John Moses Browning’s genius is apparent up and down the roster of Colt semi automatic pistols, an amazing lineup of reliable and accurate handguns.

Browning started work on semi automatic pistols in 1894 and two years later had a blowback design and recoil-operated design along with two others that he licensed to Colt. An early presentation to the U.S. Ordnance Board in 1898 showed Browning’s design was easy to operate, capable of a high rate of fire, reliably loaded by either hand, shot flat and more accurate than a revolver. However, Browning and Colt’s gun fired the underpowered .38 cartridge and couldn’t attach a shoulder stock so they got passed over.

Colt and Browning went to work creating the hard-hitting .45 ACP cartridge and refining the gun design that would eventually fire it -- the Model 1911. Though the M1911 went on to be a military stalwart for most of the 20th century, other Colt pistols proved their merit, too. Take a look at the amazing lineup of Colt semi automatic pistols available in Rock Island Auction Company’s Dec. 6-8 Premier Auction in Bedford, Texas. It is a fascinating tour of Colt semi automatic pistols history.

Colt Semi Automatic Pistols: Model 1900 “Sight Safety” Pistol

This gun was Browning’s early Colt semi automatic pistol that fired the .38 Automatic Colt Pistol (ACP) cartridge with a recoil-operated design. The design introduced the modern slide for cocking the gun. The U.S. Army purchased 100 for testing purposes and later purchased 200 more on a second contract for field testing. The safety was activated when the rear sight was in the down position, fitting into a notch that locked the firing pin and giving the gun its name. Unfortunately the feature wasn’t a popular one.

This U.S. Navy Colt Model 1900, is one of only 250 Model 1900 produced for the Navy. The pistol was shipped to the Brooklyn Naval Yard on Oct. 22, 1900.

Colt Semi Automatic Pistols: Model 1903 with OSS Holster

Colt chose to focus on Browning’s recoil-operated platform while the blowback design was licensed to Fabrique Nationale. FN’s Model 1900 chambered in 7.65mm (.32ACP) was a commercial success as about 700,00 were made by the time production ended in 1909. Colt’s Model 1900 had a production run of less than 5,000. Colt saw FN’s success and asked Browning to patent his design and the result was Colt’s Model 1903.

Manufactured in 1945, this Colt Model 1903 Hammerless was issued to general officers in World War 2 and also used by intelligence officers and OSS operatives due to their concealability. This pistol is documented as shipped to the property officer at the Pentagon on Feb. 20, 1945. It is accompanied by the U.S. type 1 holster made of russet leather. Both the gun and the holster have boxes.

Colt Semi Automatic Pistols: U.S. Army Test Trials Model 1907

Colt and Browning’s recoil-operated Model 1905 was well received but the military wanted to be able to carry it cocked with a round chambered so made a grip safety requirement as well as a loaded chamber indicator and new spur hammer design. Whether the 1907 is a standalone gun or a variation of the Model 1905 as Colt progressed toward the Model 1911 is open for debate.

This highly desirable and very rare two-digit serialized Colt Model 1907 is one of only 207 made and what is believed to be one of 66 known survivors of the pistol trials, according to “U.S. Military Automatic Pistols 1894-1920,” by Edward Scott Meadows. This gun has Major Kenneth Morton’s inspector initials on the upper left front of the trigger guard bow and small British “crown/GP” proofmarks.

Colt Semi Automatic Pistols: Model 1908 Hammerless

The Model 1908 is the same gun as the 1903 but chambered for .380 cartridges with an enlarged extractor head. This gun was also issued to general officers and OSS agents during World War 2. Despite the two models’ “hammerless” name, the hammer on the 1903 and 1908 are shrouded at the back of the slide. These guns were discontinued shortly after World War 2.

This lustrous Colt Model 1908 was manufactured in 1927 and given “level 3” factory engraving that pops off the beautifully blued finish and nicely complements shiny pearl grips.

Colt Semi Automatic Pistols: World War 1 Model 1911

The final test of Colt’s recoil-operated pistol and Savage’s trial pistol put 6,000 rounds through each pistol. The Savage experienced 37 misfires. The Colt had none and also proved to be more accurate. The first military contract for 30,000 of the Colt Model 1911 was submitted in what would be more than 6 million pistols for the U.S. military over 75 years.

