This is a beautiful example of a scarce British Proofed Colt Military Model 1905 semi-automatic pistol. This was one of Colt's first entries into the semi-automatic pistol field and was chambered in the new more powerful 45 ACP round. This example was shipped to England at some point and received both British proofs along with a small lanyard loop (not staple) on the lower left side of the frame, directly above the magazine release. It has a "Crown/P" and "Crown/V" proofs, followed by ".45 .900/7 TONS" marks on the chamber area of the barrel with a small "Crown/V" and "Crown/GB" proofs on the left rear ends of the slide and frame. There were only a total of 6,100 manufactured from 1905 to 1911, with this pistol being manufactured in very late 1911. The left side of the slide is marked "PATENTED/APR. 20. 1897. SEPT. 9. 1902. DEC. 19. 1905" and "COLT'S PATENT FIRE ARMS MFG. CO./HARTFORD CONN. U.S.A." with the circled Rampant Colt behind the slide serrations. The right side of the slide is marked "AUTOMATIC COLT/CALIBRE 45 RIMLESS SMOKELESS". The upper left trigger guard bow bears the partial Colt "VP" triangle proof with a "W" sub-inspector proof on the lower rear areas. The top of the slide has the early small oval front sight with the later oval rear sight, exposed extractor, late thick checkered hammer with the half-cock notch and brass firing pin. It is fitted with the original walnut grips with the factory checkered pattern and the small diamonds around the grip screws. These early pistols have the Colt high polish blue finish with the Colt niter blue finish on the trigger, extractor, grip screws and magazine release. It is complete with an all blue unmarked Colt magazine and the very rare original British "leather/brass" lanyard loop attached to the staple on the lower left edge of the frame.

Very fine with 85% plus of the original high polish blue finish overall showing he typical small scratches and light dings overall with some thinning and scratches on the grip straps. (These small handling marks are typical of many of the British handguns for some unknown reason). 85% of the original niter blue and casehardening remains on the small parts. The grips are in very good condition with nice visible checkering on the sides, light handling marks on the left side, and heavier pressure dents on the right side. Mechanically excellent. A very fine Colt Military Model 1905 semi-automatic pistol.