November 3-4, 2017 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/4/2017
The Colt factory letter lists this pistol as shipped as a 3-3/4" blued model sent to Pacific Hardware & Steel in San Francisco on July 30th, 1908 in a shipment of 30 guns. This was during the fifth full month of production and has all the early features, including a 3-3/4" blued barrel with no front lug, earliest style barrel bushing (as seen on page 20 in the book "The Colt Pocket Hammerless Pistols Vol. II" by Brunner), earliest style Model M checkered hard rubber grips with "COLT" at top with scallop lines above and below and rampant pony in circle at bottom (page 19-20). Slide is not numbered, a process that began in 1917. Has the early style rounded rear sight (page 23); early style full high polish blue second type magazine with six view holes, pin unmarked base, and no temper line; earliest short stem no-feather takedown arrow on right side (page 17); pony at left rear in circle that was used from 1903 to 1911. Overall high edge wear; rear grip safety is thinning. Early verified proof used from 1905 to 1916. Has the early magazine catch with cross checkered diamond pattern used through 1910; early slide lock safety with diamond pattern checkering used until 1910; smooth trigger; right side of slide has stamp that began in 1908 to 1913; left side of slide has the 1903 patent referred to as "Type D" (page 16) used in only 1908 and early 1909. All legends are sharp. Gun retains approximately 75% of the reapplied blue-grey appearance. Left grip panel has a small chip in front. Right side of frame has a small dent in forward area. One of the earliest known examples of this type of gun.