This is an excellent example of a Colt Model 1902 Sporting Model Automatic Pistol with copy of factory letter. The letter states that this pistol was shipped from Colt to W.A. Abel & Company Syracuse, New York, c/o R.M. Baker on November 1, 1902. The pistol has the characteristic Sporting Model rounded butt, rounded hammer spur, seven-shot magazine and grooved grip serrations on the front of the slide. The pistol does not have the slide lock found on later Model 1902 pistols. The pistol has the Colt high polish commercial blue finish on the slide and frame with niter blue trigger, rear sight and screws. The round hammer has a casehardened finish. The two-piece, black, checkered, hard rubber stocks have the encircled Rampant Colt trademark in the middle and "COLT" in a banner at the top. The seven-shot magazine has a nickel-plated finish. The left side of the slide is roll-stamped with the first style legend with "BROWNING'S PATENT"/PAT'D APRIL 20. 1897/SEPTEMBER 9, 1902" in three lines followed by "COLT'S PATENT FIRE ARMS MFG. Co./HARTFORD .CONN. U.S.A." and the encircled Rampant Colt trademark at the rear of the slide. The right side of the slide is roll-stamped "AUTOMATIC COLT/ CALIBRE 38 RIMLESS SMOKELESS" in two lines between the ejection port and the grip serrations. The serial number "5041" is stamped on the left side of the frame above the trigger guard. The magazine floor plate is roll-stamped: "PAT'D SEPT.9.1884".

Excellent. The pistol retains nearly 90% plus of the original high polish blue finish on the slide and frame. The pistol has light handling wear with some edge wear on the front and edges of the slide. The blue is thin on the sides of the slide and on the grip straps. The trigger, rear sight and screws have about 90% of the niter blue finish. The hammer has nearly all of the dove-gray case colors. The stocks are excellent with light handling marks. The magazine has about 85% of the original nickel-plated finish with some flaking on the edges. All of the markings are crisp. The bore is bright. This is an excellent and early example of a Colt Model 1902 Sporting Model Automatic Pistol.