This is an example of an original U.S. Army contract Colt Military Model 1902 test semi-automatic pistol as manufactured in 1902. This rare pistol is one of the key models required in any advanced Colt martial arms collection and is extensively discussed on pages 42-47 of the excellent reference book "U.S. Military Automatic Pistols 1894-1920 by Meadows. This pistol is one of approximately 200 Model 1902 contract pistols actually produced for the U.S. Army that eventually lead to the development and adoption of the Colt Model 1911 pistol. 200 pistols were manufactured and delivered to the Army in two different groups. The first 100 were shipped on July 15th and the second 100 shipped on July 25th 1902 with all shipped to Springfield Armory. The left side of the frame is stamped with serial number (15115) above the trigger guard bow, with "U.S." on the upper front flat of the trigger guard bow. The right side of the frame is stamped with the U.S. Ordnance inspector initials "J.T.T." (for Capt. John Thompson) above the trigger guard bow with the initials "R.A.C." on the front upper flat of the trigger guard bow for the U.S. sub-inspector Rinaldo A. Carr. The left side of the slide is marked with Colt's two-line, two-block patent marking and address markings "BROWNING'S PATENT/ PAT' APRIL 20.1897." followed by "COLT'S PATENT FIRE ARMS MFG.CO./HARTFORD, CONN.U.S.A.", with the Rampant Colt logo stamped at the rear. The right side is marked "MODEL 1902" directly behind the slide checkering with "AUTOMATIC COLT/CALIBRE 38 RIMLESS SMOKELESS" behind the ejection port. The frame has the military style square end butt with the lanyard loop on the lower left side. It has the sporting style round hammer spur. It is complete with an unmarked blue magazine marked. These pistols have a Colt high polish blue finish with checkered hard rubber grips with "Colt" at the top and the Rampant Colt logo in the center of the grip. The trigger, slide stop and rear sight have the niter blue finish. The hammer and lanyard loop are casehardened, with an all blued barrel. The magazine is a later production commercial replacement.

Fine with 40% of the original high polish blue finish still remaining overall with the balance of the metal surface having a mixed gray/brown patina finish. The smaller parts retain 45% of their original nitre blue finish overall. The markings are clear and distinct. The hard rubber grips are also in fine condition overall with clear distinct checkering and Colt markings on the sides of each grip with even honest wear across the face of each grip. A U.S. Army Colt Model 1902 pistol, that is fresh to the collector market. This example would certainly be a center piece of any advanced US Martial or early Colt Automatic pistol collection.