This incredibly early production Colt Model 1911 is serial number 15 and comes with an Anniston Army Depot Shipping Box.

The truly iconic Model 1911 would be a back-to-back winner of two world wars and serve in the Korean and Vietnam Wars and even see action with the U.S. military in the Middle East. Remington Rand would assist with production during World War 1. After some refinements following World War 1, the gun would be classified as the Model 1911A1. During World War 2 the gun was shipped to Great Britain, Canada and China. Demand was so high during war, Remington Rand, Ithaca, Union Switch & Signal and sewing machine maker Singer manufactured the M1911A1. As will be shown here, the 1911 platform also performed in other roles.

This Colt Model 1911 was manufactured in 1918 and shipped with 4,200 pistols to Springfield Armory, according to Meadows’ book, "U.S. Military Automatic Pistols 1894-1920. The gun retains 95 percent of its original blue finish and the “double-diamond” pattern walnut grips are excellent.

Colt Semi Automatic Pistols: Imperial Russian Government Model

Russian forces in World War 1 were poorly equipped, with many troops going into battle unarmed. Simply put, the Czar’s army needed guns. Russia purchased 51,000 Colt Government Model pistols that were delivered between February 1916 and January 1917. Czar Nicholas abdicated two months later and Russia collapsed into chaos. The M1911 was reportedly among the weapons used to assassinate the Czar and his family in July 1918.

Many of the M1911 pistols intended for Russia have Cyrillic markings “ANGL. ZAKAZIE” that translates to “English Order” because Great Britain served as an intermediary of the transaction, using a line of credit established by the Russians and backed by gold reserves held in Britain. About 3,000 of the pistols were reportedly off-loaded to Finland.

This Colt Government Model shipped as part of a 2,000-pistol allotment to Russia on Dec. 5, 1916 and features the Cyrillic markings mentioned earlier. This very scarce pistol retains nearly 60 percent of its original blue finish.

Colt Semi Automatic Pistols: Woodsman

Another John Browning design was the Colt Woodsman, an automatic target shooter, introduced in 1914. It holds a lot of memories for people who learned to shoot with it, plinking in the woods or backyard. Simply called the .22 Caliber Target Pistol, it earned the Colt Woodsman moniker in 1917.

The gun’s production run ran until 1977 with a number of variations, including the Target model, the Sport model and Match Target model. The gun was hand polished and hand fitted.

This beautiful game scene engraved and gold inlaid Colt Woodsman pistol carries a small game theme. A squirrel on a branch on the left side of the receiver, a possum on the right and a falcon with a successful kill on top of the pistol are each rendered in raised gold relief. Gold wire borders highlight the floral scroll and wavy line engraving on the beautifully blued barrel.

Colt Semi Automatic Pistols: Gold Damascened Government Model

The Colt Government Model is the company’s commercial version of the Model 1911. Introduced in 1912, it was a success on the heels of the adoption by the U.S. Army and Navy. An early Colt brochure noted, “6,000 consecutive shots being fired from one pistol in the final Government test, without a jam, misfire or broken part.”

The Colt Government Model proved popular in South America and was also copied by several Spanish gunmakers. Argentina bought more than 21,000 pistols from 1914 to 1941, nearly half of the Government Models shipped to South America during that time.

Shown below is a gold damascened presentation Colt Government Model manufactured in 1953 and inscribed to Associated Press foreign correspondent Major Harold K. Milks, a World War 2 veteran who is likely the only American journalist to personally meet communist leaders Mao Zedong, Nikita Khrushchev and Fidel Castro during assignments in China, Moscow and Cuba during his career.

This historic presentation Colt Government Model with a Colt .22 conversion unit barrel and slide has extensive engraving on the gun and grips. It has gold damascene inlay featuring primarily floral scroll motifs and borders on a background of matte blue. The German silver grips have traces of silver plating and brass mounts of a stag head, diamond and Mexican eagle on each side.

