Make: Colt

Model: 1902 Sporting

Serial Number: 10404

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 (altered from a "U"-notch).

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are reproduction checkered black 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. The grips have only a few scattered light marks. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. The bottom screw escutcheons are loose in the panels. Overall, the grips are in Fine condition as not original to the gun.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original, custom after-market hammer.

Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is scattered light erosion and pitting in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 5/10.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 10% of its metal finish. There is infrequent remaining finish on exposed surfaces, mostly around raised features, with stronger finish on the interior. Most exposed surfaces have worn to white or gone to a light patina. There are scattered light nicks and scratches. There is scattered minor surface erosion, a little more notable under the grips. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with usable slots. The wedge retains its indexing stud. The markings range from clear to worn, but legible. Overall, this pistol is in Good condition.

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 with one unmarked 7-round magazine.

Our Assessment: Colt's 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 in Good overall condition, showing wear consistent with its age of nearly 120 years. The bore shows erosion consistent with corrosive ammunition of the age, but the mechanics are strong. This pistol has an interesting custom replacement hammer with a spur design that differs from Colt's spur hammers. 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 neat addition to any collection missing the 1902. Please see our photos and good luck!