel.
Factory serial number “52532” is stamped on the forward portion of the frame under matching cylinder crane, along with a matching
numbered cylinder latch.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine as professionally restored overall, retaining 97% plus blue finish with some limited light handling marks
and clear markings. The grips are excellent with limited minor handling evidence. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
Collector’s Fact
According to "U.S. Military
Automatic Pistols 1894-1920"
by Meadows, only 200 Colt
Model 1902 Military pistols were
purchased by the U.S. Ordnance
Department for testing.