This rare and historic prototype pistol is a example of the evolutionary process which culminated in the adoption of the Colt Model 1911 pistol by the U.S. military. The Model 1905 represents Colt's first foray into the realm of the .45 ACP cartridge as well as being a pistol that was trialed by the U.S. military for possible adoption. After rigorous testing that began on 16 October 1903, and involved the testing of different ammunition on living and dead livestock as well as cadavers, Major Louis LaGarde and Captain John Thompson were prepared to submit their results. On 18 March 1904 the two-man board reported that, "After mature deliberation, the Board finds that a bullet which will have the shock effect and stopping power at short ranges necessary for a military pistol or revolver should have a caliber not less than 0.45." Some sources suggest that LaGarde, partially impart to his previous close connections with Colt, had notified them of this recommendation prior to its official release to the government. This theory is backed up by the speed with which Colt began development of a .45 cartridge with the help of either U.M.C., Winchester, or both. On p. 142 of "Colt Automatic Pistols" Bady states that he believes, based on his sources, that Colt had the first .45 prototypes in the first months of 1904, around the same time as LaGarde and Thompson released their findings. This was followed by a John Browning patent filed on 25 May 1905 for a .45 automatic pistol. On 17 August 1905 General Crozier instructed Frankford Arsenal to take up development of a new .45 caliber bullet and cartridge for use in revolvers or automatic pistols. On p. 56 of "U.S. Military Automatic Pistols 1894-1920" by Meadows, it is stated that as early as June of 1905 Colt had a sample prototype available, as one was shipped to the arsenal on 8 June for use in testing their developed cartridges. After using that pistol for tests, adjustments were ordered to be made to cartridge and a new pistol for the adjusted cartridge was ordered in September of 1905. Upon receiving the second pistol, the arsenal made drawings of the barrel which are shown on p. 57 of the previously mentioned book. The writer strongly believes that this pistol is one of the early Colt prototype pistols which was sent to Frankford Arsenal for use in their development of the .45 ACP cartridge. The development of these prototypes and their cartridge directly led to the U.S. military pistol trials of 1907, to which Colt submitted two versions of the Model 1905 pistol that shares many similarities with this example. At the conclusion of these trials on 28 March 1907 the board concluded that, "The advantages of the automatic pistol... and the disadvantages of the double-action revolver... are deemed by the board of such importance that it desires to state its conviction that the principle of the automatic hand firearm should be adopted for military service and that the adoption of a specific arm should be contingent only upon the question of whether it is mechanically satisfactory in service." The 1907 trials then directly led to the development of the legendary Model 1911 pistol. The pistol itself bears very few markings as is typical of a developmental prototype, with the left side of the slide only marked with the single-line "COLT'S PATENT FIRE ARMS MFG. CO." and a circled Rampant Colt behind the serrations (markings also found on serial number 1 1907 Test Pistol photographed and described on p. 92-93 of "The Government Models" by Goddard). The left side of the trigger guard is marked with a circled five-point star (significance unknown) and a "6". The pistol does not appear to have ever received a finish as would be expected for experimental purposes. The pistol generally shares the standard features of the later standard production Model 1905 apart from a lanyard loop mounted on the left of the grip frame at a 45 degree angle, with the left grip panel modified to curve around it. Provenance: The Gus Cargile Collection

Fine, showing mostly a bright grey patina with some scattered speckling of brown, a few small patches of very light surface pitting, and mostly well-defined markings. The grips are fine showing some mild wear, some minor dings and scratches, and mostly well-defined checkering. Mechanically fine.