This is an excellent example of a Colt Model 1902 Sporting Model Automatic Pistol that was manufactured in 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 left side of the slide is marked "BROWNING'S PATENT"/PAT'D APRIL 20. 1897/SEPTEMBER 9, 1902" followed by "COLT'S PATENT FIRE ARMS MFG. Co./HARTFORD .CONN. U.S.A." and the circled Rampant Colt at the rear. The serial number is marked on the left side of the frame and the right side of the slide is marked "AUTOMATIC COLT/CALIBRE 38 RIMLESS SMOKELESS". Early low profile fixed sights, with the rear sight rounded. Colt high polish commercial blue finish on the slide and frame with niter blue trigger, rear sight and screws. The hammer is casehardened, blue unmarked magazine and fitted with checkered hard rubber grips with "COLT" in a banner at the top and the circled Rampant Colt in the center. The accompanying factory letter verifies the caliber, barrel length, blue finish, with grips as "Not Listed" and that it was shipped as 1 to W.A. Abel & Company c/o R.M. Baker in Syracuse, New York on November 1. 1902. The remarks state "Records indicate three pound pull".

Excellent. The pistol retains 90% plus of the original high polish blue finish with some thinning and edge wear on the slide and frame, and some smooth gray patina on the grip straps. The trigger, rear sight and screws retain almost all of the original bright niter blue finish. The hammer retains most of the faded case colors. The grips are also excellent with light handling marks and crisp checkering. All of the markings are crisp and clear. Mechanically excellent. This is an excellent early example of a Colt Model 1902 Sporting Model Automatic Pistol.