This is a excellent example of one of the early Colt prototype "Model 1971" semi-automatic Pistol. Only a handful of these early pistols were ever actually made, (estimated at somewhere between 30-50 pistols total), by the Colt company in the early 1970s. It was originally designed/developed by the Research and Development Department of Colt Industries in the 1971 time frame and displayed some very unique features such as, a double stacked magazine, a rotating hammer blocked safety (similar to the Walther design), a single and double action mechanism and it was fitted with a slide lock so that it would fire in a single shot mode only. These early Colt pistols were manufactured using a standard steel frame and slide with an all blued finish that featured a matted/bead blasted, non-reflective finish on the front and rear grip straps, underside of the frame and trigger guard bow and the top of the slide. Colt's obvious intentions with this pistol were two fold; it to introduce a new and modern DA semi-automatic pistol for the market to help boost Colt's sagging, world wide commercial sales and to get ready to compete for any future U.S. or Foreign Government military contract sales with a new and very modern double action pistols. The original Colt "Model 1971" nomenclature remained for several years after being manufactured and was not sold or developed further, until the early 1980s when the Dept of Army issued the first solicitation for a new modern pistol to replace their huge stocks of aging Model 1911A1 pistols. When it was submitted to the U.S. Army in the late 1970s, for evaluation against the solicitation requirements, it failed against those requirements, along with all the other candidates and the solicitation was canceled in 1980/81. However the U.S. Army revised it handgun specification requirements and in 1984, reissued a solicitation for a new candidate handgun designated the XM9. At this time Colt again resubmitted the Model 1971, however renamed it the "SSP" as it was an all "Stainless Steel Pistol" and was chambered in 9mm incompliance with the US Army solicitation. It was during the second series of tests that the Beretta 92F pistol won out over the Colt SSP and all other candidate weapons and was selected to become the new US Army's M9, 9mm military handgun. This scarce, excellent example actually predates the later "SSP" that was later submitted as a Colt candidate pistol in 1984, as noted previously. It is estimated that less than 50 total pistols were produced with this one as noted chambered in the 45 ACP cartridge. This pistol is marked on the left side of the slide with only "COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG.CO. HARTFORD. CONN. U.S.A.", and the right side of the frame is marked with only the serial number "X21369". It is fitted with a set of checkered walnut grips with a blank silver medallion at the top of each grip panel.

Excellent with 97% plus of the original blued finish overall with edge and high spot wear only. The walnut grips are also in very fine condition with nice distinct checkering on both sides with a few minor handling marks. This is a very rare and highly desirable Colt Model 1971 semi-automatic pistol that clearly represents a significant transition in the development of the Colt semi-automatic pistol and especially the later SSP, 9mm candidate. This is a very rarely encountered pistol for sale on the market, obviously due to the total numbers actually produced, with even less actually released from the factory.