November 3-4, 2017 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/4/2017
One of only a handful of documented presentation Colt 1902 pistols. This pistol letters as blue with ivory grips sent to Powell & Clement Co. in Cincinnati, Ohio on June 8, 1906. This pistol was presented to "J. W. Pinkerton Jr.", the founder of the Pinkerton Tobacco Company, known world-wide for the famous Red Man chewing tobacco. In 1906 he moved with his family to Silver City, New Mexico, leaving the Pinkerton Tobacco Company of Cincinnati, Ohio where he was secretary and treasurer for the Red Devil Tobacco Company. This would have been a going-away gift from the employees, referred to on grips as the "Red Devils". The ivory grips, as listed in factory letter, are inscribed "From the Red Devils June 1906". The "Red Devils" is filled in with red while the rest of the writing is black. "J.W. Pinkerton Jr." is inlaid in gold on the backstrap. This amazing semi-automatic pistol comes with a box load of pertinent information and memorabilia. According to the lengthy letter by R.L. Wilson, the 1902 Colt was seldom adorned. This early model has the blued finish, round hammer, lanyard ring, and Nitre blue small parts. There is an article in "The Rampant Colt" Spring 1996 issue on this pistol. Includes original magazine dated 1884, rare leather magazine pouch with two magazines, some Red Man tobacco packs, display stand, ammunition, poster, and three ring binder of copies of correspondence between Pinkerton and the business. This Colt remains in beautiful all original factory condition. The engraved grips are in excellent to near mint condition with usual darkening and checking with perfect inscription. Most of the small parts retain a large percentage of the Nitre blue finish. Grips straps are a blue-grey patina. Balance of frame has 90% original factory blue. Slide has 80% original high polish factory blue. Razor sharp legends. Fine bore and action. A beautiful, historic, fully-documented Colt 1902 semi-automatic pistol.