Make: Colt

Model: 1902 Military

Serial Number: 42685

Year of Manufacture: ca. 1920-1926 (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup)

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 round blade fixed to the top of the slide. The rear sight is a rounded “U”-notch dovetailed into the slide.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered hard rubber with “COLT” in a banner across their tops and a circled Rampant Colt logo in their centers. The grips have minor handling wear with a few light nicks and small scratches. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Fine Condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original, the slide is serial-matching. The rear barrel link-pin is a replacement.

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly light gray with sharp rifling. There is scattered minor erosion in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 7 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 80% of its metal finish. The rear barrel link-pin, which is a replacement, remains loose in the frame and protrudes from each side. The finish is thinning at most edges. Most of the balance is in evenly scattered light oxidation and spots of minor erosion. There is light handling wear in the grip areas. There are some scattered light nicks, scuffs, and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good Condition.

Mechanics: The rear barrel link-pin, which is a replacement, remains loose in the frame and protrudes from each side. Otherwise, the action functions correctly. The slide has very minor play to the frame. This pistol has a bronze firing pin. We did not fire this handgun. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with two factory original Colt Model 1902 Military blued 8-round magazines, both of which are stamped “MIL. / 38 CAL / COLT.” on the bottom floorplates. Colt switched to this style of mag around S/N 38000 (around 1916). Thus, these mags are correct for this serial range.

Our Assessment: The Colt Model 1900 semi-automatic 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 tweaks needed along the way, and towards the end of 1901, Colt started changing the Model 1900's sight safety, which only offered a fixed sight, to a sight that was dovetailed into the slide to offer windage adjustment. With a few other minor changes, the pistol transitioned into the Model 1902 Sporting and Military Models and eventually into the Model 1903 Pocket Hammer model, the beginnings of over a century of pistol manufacturing dominance in the US market.

This Colt Model 1902 Military .38 ACP Semi-Auto Pistol is from late in production, made between 1920-1926, and is in Very Good Condition. This pistol boasts the correct features for its serial number range. It features a 6” barrel, 80% of its original blued finish, a low spur hammer, the classic lanyard loop on the bottom left extended grip frame, one of the distinguishing characteristics of the Model 1902 Military, elegant, original checkered hard rubber grips with “COLT” in a banner across their tops and a circled Rampant Colt logo in their centers, two factory original Colt Model 1902 Military blued 8-round mags, both of which are stamped “MIL. / 38 CAL / COLT.” on the bottom floorplates, strong mechanics, and a mostly light gray bore with sharp rifling (there’s scattered minor erosion). The rear barrel link-pin, which is a replacement, remains loose in the frame and protrudes from each side. Otherwise, the action functions correctly. There were approximately 18,000 Colt Model 1902 Military pistols made before they were discontinued in late 1928; highly prized and heavily used, even fewer survive today. All of the early Colt autos are collectible, and this fine example, with so much original finish remaining, will make a great addition to any collection. Lastly, this pistol comes from the personal collection of inventor, founder, and President of Universal Firearms, Abe Seiderman, and should be of additional interest to collectors for that ownership lineage. A signed Certificate Of Authenticity from the Seiderman family will be included with this piece.