somd_mustangs
-----
- Jul 1, 2012
- 5,752
Actually, it found me via a collector/dealer buddy trying to raise money for a 1918 BAR 
After a long layaway it finally showed up last week.
The Model of 1911 traces its origins to this pistol, which is one of the 200 Colt 1902 "Military" models delivered to the US Army in July 1902.
These were the first production 1902's and numbered 15001-15200
(the S/N's on 1902 Sporting/Military and 1903 Pocket Hammer are weird)
Ultimately Colt made about 18,000 Model 1902 Military pistols, but only these first 200 actually went to the military, the rest were sold commercially.
The Army had received 300 of John Browning's Colt 1900 design with mixed reviews (Navy received 200).
A number of the issues were addressed to create the Model 1902, including:
1) Longer, reshaped grip frame accommodating an 8 shot magazine vice 7
2) Addition of a lanyard loop
3) Addition of a slide hold-back
4) Replacing the iron firing pin/sight safety system with a brass inertia firing pin and driftable rear sight
5) Changing the front recoil spring cover to a movable plug to release spring tension for takedown
(1900 required using a pin or nail to hold the lock to remove the slide for field-stripping)
Anyway this example isn't in the greatest of shape but the surviving high-condition pistols are
(a) closely held by collectors
(b) crazy expensive when they do come out of hiding
Bore isn't too bad, and it doesn't look like it was ever messed with -
alot of 1902's have the pins messed up from people using nails, etc to remove them.
The holster is definitely not an original US Army issue (or contract) holster but was with it for the past who-knows-how-long years.
After a long layaway it finally showed up last week.
The Model of 1911 traces its origins to this pistol, which is one of the 200 Colt 1902 "Military" models delivered to the US Army in July 1902.
These were the first production 1902's and numbered 15001-15200
(the S/N's on 1902 Sporting/Military and 1903 Pocket Hammer are weird)
Ultimately Colt made about 18,000 Model 1902 Military pistols, but only these first 200 actually went to the military, the rest were sold commercially.
The Army had received 300 of John Browning's Colt 1900 design with mixed reviews (Navy received 200).
A number of the issues were addressed to create the Model 1902, including:
1) Longer, reshaped grip frame accommodating an 8 shot magazine vice 7
2) Addition of a lanyard loop
3) Addition of a slide hold-back
4) Replacing the iron firing pin/sight safety system with a brass inertia firing pin and driftable rear sight
5) Changing the front recoil spring cover to a movable plug to release spring tension for takedown
(1900 required using a pin or nail to hold the lock to remove the slide for field-stripping)
Anyway this example isn't in the greatest of shape but the surviving high-condition pistols are
(a) closely held by collectors
(b) crazy expensive when they do come out of hiding
Bore isn't too bad, and it doesn't look like it was ever messed with -
alot of 1902's have the pins messed up from people using nails, etc to remove them.
The holster is definitely not an original US Army issue (or contract) holster but was with it for the past who-knows-how-long years.
