Colt Model 1902 (Sporting) Automatic Pistol manufactured in 1905. This pistol is complete with a Colt Picture Carton. Only two of these cartons are known to collectors. The pistol has the distinctive short Sporting Model frame without a slide lock, seven-shot magazine, first style slide with plunge milled grip serrations at the front, early style stub hammer and dovetail mounted half-moon rear sight. The left side of the slide is roll-stamped with the second style patent marking "BROWNING PATENT"/APR. 20. 1897 SEPT. 9. 1902." in two lines followed by "COLT'S PATENT FIRE ARMS MFG. CO./HARTFORD CONN. USA" in two lines and the circled Rampant Colt trademark. The right side of the slide is roll-stamped "AUTOMATIC COLT/CALIBRE 38 RIMLESS SMOKELESS" in two lines between the ejection port and the grip serrations. The serial number "8580" is located on the left side of the frame above the trigger guard bow. The left side of the trigger guard is stamped with the Colt "Triangle/VP" proof mark and "1" assembler's mark. The seven-shot magazine has a full blue finish and is stamped "CAL. 38/COLT" in two lines on the floorplate. This pistol has the high polish charcoal blue finish utilized by Colt on commercial revolvers and automatic pistols c. 1900-1912. The trigger, rear sight, screws and pins are a fiery, niter blue. The hammer and takedown plug are color casehardened. The black hard rubber grips are checkered with "COLT" in a ribbon at the top of the grip and the circled Rampant Colt motif in the center. The 9 1/2-inch by 5 1/4-inch carton has the rare picture label with the Rampant Colt trademark on the left 1/3 of the lid and a detailed Model 1902 Sporting Automatic Pistol and .38 Automatic Cartridge on the right 2/3s of the lid. The left end of the carton lid has a white label with "SPORTING MODEL." in black lettering. The left end of the carton bottom has a blue label with black lettering marked "Automatic Colt Pistol./Rimless Smokeless" in two lines followed by ".38". The serial number "7656" is written in pencil on the bottom of the carton. The carton contains a "COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOLS" pamphlet a wrapped oil bottle with instructions and paper liner. The pamphlet and "OILBRIGHT" oil bottle with instruction sheet. This carton is pictured on pages 86 and 87 of "COLT'S .38 AUTOMATIC PISTOLS" by Douglas Sheldon. The factory letter lists this pistol with a 6 inch .38 caliber barrel and blue finish when it was shipped to Tracy, Robinson and Williams, Hartford, Connecticut, on August 12, 1905.

Excellent. The pistol is all original and retains 98% plus of the bright original high polish blue, niter blue and color casehardened finish. There is some light edge wear on the slide at the muzzle and the slide and frame have a few very minor scratches and handling marks. The barrel retains nearly all of the bright blue finish. The trigger and rear sight have about 95% of the fire blue finish intact. Nearly all of the fire blue is present on the grip screws and pins. The hammer and takedown plug retain 99% of the original case colors. All of the markings are crisp. The hard rubber grips are in perfect condition. The later production replacement magazine retains 95% of the blue finish with some spots of age discoloration on the floorplate. The factory picture box is in good condition with flaking and tape marks on the picture label and flaking on the end labels. Portions of the lid and bottom are broken. This is a stunning example of a Colt Model 1902 Sporting Automatic Pistol with extremely rare replacement, but correct picture carton.