Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Herb Houze
contract, total quantity 200. Serial range 1501 to 1700. Checkered walnut grips. Inspector’s initials RAC marked on left side of trigger bow:
| 5B-219.5 | Values—Very Good $5,000 | Exc. $17,500 |
Colt Model 1902 Sporting Automatic Pistol
Model 1902 Sporting Automatic Pistol. Made 1903-08; in a total quantity of about 7,500.
38 rimless smokeless caliber. Magazine capacity 7 shots. Barrel of 6" length.
Hard rubber, checkered grips with COLT and rampant colt motifs. Blued finish, the hammer casehardened.
Serial numbers continued the series begun by the Model 1900 Automatic, beginning at the range about 3500, and continuing through approximately 10999; some pistols in the range 30000 -30190. Slide markings of four basic types; the first identical to that on the Model 1900; the second with the patent date part of marking in three lines (including 1897 and 1902); the third with patent date marking in two lines and including 1897 and 1902; and the fourth the 1897 and 1902 dates and PATENTED in two lines but without reference to Browning. Caliber designation and AUTOMATIC COLT on right side of slide.
The second model of Colt Automatic Pistol, identification can be confusing, but basic details to note are: 1897 and 1902 patent date slide markings, rear sight dovetailed onto breech area of slide, rounded butt shape, rounded hammer spur, long slide, and lack of a slide lock device (on left side of frame). Comparison should be made with the Model 1902 Military, and differences are noted in the text on that model.
Basic variations of the Model 1902 Sporting are:
Standard model, the serrations on the front section of slide; below serial range of about 9500:
5B-220
| 5B-220 | Values—Very Good $500 | Exc. $2,250 |
Standard model, the serrations on the rear section of the slide; made in serial range about 9500:
| 5B-221 | Values—Very Good $450 | Exc. $2,000 |
Colt Model 1902 Military Automatic Pistol
Model 1902 Military Automatic Pistol. Manufactured c. 1902-29; in a total of approximately 18,000.
38 rimless smokeless caliber. Magazine capacity 8 shots. Barrel length 6".
Hard rubber, checkered grips with COLT and rampant colt motifs. Blued finish, the hammer casehardened.
Quite unusual serial numbering, which began at 15001, and went backward to 11000; then began at 30200, continuing to 47266. Numbers were shared with the Model 1903 Pocket (Hammer type) Automatic within the years 1918-29. Three types of slide markings on the left side, as follows: First type, has patent part of marking in three lines (with 1897 and 1902 dates); second type, with patent date marking in two lines and including 1897 and 1902, and BROWNING reference; the third type, has 1897 and 1902 dates and PATENTED in two lines (but without reference to Browning). Caliber designation, AUTOMATIC COLT, and MODEL 1902 on right side of slide.
With several similarities to the Model 1902 Sporting Pistol, the Model 1902 Military can be distinguished by the following details: Slide lock device on left side of frame, MODEL 1902 markings on slide, magazine capacity of 8 cartridges, square butt profile, and presence of lanyard swivel on left side of the butt. The Model 1902 Military is the most often encountered of the “long slide” early Colt automatic pistols, and boasts a comparatively lengthy production run.
Basic variations are:
Early production model, having slide serrations at the front section:
5B-222
| 5B-222 | Values—Very Good $500 | Exc. $2,250 |
Standard production, with the slide serrations at the rear section; hammers either rounded or of the spur type:
5B-223
| 5B-223 | Values—Very Good $450 | Exc. $1,750 |
Special group of U.S. Army marked pistols; within the serial range 15001 - 15200; have inspector stampings and slide serrations at the front:
| 5B-224 | Values—Very Good $3,750 | Exc. $12,500 |
Colt Model 1903 Pocket Automatic Pistol
Model 1903 Pocket Automatic Pistol. Made c. 1903-29; the total quantity approximately 26,000.
38 rimless smokeless caliber. Magazine capacity 7 shots. Length of barrel 4-1/2".
Hard rubber, checkered grips with COLT and rampant colt motifs. Blued finish, the hammer casehardened.
The serial numbering in sequence from 16001 through 47226; from 30200 to end of production the numbers shared with the 1902 Military Model Pistol. Same three types of slide markings as on the Model 1902 Military Pistol (q.v.). Caliber designation and AUTOMATIC COLT on right side of slide.
The Model 1903 Pocket Automatic is generally identical to the Model 1902 Sporting, with the notable exception of the shorter slide. This was Colt’s first pocket size automatic, and features a long production record for a comparatively primitive model of automatic type.
Basic variations are:
Early production model, with the rounded hammer (serials to about 22000). Blue finish on these did not hold up well, consequently they are difficult to find in finer grades of condition:
5B-225
| 5B-225 | Values—Very Good $250 | Exc. $1,000 |
Standard model, having the spur type hammer (serials after about 22000):
| 5B-226 | Values—Very Good $225 | Exc. $875 |