Colt Military Model of 1905 pistol, serial number 3 is pictured and described on pages 90-91 of "THE GOVERNMENT MODELS" by William Goddard. This pistol has the turn-of-the-century Colt high polish, commercial blue finish on the slide, frame and barrel. The extractor, trigger, slide stop, rear sight, pins and screws have a fiery, niter blue finish. The walnut stocks have fine checkering with diamond-shaped escutcheons surrounding the stock screws. The first style round hammer has a muted, casehardened finish with knurled top. The left side of the side is roll-stamped with the third style markings added in late 1905 or early 1906: "PATENTED/APR. 20. 1897.SEPT.9.1902.DEC.19.1905" in a two-line block followed by "COLT'S PATENT FIREARMS MFG. CO./HARTFORD CONN. U.S.A." in two lines. The encircled Rampant Colt trademark is roll-stamped behind the left grip serration. The right side of the slide is roll-stamped: "AUTOMATIC COLT/CALIBRE 45 RIMLESS SMOKELESS" in two lines ahead of the ejection port. The serial number "3" is stamped on the left side of the frame above the trigger guard bow. The Colt "Triangle/VP" proofmark is stamped on the upper left side of the trigger guard bow, and a "1" assembler's mark is stamped on the lower left side of the bow. In his description of this pistol William Goddard states that every serial number 3 Colt automatic pistol in the Colt historical records was originally part of the Colt Factory Museum Collection and notes that the patent markings on the slide of this pistol are the same as the patent markings found on Model 1905 pistols manufactured after 1906. He suggests that this pistol was assembled in early 1906 specifically for the Colt in-house collection.

Excellent. This pistol is all original and retains 98% of the original Colt high polish blue finish on the slide, frame and barrel. The trigger, rear sight, extractor, slide stop and screws have at least 85% of the fire blue finish intact. The hammer retains 95% original vivid case colors. The slide and frame markings are sharp. The walnut stocks are in excellent condition with sharp checkering. A magazine is included. Mechanically excellent. This is an excellent example of a well-documented, early production, scarce Colt Military Model of 1905 Automatic Pistol that was once reportedly in the Colt Factory Museum Collection.