The Colt Model 1900 "Sight Safety" Pistol is a very historically significant pistol as it was Colt's first production semi-automatic pistol and John M. Browning's first fully successful semi-automatic pistol design. Colt produced approximately 3,500 of these pistols from 1900 to 1903 for the Army, Navy and Commercial contracts, with the majority of all the first model sight safety versions altered to a fixed rear sight model. Consequently making these early all original, unaltered models very rare. This example is a earlier production manufactured at the very end of 1901. The left side of the slide is marked with the early Colt two line/two block markings of "BROWNINGS PATENT'S"/PAT.'D APRIL 20.1897" followed by "COLT'S PATENT FIRE ARMS MFG. CO./HARTFORD CONN. U.S.A.". The rear end of the slide has early sixteen serrations followed by the encircled Rampant Colt logo on the left rear side. The serial number "1284" is stamped on the frame above the trigger. The right side of the slide is marked "AUTOMATIC COLT/CALIBRE 38 RIMLESS SMOKELESS" ahead of the ejection port. The pistol has a Colt high polished commercial blue finish with niter blue barrel and trigger, casehardened rear sight and hammer. It is fitted with the correct, early smooth walnut grip plates with the niter blue screws and brass escutcheons. It is complete with a nickel plated, seven round magazine marked "PAT'D SEPT 9 1884" on the bottom.

Fine condition with 40% plus of the bright original high polish blue finish overall with the heavier blue in the protected areas. The sides of the slide and frame shows numerous light handling marks with the sides and top of the slide having browned out. The hammer and rear sight safety retain 50% of the original subdued case colors, and the small parts retain 40% of their nitre blue finish. The fine original grip panels show a nice medium colored walnut with numerous scattered light handling marks overall. Mechanically excellent. This fine solid original example will fill the slot in your collection very well!