Colt 1902 Sporting .38 ACP

[JohnnyCremains]

This is a gun I've wanted for many years and finally was able to work out a trade for one. One of the very first Colt automatics. Designed by John Browning. The only earlier Colt auto was the model 1900 which was very similar to this.

 

[blueskyjaunte]

Gorgeous. I have lusted after a 1902 for years.

Congratulations on acquiring one!

 

[Monac]

Do you have Douglas Sheldon's book on these pistols? It's 25 years old and out of print ($60 used on Amazon), but he did a really good job of covering all the Colt 38 ACP's.

PS - it's a small format book. The picture on Amazon does not make that clear.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

Wow! Congrats on that score - you gonna shoot it?

VooDoo

 

[Zerodefect]

Coolest looking pistol I've never seen before. Thanks.

 

[JohnnyCremains]

Yes I am going to shoot it eventually. I have 3 Colt Pocket Hammers and a few boxes of 38 ACP ammo kicking around.

Interesting note, there was a 1902 Sporting that allegedly belonged to Bonnie Parker that auctioned recently for huge money. The serial number of that gun is 7362. Mine is 7326. Kind of odd although I have my doubts about the provenance of that particular gun.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

They aren't small are they?

Nice looking gun. As a fan of the 38 Super, I look at the 38 Auto's every time. Neat guns and very impressive to see in person.

I am curious if you are going to shoot it. If so how do you propose working up your reloads as I presume you would reload for something of that vintage and quality.

 

[Vonderek]

That's really neat! I thought front slide serrations were a relatively recent phenomenon. Everything old is new again.

 

[JohnnyCremains]

Peter,

I don't reload at this point. I have a few boxes of old .38 ACP ammo. Anytime I see some for sale for a decent price I buy it.

 

[bannockburn]

One very nice vintage Colt! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Jim K]

Please don't even think of rebluing it!!!! That gun is history and deserves to show it.

Just don't shoot it without the slide stop (wedge) as the slide will come back in your face. That was one of the Army's objections to that design, and they forced Browning to change it before they adopted the M1911.

Jim

 

[tark]

Very nice gun, Johnny. I won't presume to tell you what not to do or what not to shoot in it; I think you know exactly what you are doing.

I was lucky enough to shoot a 1902 with some mild reloads last year. They were a little TOO mild and didn't always cycle the gun but I couldn't blame the owner for wanting to keep things on the light side. The gun itself was a blast to shoot. Slick, smooth and with sights made for young eyes! I gave him a half a box of Remington 38ACP ammo I had laying around in case he wanted to shoot some full powered ammo in it.

 

[McCrapper]

That's awesome.

 

[JohnnyCremains]

Yes I know my way around old Colt autos. I've owned 3 Pocket Hammers. I still own two of them but I swapped one of them for this gun. That gun had serial number 44444 and a Colt collector I know just had to have it so he swapped me this for it. I am thrilled with the trade.
I would never consider refinishing any of my old Colt automatics. Although somewhat worn you can still make out the nice high polish that went into this. It still has fire blue remaining on the trigger as well.
I've owned a lot of guns in my lifetime, but this is my favorite one in the safe currently. The only other grail gun I really would like to get my hands on now is a Merwin Hulbert Pocket Army

 

[Jim K]

I apologize for the unneeded advice. I am "gun shy" because so many posts on old guns like that end with "I am going to wire brush off the old bluing and cold blue it" and I just cringe. I have a pocket hammer and a 1902; I would like to get a 1905, but haven't found a decent one in my price range.

Jim

 

[JohnnyCremains]

No apologies needed Jim! I appreciate people that discourage people that don't know any better from destroying an original finish on a valuable gun.
I think there is a place for restoration, but only if the gun is really far gone to begin with. I do appreciate the refinishing that Turnbulls shop turns out. But that shop is one of the few that actually does it right. But you would have to put more into a gun to have Turnbull do a proper restoration than it would be worth in the end.
You have to admit though something properly restored like this is a sight to behold (even though I don't think fire blue on the slide lock is actually correct.)

 

[TimboKhan]

Time to get it cerakoted and you need to mount a light/laser.


I kid, I kid. Beautiful old gun. I am personally delighted that your gonna shoot it as opposed to letting it sit.

 

[JohnnyCremains]

I shot the gun the other day. It was 17 degrees and I was shaking from the cold but still managed to get 5 shots out of 7 in the black offhand at 30 feet. Not too bad.
I was holding 6 o' clock. I had one flyer that was way off but that was a shot I pulled and felt it as soon as I pulled the trigger. Keep in mind this is the first time I've ever shot this particular gun.
Colt really knew how to build a great shooting pistol 110 years ago!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpcVRGBAol0&feature=youtu.be

 

[Jim Watson]

The old "parallel ruler" guns were well known for accuracy.
Artisan fitted and designed with the barrel located at both ends.
Wring it out after the thaw.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Nice video.

I really am impressed with the old 38 Auto's. Very fine gun that later become my beloved 38 Super. Just seeing you shoot your 38 Auto made me want to get out my 38 Super Colt NM and go blasting with it.

 

[WC145]

Very cool piece, elegant lines, and a great addition to the collection. Congrats on the deal.

 

[tark]

Johnny, I would die for a Merwin & Hulbert! Wonder why it is about the only old west gun the Italians haven't replicated. Wouldn't thing it would be much more expensive to make than a Schofield.

 

[Jim K]

M&H guns are fairly common and not that expensive IF you are willing to take the smaller caliber ones, rather than the big military model. I am still hoping to obtain one of the latter at a price I can afford, but meantime, managed to acquire several in .32 and .38 caliber. They work the same way and I was able to realize why they were not that popular. That loading system is a good example of a feature that sounded good when a salesman said it fast. But the gun is complex, plus it is not that much faster to load than the Colt and a lot slower than an S&W.

Jim

 

[JohnnyCremains]

Yeah I've owned several of the smaller framed ones. Currently I have a blue .38 with two barrels and a nickel .32 7 shot. I also was able to find an extra barrel for that one. The blue one has matching numbers though. It's the large framed Pocket Army that I lust after, and as you know you're going to may two grand minimum for one in good condition.
There's a company in the US that tried to replicate the M&H. They went as far as taking pre orders for them and had a prototype mocked up. In the end they ended up folding and refunding everyone's money unfortunately. I wish someone would buy all of their R&D work and keep going with it. It's actually quite a bit more complex to make than a S&W top break. But, I think the Italians could do it and do it cheaper than it could be done here in the US.

 

[MAUSER88]

Outstanding!! You don't see those very often for sale or trade these days.