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Extremely Rare Early Production U.S. Contract Semi-Automatic Pistols from Early 20th Century
LOT 1481
Scarce and Desirable U.S.
Army Second
Contract Colt Model 1900 “Sight Safety” Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial no. 1577,
38 Colt auto cal., 6 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1900, this is a scarce example of one of 200 Colt Model 1900 pistols manufactured to fulfill the second contract for the U.S. Army. These 200 pistols were ordered by the Ordnance
Department to further augment the initial 100 pistols ordered for testing in 1900 and was partially due to the high demand by officers stationed in the Philippines for automatic pistols. These 200 pistols ordered were serial numbered 1501 through 1700 and incorporated
only two of the plethora of recommendations submitted after initial field testing, these being longer and deeper slide serrations moved to the front of the slide and coarsely checkered, thicker grips. This pistol was part of the second shipment of 50 pistols which was sent to Springfield Armory on 11 January 1901 and included the serial
numbers 1551 through 1600. While most of these second contract pistols were then inspected by Rinaldo A. Carr at the armory and stamped with his “R.A.C.” mark on the right side of the trigger guard bow, these second shipment pistols were not, which is discussed and pictured (pistol number 1582 pictured) on p. 33 of “U.S. Military Automatic
Pistols 1894-1920” by Meadows, where it is stated that the reason for this second shipment of pistols not being inspected is unknown. Apart from three of these 200 second contract pistols, which were retained for cartridge testing, all were sent to New York Arsenal on 9 February 1901 in preparation for their shipment to the Manila Ordnance Depot
for issuance to officers stationed in the Philippines for further field trials. The pistols received more mixed reports from officers in the field, including a multitude of complaints and recommendations. In May of 1909, 126 Model 1900 pistols (not all second contract) were turned in at Rock Island Arsenal for inspection. On 18 June 1909 the Commanding
Officer of Rock Island Arsenal was approved to sell the pistols, with the price being set at $7.50 for a pistol, magazine, and holster. Of these 200 second contract pistols, only 49 known surviving examples are listed on p. 35 of the previously mentioned reference, making this an incredibly rare U.S. military automatic.
This example is marked with the correct two-line, two-block “Browning’s patent” and Colt address followed by the circled Rampant Colt on the left of the
slide, while the right has the standard two-line caliber marking. Both sides of the slide feature the forward oriented, longer, and deeper slide serrations, as previously mentioned. The left side of the frame is marked with the serial number “1577” and the trigger guard bow is marked “U.S.” It is fitted with a blade front sight and notch rear sight in its original “sight safety” configuration, spur hammer with arched bottom checkering, coarsely checkered grips, and it is furnished with a full nickel magazine with base marked “PAT’D SEPT.9.1884”
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 70% of the bright original high polish blue finish, the balance showing some thinning, primarily on high spots and handling areas. 60% plus of the original nitre blue and vivid original case colors remain with some light wear showing a smooth grey patina. The grips are also very fine with some scattered light ding and scratches, and a minor dent on the upper left. Mechanically excellent. This is an opportunity to own an incredibly scarce and highly desirable U.S. military Colt Model 1900 “Sight Safety” Pistol that will greatly enhance any U.S. military collection!
Provenance: The Dr. Robert Azar Collection.
Estimate: 9,500 - 16,000
LOT 1482
Fine and Very
Scarce U.S. Inspected Colt Model 1902 Military Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial no. 15088, 38 Colt auto cal., 6 inch round bbl., blue finish,
hard rubber grips. Manufactured in 1902, the first year of production, this pistol was in the first shipment of 100 Military Model of 1902 pistols sent by Colt to Springfield Armory on 15 July 1902. This pistol was one of the first 200 pistols ordered by the Ordnance Department for testing in their continued efforts to find an automatic pistol suitable for military adoption. They incorporated many
of the recommendations from officers in the field that were submitted during testing of the Model 1900, including very similar slide checkering to the sketch submitted by Lieutenant Odus C. Horney, which is pictured on p. 34 of “U.S. Military Automatic Pistols 1894-1920” by Meadows. The purchase of these pistols had
been approved by the Board of Ordnance and Fortification on 11 January 1902, after a sample pistol had been tested in December of the previous year. After receiving and inspecting these 200 pistols at the armory, they were sent to troops at Forts Riley and Leavenworth in Kansas, as well as Jefferson Barracks in Missouri for field trials.
Again, the feedback given from the field trials was mostly negative and they were deemed “...not as satisfactory a pistol as the revolver.” In 1909, 62 of these pistols that were deemed serviceable were sold off as surplus alongside some of the older Model 1900 pistols. A few Model 1902 pistols were retained for Ordnance Department
historical collections. This example is marked with the two-line Browning’s patent and Colt address markings on the left of the slide arranged in two blocks, with a circled Rampant Colt at the rear. The right side is marked “MODEL 1902” and with the
two-line caliber marking. The right side of the frame and trigger guard have the “R.A.C.” inspection mark of Rinaldo A. Carr and the “J.T.T.” acceptance mark of Captain John T. Thompson. The left side of the frame and trigger guard have the serial number and “U.S.” marking. The slide has the forward checkering on each side, and blade and notch sights. It is fitted with a rounded
checkered hammer, checkered hard rubber grips with “COLT” banners and Rampant Colts, the lanyard loop on the left of the grip frame, and a correct nickeled magazine with “PAT’D SEPT.9.1884” on the base.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 60% plus of the bright original high polish blue finish, 70% of the original case colors on the hammer, and 50% plus of the original nitre blue with the balance having thinned to a smooth grey patina, most noticeably on the grip straps and upper edges of the slide. The faded grips are also fine with a few scattered very light handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Dr. Robert Azar Collection.
Estimate: 7,500 - 11,000
Collector’s Fact
This rare U.S. Contract
Colt Model 1902 was in the first shipment of 100 pistols sent by Colt to Springfield Armory on July 15, 1902.
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Collector’s Fact
1 of only 200 Colt Model 1900 pistols produced for the second U.S. Army contract.