GUN FALL 2015
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/5/2015
EXTREMELY RARE NAVY CONTRACT COLT MODEL 1900 SEMI-AUTO PISTOL. COLT M1900 1050, Navy SN 50 38 ACP MODERN; C&R Cal. 38ACP (38 Rimless/Smokeless). Blue finish with 6" bbl, orig half moon front sight & articulated rear sight that serves as a firing pin block safety and a checkered-spur hammer. Fitted with 2-pc smooth, highly figured walnut grips. Left side of frame has Navy SN "U.S.N. 50" and Colt inspection mark of a "B" in a triangle on left front web of trigger guard. Slide has usual markings on both sides. Right side of frame has SN and there is a small trident stamped on right front web of trigger-bow. Accompanied by one orig magazine which is nickel plated with patent date on base plate. Accompanied by a full box (50 rds) of Remington 38 automatic ammunition. This is one of Colt's lowest production semi-auto pistols with only about 3500 manufactured 1900-1903. They were made with front & rear slide serrations, with both high spur and rnd spur hammers and later in production the sight safety was replaced with a simple fixed sight. Many of the orig sight safety pistols were returned to have this feature removed and replaced with a fixed sight. Few remain today in completely orig configuration. This is one of the most rare of all military contracts for handguns with only 50 ever having been ordered. It is also unusual in that the Navy SN corresponds with last 2 digits of factory SN. PROVENANCE: The William Smith Collection. CONDITION: Very fine to extremely fine. Overall retains 93-95% glossy orig factory blue with scattered light scratches & minor edge wear & some slight thinning on slide. Sight safety & hammer retain most of their orig bright case colors & trigger most of its niter blue. Magazine retains about all of its orig nickel finish. Grips are sound with nicks & dings and retain most of their orig varnish. Grip screws retain about all of their orig niter blue. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. Ammunition is sealed in plastic and not examined. Box is fine. This pistol is suitable for inclusion in the very finest private or museum collection. 49312-6 JR224 (17,500-27,500)