*EXTREMELY RARE COLT MODEL 1907 TEST TRIAL SEMI-AUTO PISTOL BEARING INSPECTOR INITIALS “K.M. (MAJ. KENNETH MORTON).

SN 96. Cal. 45 ACP. Blue finish with 5″ bbl, fixed sights and standard 1905 markings on the slide. Frame has a slide stop on the left side and checkered grip safety with a lanyard loop in the left heel. Grip safety is of the later type with extended spur. It is mounted with diamond checkered walnut grips that are modern replacements. Left front web of the trigger guard is stamped with the inspector initials “K.M.” (Major Kenneth Morton). According to The Book of Colt Firearms, Wilson, there were 200 of these pistols delivered to the government on the 1907 contract. Delivery of these pistols was in March 1908 after which they were issued to the 2nd, 4th and 10th Cavalry Regiments later that year. The pistols were deemed accurate but had numerous problems with failed parts including firing pins, sears, failures to feed or eject and occasionally pressing hard on the grip safety caused the pistol to fire. Colt eventually recalled all the pistols for further modification where they changed the hammers and added a longer spur to the grip safety, enlarged the ejection ports, installed heat treated sears and different loaded chamber indicators. By this time John Browning and Colt had learned substantial lessons from the test trials which they then incorporated into in the Models 1909 & 1910, which eventually led to the development of Model 1911 and, as the saying goes, the rest is history. The design of the 1911, for which this pistol was one of the predecessors and prototype, is still in production today, over 100 years later. Few Models 1907 survive today and of those completely orig specimens are rarely encountered. Accompanied by a Colt factory letter which identifies this pistol in Cal. 45 with 5″ bbl, blue finish, type of stock not listed with special features “modified hammer, nearly vertical ejection, auto indicator to show that chamber is loaded, auto safety, straightened stirrup and lengthened trigger stirrup pin, shipped to Springfield Armory in March 1908 in a shipment of 200 guns. Also accompanied by a period mail order flap holster with rolled decorations and a brass closure stud. Additionally accompanied by one orig all blue magazine. Further accompanied by a sales receipt from a gun shop in Macon, Georgia where they had produced grips for this pistol. CONDITION: Fine. Slide retains dark blue around the sights with the balance thin blue mixed with plummy patina. Frame retains about 60% orig blue, strong in sheltered areas, turned brown on the front and backstraps. Hammer retains strong case colors. Grips are sound with sharp checkering. Magazine retains about 85% thinning orig blue. Mechanics are fine. Strong bright bore with scattered fine pitting. Holster shows some dryness and flaking with moderate to heavy soil. 4-47763 JR99 (22,500-42,500) – Lot 3328

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2014

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	3328	$18,400.00	EXTREMELY RARE COLT MODEL 1907 TEST TRIAL SEMI-AUTO PISTOL BEARING INSPECTOR INITIALS “K.M. (MAJ. KENNETH MORTON). SN 96. Cal. 45 ACP. Blue finish with 5″ bbl, fixed sights and standard 1905 markings on the slide. Frame has a slide stop on the left side and checkered grip safety with a lanyard loop in the left heel. Grip safety is of the later type with extended spur. It is mounted with diamond checkered walnut grips that are modern replacements. Left front web of the trigger guard is stamped with the inspector initials “K.M.” (Major Kenneth Morton). According to The Book of Colt Firearms, Wilson, there were 200 of these pistols delivered to the government on the 1907 contract. Delivery of these pistols was in March 1908 after which they were issued to the 2nd, 4th and 10th Cavalry Regiments later that year. The pistols were deemed accurate but had numerous problems with failed parts including firing pins, sears, failures to feed or eject and occasionally pressing hard on the grip safety caused the pistol to fire. Colt eventually recalled all the pistols for further modification where they changed the hammers and added a longer spur to the grip safety, enlarged the ejection ports, installed heat treated sears and different loaded chamber indicators. By this time John Browning and Colt had learned substantial lessons from the test trials which they then incorporated into in the Models 1909 & 1910, which eventually led to the development of Model 1911 and, as the saying goes, the rest is history. The design of the 1911, for which this pistol was one of the predecessors and prototype, is still in production today, over 100 years later. Few Models 1907 survive today and of those completely orig specimens are rarely encountered. Accompanied by a Colt factory letter which identifies this pistol in Cal. 45 with 5″ bbl, blue finish, type of stock not listed with special features “modified hammer, nearly vertical ejection, auto indicator to show that chamber is loaded, auto safety, straightened stirrup and lengthened trigger stirrup pin, shipped to Springfield Armory in March 1908 in a shipment of 200 guns. Also accompanied by a period mail order flap holster with rolled decorations and a brass closure stud. Additionally accompanied by one orig all blue magazine. Further accompanied by a sales receipt from a gun shop in Macon, Georgia where they had produced grips for this pistol. CONDITION: Fine. Slide retains dark blue around the sights with the balance thin blue mixed with plummy patina. Frame retains about 60% orig blue, strong in sheltered areas, turned brown on the front and backstraps. Hammer retains strong case colors. Grips are sound with sharp checkering. Magazine retains about 85% thinning orig blue. Mechanics are fine. Strong bright bore with scattered fine pitting. Holster shows some dryness and flaking with moderate to heavy soil. 4-47763 JR99 (22,500-42,500) – Lot 3328 Auction: Firearms - Spring 2014 Please Note:* All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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*EXTREMELY RARE COLT MODEL 1907 TEST TRIAL SEMI-AUTO PISTOL BEARING INSPECTOR INITIALS “K.M. (MAJ. KENNETH MORTON).