This Colt Model 1902 Automatic Pistol has gold inlay and ivory stock and was manufactured in 1906. The Colt Factory Letter that accompanies this pistol describes the finish as "Blue" with "Ivory" stock grips and states that it was shipped to the Powell & Clement Co. in Cincinnati, Ohio, on June 8, 1906. The pistol has the Colt commercial blue finish with casehardened round spur hammer. "J.W. Pinkerton. JR." is inlaid in gold letters on the back strap. The pistol is fitted with ivory grips. The left grip is factory engraved: "FROM/THE RED DEVILS/June 1906" in three lines. "THE RED DEVILS" is highlighted with red pigments and the remainder of the inscription is highlighted black. The pistol is accompanied by a 13-page description by Colt expert R.L. Wilson. In the description Wilson speculates that the gold-inlaid inscription was possibly the work of master engraver Cuno A. Helfricht. Wilson further states that Colt pistols with gold-inlaid inscriptions are of extreme rarity and notes that other Colt Model 1902 pistols with gold-inlaid inscriptions were presented to President Theodore Roosevelt and William F. ("Buffalo Bill") Cody. The description analyzes the elephant ivory grips and states that the engraving and very rare colored highlighting are Colt factory work. The Wilson description concludes that: "J.W. Pinkerton's Presentation Colt Model 1902 Military Automatic Pistol No. 11601 is well worthy of the most discriminating of private or museum collections of engraved or gold inlaid firearms, as well as in any collection of decorated or inscribed elephant ivory grips". Extensive research included with the pistol shows that it was presented to J.W. Pinkerton Jr. Pinkerton was the son of the founder of the Pinkerton Tobacco Co., located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Pinkerton Tobacco Co., manufactured the famous Redman Chewing Tobacco. J.W. Pinkerton was secretary and treasurer of the Red Devil Tobacco Company. In 1906, J.W. Pinkerton Jr. left the Red Devil Tobacco Co., and moved to Silver City, New Mexico. This pistol was a parting gift to Pinkerton from the employees of the Red Devil Tobacco Co., ("THE RED DEVILS"). The pistol is accompanied by a large amount of documentation of all aspects of the Pinkerton family and Redman Chewing Tobacco. Included with the pistol are: (1) metal Red Man Tobacco sign, (2) metal Nap LaJoie Red Devil sign, (3) a package of Red Man chewing tobacco, (4) an empty Red Man Tobacco pouch, (5) a sealed box of Winchester .38 Caliber Automatic Colt cartridges, (6) two Red Man belt buckles, (7) a Red Man keychain and (8) a magazine entitled: "THE PINKERTON TOBACCO COMPANY 1887-1987".

Very fine. The pistol retains 70% plus of the original commercial blue finish. There is moderate finish wear on the grip straps and the left side of the slide. The finish on the right side of the slide and frame is thin with edge wear on the high points. The trigger retains most of the niter blue finish and nearly all of the color casehardened finish is present on the hammer. The magazine retains most of the nickel-plated finish. The markings on the slide, frame and magazine floor plate are crisp. The ivory grips have a mellow patina and are both in very fine condition. The engraving shows minor handling wear but is crisp with bright red inlays. The gold inlay on the back strap remains in excellent condition. The pistol is exhaustively documented and has been evaluated by one of the foremost experts on engraved and presentation Colt firearms (R.L. Wilson).