Manufactured in 1902, the first year of production, this pistol was in the first shipment of 100 Military Model of 1902 pistols sent by Colt to Springfield Armory on 18 July 1902. This pistol was one of the first 200 pistols ordered by the Ordnance Department for testing in their continued efforts to find an automatic pistol suitable for military adoption. The purchase of these pistols had been approved by the Board of Ordnance and Fortification on 11 January 1902, after a sample pistol had been tested in December of the previous year. After receiving and inspecting these 200 pistols at the armory, they were sent to troops at Forts Riley and Leavenworth in Kansas, as well as Jefferson Barracks in Missouri for field trials. The feedback given from the field trials was mostly negative and they were deemed "...not as satisfactory a pistol as the revolver." In 1909, 62 of these pistols that were deemed serviceable were sold off as surplus alongside some of the older Model 1900 pistols. A few Model 1902 pistols were retained for Ordnance Department historical collections. This example is marked with the two-line Browning's patent and Colt address markings on the left of the slide arranged in two blocks, with a circled Rampant Colt at the rear. The right side is marked "MODEL 1902" and with the two-line caliber marking. The right side of the frame and trigger guard have the "R.A.C." inspection mark of Rinaldo A. Carr. and the "J.T.T." acceptance mark of Captain John. T. Thompson. The left side of the frame and trigger guard have the serial number and "U.S." marking. The slide has the forward checkering on each side, and blade and notch sights. It is fitted with a rounded checkered hammer, checkered hard rubber grips with "COLT" banners and Rampant Colts, lanyard loop on the left of the grip frame, and a correct nickeled magazine with "PAT'D SEPT.9.1884" on the base.

Very fine, retains 70% plus of the original high polish blue finish, 60% of the original case colors, and 75% of the original nitre blue with the balance having mostly thinned to a smooth grey patina, primarily on the edges of the slide and the grip straps, and a few scattered small spots of very light surface pitting. The grips are also very fine, showing an attractive chocolate brown color with a few scattered light handling marks and crisp checkering overall. Mechanically excellent.