Manufactured in 1906, this is one of only 6,210 Colt "Military Model of 1905" pistols manufactured over a period of six years. These pistols are a very important evolutionary step in the development of Colt automatic pistols and the Model 1911, as they were the first production Colt automatic chambered for the legendary .45 ACP cartridge. This pistol, serial number 374, was manufactured even before Colt began fabricating two model room examples of the Model 1905 which would later be submitted to the 1907 U.S. military pistol trials. The left side of the slide is marked with the two-line/two-block patent dates and address, with the circled Rampant Colt behind the serrations. The right side of the slide is marked "AUTOMATIC COLT/CALIBRE 45 RIMLESS SMOKELESS". The left side of the frame is marked with the serial number and the left of the trigger guard has a "VP" proof and "W". It has rounded blade front and rounded top notch rear sights, and the rounded checkered hammer. It is fitted with a pair of diamond pattern checkered grips and an unmarked full blue magazine.

Fine, retains 60% of the bright original high polish blue finish, 60% of the nitre blue on the trigger, and 80% of the vibrant case colors on the hammer with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina and some thinning cold blue touch up on the front grip strap. The grips are very fine with a few scattered light blemishes in the otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.