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LOT 3497
Rare Colt Tool Room Model 1903 Pocket
Hammer Fitment Test Gun - NSN, 38 Colt auto cal.,
4 1/2 inch round bbl., bright finish, hard rubber grips.
Manufactured from 1903 to 1947, the Colt Model 1903
Pocket Hammer pistol, with 31,229 produced, was the most
popular large frame automatic manufactured by Colt until the introduction
of the Model 1911/Government Model. This example is an important piece
of Colt and Model 1903 Pocket Hammer production history as it appears
to be a tool room model used for testing the fitment and functionality of
triggers and hammers. The slide has the standard two-line, two-block patent
date and address markings on the left and the two-line caliber marking on the
right. The rest of the pistol is devoid of markings. The slide is unique in that it
has not had the ejection port cut or been fitted with sights. There is a small cut
in the top of the barrel near the muzzle. It is not fitted with a trigger or hammer,
likely so that newly manufactured triggers and hammers could be dropped
into the frame for functionality tests. It is fitted with a pair of checkered hard rubber grips with Rampant Colts and Colt banners, and the magazine is absent. The entire pistol appears to have been pulled from the production line for this purpose before receiving its final polishing and finish.
CONDITION: Very fine as a tool room test gun, showing mostly a bright grey patina overall with some scattered patches of brown and dark grey. The grips are very good with a few light chips around the edges and crisp checkering overall. Mechanically fine as a fitment test model (see above).
Provenance: The Gus Cargile Collection.
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
LOT 3499
Documented
Factory Inscribed
First Year
Production
Pre-World War
II Colt Super
.38 Semi-Automatic Pistol with
Factory Letter - Serial no. 2607, 38 super auto
cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips.
Manufactured in 1929, the first year of production,
these Super .38 pistols were first shown to the
public at the August 1928 Camp Perry National
Matches, and were available for purchase by
the start of 1929. The left side of the matching
number slide is marked with the two-line address
and patent dates while the right side bears the
caliber marking, the Rampant Colt, and the factory
inscription “Joe Smythe”. The serial number is on
the right of the frame, the left of the trigger guard
is marked “1” over “VP”, and the right of the trigger
guard is marked “20”. Fitted with blade and notch
rear sights, wide checkered hammer, long grip
safety, arched checkered mainspring housing,
checkered grips, and a two-tone .38 Super Auto
magazine. The included factory letter confirms the
current configuration including the inscription (listed in the letter as
“Joe Smyth”, grips not listed) as well as shipment to Farwell, Ozmun, Kirk
& Company in St. Paul, Minnesota on 5 July 1929 as a
single gun shipment.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 70% plus of the original blue finish with some
extensive patches of light pitting covered with cold blue, primarily on the top forward portion of the slide and top of the frame, some showing a brown-grey patina. The grips are very fine with only the slightest handling marks. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Gus Cargile Collection.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 3500
Exceptional Colt Military Model 1902 Semi-Automatic
Pistol - Serial no. 41068, 38 Colt auto cal., 6 inch round bbl.,
blue finish, hard rubber grips. Manufactured in 1919, this is an
outstanding example of a later production Colt Military Model
of 1902 pistol, displaying the later production features such as the spur hammer which began to appear at approximately serial number 30900 as well as the less reflective finish which began to be applied at serial number 37000. The left side of the slide is marked with the two-line, two-block patent dates and address with the Rampant Colt behind the triangular serrations, while the caliber marking is on the right. The left of the trigger guard is marked “1/VP” and the right is marked “48”. Fitted with blade and rounded top notch sights, checkered spur hammer, checkered hard rubber grips with “COLT” banners and Rampant Colts, and a lanyard ring on the left of the grip frame.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 90% plus of the original blue finish with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina, primarily on the edges along with a few patches of very light surface pitting. The grips are also excellent with only the
LOT 3498
Exceptional Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammer
Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial no. 39131, 38
ACP cal., 4 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, hard
rubber grips. Manufactured in 1917 with fixed
sights, the two-line/two-block patent dates and address on the left
side of the slide ahead of the Rampant Colt, and the caliber markings on the right ahead of the ejector port. This pistol exhibits the later grey/ blue factory finish that was adopted around serial number 36000. The trigger guard is marked “VP” and “1” on the left side, with a checkered casehardened spur hammer, smooth trigger, “CAL. 38/COLT” marked full blue magazine, and a pair of hard rubber grips with Colt banners and Rampant Colt imprints.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 95% of the original blue finish with some very
light edge wear and some slight thinning on the back strap, 97% of the
vibrant original case colors remain on the hammer. The grips are also excellent with only the slightest handling marks and crisp checkering overall. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750
slightest handling marks and crisp checkering overall. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
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