According to the included factory letter, this pistol was part of a 50 piece order shipped to the General Storekeeper of the Brooklyn Naval Yard on November 22, 1900. Grips are "Not Listed" other features are confirmed. These pistols were a follow-on contract to the US Army guns with a total quantity of only 250 produced and shipped in five different lots to the US Navy in October and November 1900, this pistol being shipped in the end of the last lot, with this specific arm listed in "U.S. MILITARY AUTOMATIC PISTOLS" by Edward S. Meadows (page 41) as one of the 102 surviving examples of the 1900 Sight Safety pistol. Fixed sights, with the right side of the slide "AUTOMATIC COLT/CALIBRE 38 RIMLESS SMOKELESS" ahead of the ejection port, and the left side marked "BROWNING'S PATENT"/PAT'D APRIL 20.1897" and "COLT'S PATENT FIRE ARMS MFG. CO/HARTFORD . CONN. U.S.A." ahead of the slide serrations and the circled Rampant Colt behind the serrations. The frame is marked with the Colt serial number on the right side, and the Navy serial number "USN 243" on the reverse, with a "1 in star" and a "B in triangle" on the trigger guard. Equipped with a royal blue trigger, casehardened rear sight and spur hammer, nickel plated magazine stamped "PAT'D SEPT. 9. 1884" and a pair of smooth walnut grips. The pistol is housed in a handmade four-partition walnut display case with a spare correct Colt marked, nickel plated magazine and an original box of Remington/UMC marked .38 Automatic Colt Smokeless Ammunition.

Excellent with 98% bright original high polish blue finish, showing scattered minor scratches, high edge wear and hints of a brown patina. Bright and vivid case colors are nearly 99% present on the hammer and safety. The grips show some pressure dents and dings, with only minor varnish wear. The case is in excellent condition. A top notch example of a very scarce and desirable 1900 Navy contract sight safety semi-automatic pistol.