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Excellent Scarce and Desirable First Year Production Colt Model 1900 "Sight Safety" Semi-Automatic P

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:4,500.00 USD Estimated At:9,000.00 - 14,000.00 USD
Excellent Scarce and Desirable First Year Production Colt Model 1900  Sight Safety  Semi-Automatic P
The Model 1900 is very significant as Colt's first production automatic pistol and John M. Browning's first successful automatic pistol design. Colt only produced 3,500 of these pistols from 1900 to 1903. The pistol was manufactured in mid-1900. It has the desirable early configuration with the unique rear sight/safety with sixteen gripping serrations on the rear of the slide. It is fitted with smooth walnut grips. The pistol has the high polish Colt commercial blue finish with niter blue barrel and trigger, casehardened rear sight and hammer and nickel seven round magazine marked "PAT'D SEPT 9 1884" on the bottom. The left side of the slide is marked with the two block marking "BROWNING'S PATENT" / PAT'D APRIL 20. 1897" followed by "COLT'S PATENT FIRE ARMS MFG. CO. / HARTFORD. CONN. U.S.A." with the circled Rampant Colt trademark behind the serrations. The right side of the slide is marked: "AUTOMATIC COLT / CALIBRE 38 RIMLESS SMOKELESS" ahead of the ejection port. The serial number is located above the trigger guard bow on the left side of the frame. Of the 3,500 produced, about 250 were sold to the Army and Navy for field trials and the remaining 3,250 were sold commercially.
BBL: 6 inch round
Stock:
Gauge: 38 Colt auto
Finish: blue
Grips: walnut
Serial Number: 455
Condition: Excellent. The pistol retains 90% plus of the original high polish blue finish with high edge wear, some thinning (mainly on the slide and backstrap), several small dings on the lower front strap and overall some minor scratches and dings. The barrel and trigger retain almost all of the original bright niter blue finish. The hammer and safety retain 97% bright original case colors. The bottom of the magazine is slightly bent. The grips are also excellent with a few minor dings and scratches. The markings are crisp and clear. The mechanics are excellent. This is a very fine original example of a scarce and desirable, first-year production, three digit number Colt Model 1900 Sight Safety Automatic Pistol.