December 6-8, 2023 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/6/2023
Per the included factory letter, this pistol shipped as a blued gun with pearl grips and level 3 engraving to Martin Hardware Company, Charlottesville, Virginia, on March 26th, 1917, as part of Colt factory order 322, in a shipment of 1. It remains as such, a standard configuration 1903 with 2 line 2 block patent and address information on the left side of slide, with an uncircled Rampant Colt at the rear, right with Colt's calibre designation. The slide and frame are engraved in the style of Cuno Helfricht, with flowing acanthus scroll of a punchdot background with added geometrics and gentle linework. Left side of slide with a playful wriggle line of rocker engraving with dotwork, right with a shell motif at rear. Rear of slide with shell motif, small splashes of engraving on trigger guard and straps. 2 piece pearl grips with deepset Colt medallions with wonderful fire. This pistol was on the cover of the 2017 TGCA magazine as part of the article "Three Old Single Action Collectors Admire Another Model: Collecting the Colt Pocket Hammerless Automatic Pistols 1903-1908" with pieces from Kurt House, Bob Eder, and Dick Burdick, where this gun was on the lower right. PROVENANCE: Richard "Dick" Burdick collection. CONDITION: Retains the majority of the Colt factory bluing, with appropriate distension about some proofs from application of stamp. Areas of superficial scratches and light missing throughout, mixed with some very minor spots of silver, mostly to high edges, reciprocating areas, and at muzzle consistent with holster wear. Straps are essentially gunmetal grey from use, with flashes of blue. Mechanically fine, bore has strong rifling and some very minor frosting. Grips are very good, right scale has a minor crack on front that catches on a fingernail but is inoffensive.
Model
1903 Pocket Hammerless
Paperwork
Factory Letter, Information