November 3-4, 2017 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/4/2017
Colt factory letter lists this pistol as shipped as a 4" blued model sent to Seattle Hardware Co., in Seattle, Washington on July 18th, 1903 in a shipment of five guns. This was during the fifth full month of production and this gun has all the early features including a 4" blued barrel (shortened to 3-3/4" on April 10th, 1908), fine blue finish, no barrel 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 eight-feather takedown arrow on right side; pony at left rear in circle that was used from 1903 to 1911. Overall high edge wear; rear grip safety is thinning. No verified proof, a feature which started in 1905. 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 used until 1913; left side of slide has the Browning's patent with last patent date of 1897, used only in 1903 and was changed in 1904 (page 14). All legends are sharp. Gun retains approximately 85-90% of the high polish blue finish with scattered storage marks and minor freckles. Fine bore. One of the earliest known surviving Colt Model 1903 Models.