Colt M1902

Colt Model 1902
= Early M1902 Military with cross cut forward slide serrations
Type	Semi-automatic pistol
Place of origin	United States
Production history
Designer	John Moses Browning
Manufacturer	Colt’s Manufacturing Company
Produced	1902-1928
Number built	24,995 (approx.)
Variants	Military Model Sporting Model
Specifications
Weight	38 oz (1077 g)
Length	9 in (228.6 mm)
Barrel length	6 in (152 mm)
Cartridge	.38 ACP
Caliber	.358
Action	Short recoil operation
Feed system	7 or 8 round detachable box magazine
Sights	fixed open sights

Colt M1902 Patent drawing

The Colt Model 1902 was a short recoil operated semi-automatic pistol designed by famous American firearm developer John Moses Browning and produced by the Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company. The Model of 1902 was not a new design, but rather an incremental improvement upon the nearly identical Colt Model of 1900.

History

In the late 1800’s the militaries of many countries, including the United States, were evaluating or in the process of adopting state of the art semi-automatic service pistol designs to replace the revolvers in use at the time which were perceived to be outdated. American gun designer John M. Browning desired to join contemporaries such as Hugo Borchardt and Georg Luger in designing a marketable semi-automatic pistol. Browning partnered with the Colt’s Manufacturing Company which was hoping to capitalize on the interest in service pistol modernization by procuring large and profitable government military contracts. Their first collaboration produced the Model 1900, it interested the U.S. Military enough to lead to the purchase of a few hundred Model 1900 pistols for testing and evaluation and limited field trial issue, however, the limitations of the design prevented its adoption. The Model of 1902 was basically the same pistol with some improvements meant to address these deficiencies.^[1]

1902 Model Improvements

The M1902 was improved over the Model of 1900 by the simplification of its internal mechanism and a reduction in the number of internal parts. Browning and Colt also adopted the suggestion of the U.S. Military to add a slide stop to the design. The problematic pivoting rear sight safety of the M1900 which swung back and down to physically block the arc of the pistol’s hammer was also deleted. Another shortcoming in the M1900 design was brought out by trials held by the British Military which discovered that the pistol tended to fire when dropped. In the M1902, the firing pin’s length was reduced to be less than that of the slot it moved in, decreasing the likelihood of such an occurrence unless the firing pin was actually struck by the hammer.^[1]

M1902 General Specifications

The Model of 1902 was chambered for the same .38 ACP Cartridge as was the earlier M1900 pistol. The 1902 pistol for the most part also shared the same hard black rubber grips which were standard on the Model 1900, however, custom grips were also available, especially on presentation versions.^[2] The vast majority of Model 1902 pistols were produced with a highly polished, deep and lustrous Colt Royal blued finish, but rarely nickel and silver plated models are encountered, as well as various custom finishes. On some early production Model 1902s the trigger, pins, and grip screws were set off with a fire or nitre blued finish, giving those parts a beautiful cobalt blue hue. The hammer of 1902 pistols usually had a case hardened finish. Earlier production pistols featured either milled straight line or cross cut checkered slide serrations on the forward end of the slide, which were deleted in later years of production.^[2] Although the M1902 was originally intended for the military market, Colt was progressive enough to recognize that commercial merchandizing of the pistol also offered potential revenue and introduced a sporting version of the pistol with a few minor changes.^[3]. Neither the Military or Sporting versions of the pistol had a manual safety.^[4]

Colt M1902 Military

Offered from 1902 to 1928, the Military model differed from the sporting version in that the grip handle was a bit longer and squarer so as to chamber one additional round of ammunition. The Military model featured the mechanical slide stop and had a lanyard loop on the grip, it was also slightly heavier^[3]. Military models produced prior to 1908 had rounded hammers, while post 1908 models had spur hammers.^[2] Colt presented one of these pistols to then-President Theodore Roosevelt.^[2]

1902 Military Model Specifications^[2]

• Length: 9 in
• Weight: 38 oz
• Barrel length: 6 in
• Capacity: 8 round magazine
• Shipping dates: 07/03/1902 through 12/30/1930

1902 Military Model Production Chart^[2]

Overall, approximately 18,068 total units of the 1902 Military version were produced.^[2]

Colt M1902 Sporting

Available from 1902 to 1907, the sporting version of the pistol was slightly lighter and smaller than the military version, with a more rounded grip frame.^[3]

1902 Sporting Model Specifications^[2]

• Length: 8.9 in
• Weight: 35.5 oz
• Barrel length: 6 in
• Capacity: 7 round magazine
• Shipping dates: 05/01/1902 through 09/07/1912

1902 Sporting Model Production Chart^[2]

In 6 years of production a total of approximately 6927 Sporting versions were manufactured.^[2]

Acceptance and Successor Designs

Unfortunately the Model 1902 was never adopted by the U.S. or any other world military organization, probably due to reservations regarding the design’s robustness as well as its developmental nature. The U.S. Army’s unsatisfactory experiences several years earlier with .38 caliber pistols used against Moro tribesmen during the Philippine-American War may also have been a factor. Events of this conflict called into question the reliability of the stopping power of earlier pistols in the 1902’s class, ultimately leading to the 1904 Thompson-LaGarde Tests which concluded that for military use .38 caliber cartridges of the time were inadequate and recommended the adoption of a pistol cartridge of at least .45 (11 mm) caliber. Colt and Browning responded to these criticisms with the introduction the Colt Model 1905 pistol chambered in a new .452 inch cartridge Browning designed, the.45 ACP.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Velleux, David. "Background Information on the United States Pistol Caliber .45 M1911" 1911A1 .45 ACP Pistol Site
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} Colt Pistols - Colt Automatic Pistol Home Page - 11 years of Service to Colt Firearms Collectors
3. ^ ^{a b c} Jeff Lesemann. "History and Development of the M1911/M1911Al Pistol" 1911A1 .45 ACP Pistol Site
4. ^ Ty Moore. "Image Gallery - Colt Model 1902" US GI small arms and Model 1911 site

•         Nazarian's guns Recognition Guide Colt Model 1902 Sporting/Military Page
•         Klasika Guns site - AUTOMATIC COLT PISTOL MILITARY MODEL 1902 CALIBRE .38

External links

• Colt Automatic Pistol Home Page
• Colt's Manufacturing Company Web Site
• Colt firearms enthusiasts forum

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