Colt Semi Automatic Pistols: Colt Service Model Ace

Colt developed the Ace as a .22 caliber shooter on the 1911 platform that was introduced in 1930. The company intended it as a companion to the M1911A1 or Government Model as an economical target shooter using the .22 Long Rifle cartridge instead of the more costly .45 ACP.

The Ace is built on the same platform as the Government Model but utilized a blowback design rather than the M1911A1’s recoil system. “It is built on the same identical frame as the Government Model and had the same grip, feel and method of operation – as well as full Government Model safety features.”

The Ace was lighter than the 1911 because wall thickness was reduced. Early on, the gun suffered from performance issues because the .22 cartridge didn’t provide the blowback strength needed for the heavier .45 caliber slide. David Williams, who would later earn the nickname “Carbine,” for his design of the M1 Carbine, was contracted by Colt to redesign the Ace. He designed it with a floating chamber that served as a gas piston to cycle the pistol. The newly redesigned Colt Service Model Ace went into use in 1937. The system was adapted to serve as a conversion kit for standard Government Model pistols that went on the market in 1938.

Manufactured in 1942, this was part of a 100-pistol shipment to Springfield Armory on July 2, 1942 and has the inspection mark of Col. Waldemar S. Broberg (WB).

Colt Semi Automatic Pistols: Super 38

Another part of the M1911 family, the Super 38 was slightly redesigned to be chambered in .38 Auto. Colt experimented with smaller designs but decided to hold onto the full-sized 1911 platform. Introduced at the 1928 National Matches at Camp Perry and touted in “The American Rifleman” as “The Ideal `One-handgun’ for Big Game.” It sold well, moving 26,000 pistols for Colt in the first eight years it was offered.

This outstanding and rare early post-World War 2 factory engraved Colt Super 38 was part of Colt’s traveling display and was shown at the NRA convention in 1948. Between World War 2 and 1971, only six of these pistols were factory engraved, with this one having level “C” engraving that features intertwined vines of floral scrolls and a punch-dot background covering nearly the entire pistol.

Colt Semi Automatic Pistols: Texas Ranger-Owned Mark IV Series 80 Government Model

The Mark IV Series 80 of the Colt Government Model was introduced in the early 80s with an internal firing pin safety and a half-cock notch on the sear. This Government Model owned by Texas Ranger Capt. Jack Dean has been upgraded. Dean served in Ranger Company D as captain and Company F between 1970 and 1993. Among the high profile cases he investigated was the assassination of a federal judge that resulted in the arrest of Charles Harrelson, father of Woody Harrelson. He also served as a U.S. Marshal for 10 years.

This Mark IV Series 80 Government Model has a replacement Wilson barrel and fitted with a compensator with serrated blade front sight and the rear sight dovetail has been fitted with a Bo-Mar rear sight with serrations that extend down the rear face of the slide. The front of the trigger guard, fronstrap and mainspring housing have been checkered. It has a hard chrome finish and horn Colt grips marked “TEXAS/RANGER/CAPTAIN/JACK/DEAN” on the right panel.

Colt Semi Automatic Pistols: USMC Marked Colt M45A1

In 2012, the U.S. Marine Corps contracted for up to 12,000 Colt M45A1 pistols for use as “close quarters battle pistols” (CQBP) for its Force Recon units. The initial order was for 4,036 pistols. These are Colt’s first pistol with a Cerakote finish and also have a dual recoil spring assembly and Picatinny rails.

This is a Colt Custom Shop civilian version of the U.S. Marine Corps Colt M45A1 and has a long solid aluminum trigger, an enhanced hammer with elongated slot, upswept beavertail grip safety with palm swell and ambidextrous safety. It has a National Match barrel and an accessory rail.

Colt Semi Automatic Pistols for Sale

John Moses Browning’s designs for Colt Semi-Automatic pistols started in the 19th century but carried through the 20th century with a reputation for reliability and accuracy. These are just the tip of the iceberg for any Colt collector. They can find terrific examples of the iconic M1911 or any of Colt’s equally renowned revolvers from truly astonishing collections in Rock Island Auction Company’s Dec. 6-8 Premier Auction in Bedford, Texas.