This Colt Military Model 1902 "U.S. Army" contract semi-automatic pistol was manufactured in 1902. This pistol is one of the key models required in any advanced Colt martial arms collection. This pistol eventually lead to the development and adoption of the Colt Model 1911 pistol. There were exactly 200 of this model manufactured, they were shipped on two different dates and serial number blocks on July 1902. This example was shipped in the first block of serial numbers as shipped to Springfield Armory in 15 July 1902, as noted on pages 42-47 in the excellent reference book "U.S. Military Automatic Pistols 1894-1920" by Meadows. It is correctly marked with the "U.S." on the left side trigger guard bow, with the U.S. Ordnance inspector initials "J.T.T." for Capt. John Thompson on the right side of the frame and the sub-inspector initials "R.A.C." for Rinaldo A. Carr on the upper trigger guard bow. It has the correct military style square end butt with the lanyard loop on the lower left rear side and sporting style round hammer spur. 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 FIREARMS 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 left side of the frame has the serial number stamped above the trigger guard bow. It is complete with the an original nickel plated magazine marked "PAT'D Sept 9. 1894" on the base plate. 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. The barrel is blue.

Very good with strong traces of the bright original high polish blue finish still remaining overall mostly in the protected areas of the frame, with the balance of the metal a mixed gray/brown patina finish in some areas. The grips are very good with distinct checkering and markings on both sides showing even honest wear across the tops of each grip panel. Mechanically excellent. This example will nicely fill that vacant slot in your U.S. military collection!