Colt model 1900 Altered Sight Safety Round Hammer Blue 6″ Semi-Automatic Pistol MFD 1902 C&R .38 ACP

SOLD FOR: $2,145.00
LSB#: 181102EP17

Make: Colt

Model: 1900 

Serial Number: 3299

Year of Manufacture: 1902

Caliber: .38 A.C.P. (.38 Auto)

Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto Blowback Operated Pistol with Removable Magazine

Markings: The left side of the slide is marked ““BROWNING’S PATENT” / PAT’D APRIL 20. 1897”, “COLT PATENT FIRE ARMS MFG. CO. / HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.”, and at the rear with the Rampant Colt logo in a circle. The left side of the frame is marked “3299”. The right side of the slide is marked “AUTOMATIC COLT / CALIBRE 38 RIMLESS SMOKELESS”. The inside surface of the right grip is scratched with “J.W. Hicks / Albion, OK”.

Barrel Length: 6”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a short rounded blade fixed to the top of the slide. ide. The rear sight is a rounded “U” notch dovetailed into the slide. (When Colt first produced the M1900 pistols the rear “sight safety” featured a fixed sight. This was changed sporadically throughout 1901 but by SN3500 all of the pistols were receiving the dovetailed rear sight.)

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are a black checkered plastic with “COLT” in a banner across the tops of the grips and a Rampant Colt logo in the center of the grips. There are a few light handling marks in the smooth bottoms of the grips. The checkering shows moderate wear without mars. The grips are in about Fine overall Condition.

Type of Finish: Blued. The trigger has a fire blue finish.

Finish Originality: The finish is original.

Bore Condition: The bore is gray with light wear in the rifling. There is light erosion scattered throughout the bore.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 8% of its metal finish. There are remnants of bluing visible around the rear sight and sides of the frame below the slide. The remainder shows finish loss with light erosion scattered over the surfaces. There is a gouge in the underside of the slide near the muzzle, several tiny dings in the sides of the frame, several shallow bruises in the left side of the slide and a scrape mark in the right side of the slide next to the rear sight. There are also light scratches from aggressive polishing scattered over the surfaces. The slide serrations show light wear. The hammer knurling is sharp with a small spot of moderate wear on the left edge. The grip screws are disfigured but serviceable and the slide markings are shallow but readable. Overall, this handgun rates in about Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly, and the slide is tight to the frame. This pistol has a half-cock hammer safety, a rounded hammer, and the slide serrations are at the front of the slide. The slide does not lock back on an empty magazine. 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: One 7 round nickel-plated magazine is included. The magazine shows large areas of finish loss in the body and finish loss on the edges of the floorplate, which is marked “PAT’D SEPT.9.1884”. The magazine is in Very Good condition.

Our Assessment: Colts Model 1900 pistol was the first of John Browning’s pistol designs to reach full production. As with any new design, there were small hiccups along the way and  towards the end of 1901, Colt started changing the 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 into the M1903 Pocket Hammer model, the beginnings of over a century of pistol manufacturing dominance in the U.S. market. This Model 1900 pistol was made in 1902, and has the modified or altered rear sight. The pistol is in about Good overall condition with about 8% of its metal finish remaining. The bore is gray with light wear in the rifling and light erosion scattered throughout the bore. All of the early Colt autos are collectible, and the low volume of pistols produced adds to their collector value.

CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This C&R eligible pistol CAN be transferred as a dealer sale in California but CANNOT be sold as a Private Party Transfer (PPT) at our Simi Valley shop. All cartridge firing handguns (even C&R’s and antiques) sold to a California resident must be DROS’d. This does not apply to out of state residents.

The serial number “3299” is marked on the bottom of the slide at the left-rear.