Make: Colt

Model: 1902 Sporting

Serial Number: 10314

Year of Manufacture: 1907

Caliber: .38 ACP (.38 Rimless Smokeless)

Action Type: Single Action Semi-Automatic Pistol with Removable Magazine

Barrel Length: 6"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a short rounded blade fixed to the top of the slide. The rear sight is a rounded "V"-notch dovetailed into the slide.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered hard rubber with "COLT" in a banner across the tops of the grips and a circled Rampant Colt logo in the center of the grips. Originally black, the grips have gone to a fairly uniform brown color. The grips have a few light nicks and handling marks. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Factory Refinished, Factory replaced slide.

Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is scattered light erosion and infrequent minor pitting in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 6-7/10.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 92% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. There are some scattered light nicks and thin scratches, most in the grip areas. There are some spots of stubborn, dried grease. The screw heads are sharp. The wedge retains its indexing stud. The markings range from clear to shallow and incomplete, the "K" markings on the right of the trigger guard and in the right frame-rail at the front are crisp, as is the rampant colt at the left-rear of the slide. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good-plus condition as factory refinished/repaired.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes in a french-fit presentation case with one unmarked 7-round magazine and an orange-label, 7-10 dated box of Winchester .38 Automatic Colt cartridges. The ammo box has later plastic sealing that we have elected to leave intact.

Our Assessment: Colts Model 1900 pistol was the first of John Browning’s pistol designs to reach full production. Such was Browning's genius that he developed many innovations which are considered commonplace today, not least of which is the concept of "the slide". As with any new design, there were small hiccups along the way and towards the end of 1901, Colt started changing the 1900 Model's sight safety to a dovetailed sight. With other minor changes, the pistol became the Model 1902 Sporting and Military Models, the beginnings of over a century of pistol manufacturing dominance in the U.S. market.

This Model 1902 Sporting pistol was made in 1907, right at the end of standard serial production. The pistol is interesting as it has an earlier style slide with "Browning's Patent" legend, but with an uncircled rampant colt, a marking not used until after 1902 Sporting production had ceased. Most markings are shallow or incomplete, but this rampant colt and the "K" inspector/assembler markings on the frame are quite crisp, with matching finish on the slide and frame. All of this indicates a pistol which was sent back to Colt for repair or refurbishment, and apparently this pistol was assembled with an earlier slide still in inventory.

The pistol is in Very Good-plus overall condition with about 92% of its new metal finish remaining. The bore is in decent shape, especially given the age of the pistol, and the mechanics are strong. All of the early Colt autos are collectible, and the low volume of Model 1902 Sporting pistols produced adds to their collector value with fewer than 7,000 made. This example will make a great addition to any collection and will display well in the included presentation case. Please see our photos and good luck!