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*VERY RARE MARTIALLY MARKED COLT MODEL 1902 MILITARY SEMI-AUTO PISTOL.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:3,750.00 USD Estimated At:7,500.00 - 12,500.00 USD
*VERY RARE MARTIALLY MARKED COLT MODEL 1902 MILITARY SEMI-AUTO PISTOL.
SN 15169. Cal. 38 ACP. One of only 200 of these scarce pistols purchased by the military in 1902. It has all blue finish with 6" bbl, orig fixed sights and forward checkered slide grasping area. The slide has standard markings of the Model 1900 without the 1902 Patent date and has the rampant Colt in a circle at the left rear end of the slide. Left front web of trigger guard is stamped "U.S." and the right side with the sub-inspector initials "RAC" (Rinaldo A. Carr) with the inspector initials "JTT" (Capt. John T. Thompson) just above on the frame. Mounted with orig Colt hard rubber grips and has a lanyard swivel in the bottom left heel, with a slide lock on the left side of the frame. Hammer is color case hardened with a checkered rnd top. Accompanied by one orig full nickel plated magazine with patent marked base. Although these pistols were not adopted by the military they were very popular with the buying public there having been a total of 26,000 produced in the period 1903-1929. They remained popular with target shooters well into the 1950s due to their inherent accuracy and reliability and are rarely found today with high orig finish or in orig configuration. CONDITION: Very fine plus. Slide retains about 94-95% glossy orig blue with light muzzle end and sharp edge wear, a few small nicks and scattered spots of pinprick rust; frame retains about 90% glossy orig blue, strong & bright on sides, slightly thinned on bottom front of frame and front & back straps; trigger retains most of its orig fire blue and the hammer about all of its orig bright case colors. Grips are sound showing very light diamond point wear. Mechanics are fine, strong bright bore, lightly frosted. 4-47534 JR187