Sold for $2,400
.45 ACP. 5" barrel length. SN: 4808. (Mfg. Ca 1910) Blued metal finish with casehardened hammer and niter blued trigger mounting diamond checkered walnut stocks. Single action short recoil operated autoloading pistol fed by a detachable magazine with a heel magazine release. The right slide is marked AUTOMATIC COLT/CALIBRE 45 RIMLESS SMOKELESS. Left slide shows a patent mark reading PATENTED/APR. 20. 1897. SPET. 9. 1902. DEC. 19. 1905. followed by a two line Colt address reading COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG CO./HARTFORD. CT. U.S.A. The slide markings are shallow with some residue in the markings suggesting it was aggressively cleaned. Left triggerguard bow struck with Colt's VP monogram proof mark and a W initial inspector mark. Colt's {Rampant Colt} within a circle logo is struck to the left slide behind the cocking serrations. Comes with a single unmarked blued seven-shot magazine. Pistol features a drift adjustable rear notch and a front blade sight. Item features the knurled spur trigger correct for this serial number range in addition to the saw tooth cuts on the lower barrel and frame. The immediate forerunner of the venerable Colt Model 1911 pistol, the M1905 was the first of the Colt .45 caliber semi-automatic pistols and was introduced in 1905 with only 6,100 commercial models produced in a six year period.
Very Good as Cleaned. Bore is Frosty with oxidation and brown patina forming through the grooves and patched over some of the lands. The Slide markings are shallow with some light pitting forming over the upper left edge of the slide and on the right side spreading below the ejection port and over the caliber marking indicating aggressive cleaning. The finish has taken on a gray patina surrounding these areas, with the bluing elsewhere showing scattered handling mars and scratches. Both gripstraps are transitioning to a brown patina with the interior triggerguard showing a similar condition. The forward triggerguard finish has been ground down. The triggerguard retains a niter blued finish but the slide stop has a charcoal blued color. The hammer retains some traces of casehardening on the flanks with a light brown patina starting to form over the knurling and spur. Magazine displays insertion wear and mars. The feed lips have bulged outward making it difficult to insert the magazine. Grips have strong checkering with some scattered scratches and scuffs.