Colt Military Model of 1902, Scarce Blue 6” Long Slide Semi-Automatic Pistol, MFD 1914 C&R
Sold For: $1,410.00
LSB#: 160822ST02
Make: Colt
Model: Military Model of 1902
Serial Number: 36688
Year of Manufacture: 1914
Caliber: .38 A.C.P. (.38 Auto)
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto Pistol with Removable Magazine
Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “PATENTED / APR. 20.1897. SEPT. 9.1902.”, “COLT’S PT. F. A. MFG. CO. / HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.”, and at the rear with the Rampant Colt logo in a circle. The left side of the frame is marked “36688”. The right side of the slide is marked “AUTOMATIC COLT / CALIBRE 38 RIMLESS SMOKELESS”. The left front of the trigger guard is marked with a “VP” in a triangle and at the rear with “P”.
Barrel Length: 6”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a thin rounded blade fixed to the top of the slide. The rear sight is a rounded “U” notch dovetailed into the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered black hard rubber with “COLT” in a banner at the tops of the grips and a Rampant Colt logo in the center of the grips. There is a lanyard ring mounted on the left bottom rear corner of the frame just underneath the grip. The smooth borders of the grips show a few scratches at the lower rear edge of the left grip. There is a ding just above the upper grip screw escutcheon at the top of the left grip and a tiny nick out of the top edge of the banner in the left grip. There is a tiny chip just above the upper grip screw escutcheon in the right grip. The checkering shows light even wear without mars. The grips are in about Fine overall Condition.
Type of Finish: The finish on the pistol is blued. The slide release still retains most of its fire blue finish.
Finish Originality: The finish is original.
Bore Condition: The bore is a gray with light wear in the rifling and extremely light erosion scattered throughout the bore.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 30% of its metal finish. There is surface loss on the slide, front strap, backstrap and the edges of the frame. The slide has developed a mottled gray patina. There are spots of solid erosion and areas of pinprick surface erosion scattered over the slide and underside of the frame, with spots of solid erosion scattered over the sides of the frame and trigger guard, and extremely light pinprick surface erosion in the front strap. There are multiple dings in the backstrap and several scratches in the left side of the slide and frame and on the front strap. There are tool marks around the pin in the right side of the frame above the trigger. The serrations on the right side of the slide are sharp and those on the left side show light wear in the rear five edges and a tiny ding in one of the front edges. The hammer checkering shows light wear. Three of the grip screws are disfigured. The markings are clear. Overall, this handgun rates in about Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly, and the slide is tight to the frame. This pistol has a half-cock hammer safety and a spur hammer. The slide locks back on an empty magazine and there is a slide release on the left side of the frame. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: One 8 round blued magazine is included. The floorplate is marked “MIL. / COLT / 38 CAL.”. The magazine shows thinning with areas of surface loss, and spots of surface erosion with several spots of solid erosion. The floorplate shows thinning and a spot of solid erosion. The magazine is in about Good condition. There is a lanyard ring mounted on the lower rear left side of the grip frame.
Our Assessment: From Wikipedia: “The Model 1902 is a semi-automatic pistol developed by famous American firearms designer John Browning and produced by the Colt’s Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company in the early 20th century. The Model 1902 was not a new design, but rather an incremental improvement upon the nearly identical M1900, and would transition from the 1900 into three distinct but related pistols with the same action and cartridge: the 1902 Sporting Model, the 1902 Military model, and the 1903 Pocket Hammer model. The 1902 Sporting model was so similar to the 1900 that it continued the serial number range, while the 1902 Military Model featured a different serial range as did the 1903 Pocket Hammer model. The 1900 and 1902 pistols were chambered in .38 ACP, and the first commercial loadings were judged too hot, and the loadings were reduced to achieve just under 1100 fps. with a 130 gr. bullet. The popularity of the 1902 pistol waned after the Colt 1911 model came out with improved features and a hotter cartridge, although the Military and 1903 models kept alive until the late 1920’s.”. This is a Colt Military Model of 1902 pistol that was made in 1914. It has a 6” barrel, a slide release (the slide locks back on an empty magazine on this model), a lanyard ring on the lower rear left side of the grip frame, and is chambered in .38 ACP. The pistol is in about Good condition with about 30% of its original finish remaining. The bore is gray with light wear in the rifling and extremely light erosion scattered throughout the bore. The checkered hard rubber grips, however, show only a few tiny marks and light wear in the checkering. While the finish may detract from the enthusiasm some collectors would have towards this pistol, the low volume of pistols produced will still make this pistol of interest to the collectors.
