Collectible Colt Pistol, .38 Caliber with Mirror-Finish Bore, Early 1900 Model

Colt Pistol – Automatic Model 1900

Manufacture: 1900 – Caliber: .38 ACP – Mirror-finish bore, shoulder holster

A rare collectible Colt Automatic Model 1900, manufactured in June 1900, retaining all original markings, a very early matching serial number, and a remarkable, pristine mirror-finish bore. It comes with its brown leather shoulder holster.

History

The Colt Automatic Model 1900 marks a pivotal moment in the history of American handguns. Designed by John Moses Browning and introduced in 1900 by Colt's Manufacturing Company, it was the first mass-produced Colt semi-automatic pistol and laid the groundwork for future Browning models. Chambered for the new .38 ACP cartridge, it introduced several major innovations—such as a detachable magazine, a short-recoil locking mechanism, and a manual safety—features that would have a lasting influence on modern pistol design. With only 4,274 units produced between 1900 and 1902, the Model 1900 is a highly significant piece for collectors today. It is the direct predecessor to the Colt 1902 and the legendary Colt Government Model 1911, considered one of the most famous military pistols in history.

Our Model

This Colt Automatic Model 1900 has undergone a high-quality vintage restoration, resulting in a remarkable blued finish. The Colt markings are perfectly preserved and entirely correct, including the famous Colt pony, which is rendered with exceptional detail. Its serial number (22X)—deeply stamped and perfectly legible—places this firearm among the very first Colt 1900s shipped from the factory in June 1900. This number appears on both main components of the frame, confirming a matching-numbers example—a particularly important criterion for collectors of early automatic pistols. The wooden grips, specific to early models, are in an excellent state of preservation.

Mechanically, the pistol functions perfectly. Its .38 ACP barrel features a pristine, mirror-like bore with deep, sharply defined rifling. The magazine is also correct, bearing the 1884 patent mark characteristic of early production runs.

The set is completed by a brown leather shoulder holster.

The firearm is sold with its official classification certificate designating it as a Category D historical weapon, issued by the Saint-Étienne National Proof House.