Colt Model 1902, Sporting
Official wording
Colt, Model 1902 semiautomatic pistol, sporting model, cal. .38, in original configuration.
What this entry requires
- ATF REQUIRESIn original configuration (ATF wording)ATF: “in original configuration”
- INFOATF states no date; production was about 1902–1908.
Editorial facts · Our research
- Country
United StatesBasis: outside reference ¹- Manufacturer
- Colt's Patent Fire Arms Mfg. Co.Basis: the ATF wording
- Type
- PistolBasis: the ATF wording
- Action
- Semi-autoBasis: the ATF wording
- Caliber
- .38 ACPBasis: the ATF wording
- Made
- 1902–1908production; ATF states no dateBasis: outside reference ²
- Service
- Commercial
Source
- Official wording
- ATF P 5300.11, April 2025 edition · Section II · PDF p. 6 ↗ · ATF original ↗
- Entries
- 1 line
- Verbatim check
- Checked against the PDF text before every release
- Editorial facts
- Confidence: High · Last revised 18 October 2026 (Evidence pass) · How we rate confidence
- References
- 1. Wikipedia, “Colt M1902” ↗, country: infobox origin United States (article covers the Sporting Model)
- 2. Wikipedia, “Colt M1902” ↗, years: variant-specific: infobox production date 1902–1908 (Sporting Model)
- Fact tags
- ATF the ATF wording states it.
- REF ¹ an outside reference supports it; the number points to the list of references.
- ESTIMATE an approximate or indirect reading, for example the production range of the base model.
- NO CITATION we haven’t attached a reference for this fact; it’s our editorial reading, not ATF’s.
- Source checked
- 20 October 2026: ATF’s page still lists the April 2025 edition
- Corrections
- None
Historical context
Image: Wikimedia Commons, “Colt Model 02 Military.JPG” by Hmaag, CC BY-SA 4.0. Retrieved October 2026.
Summary: Wikipedia, “Colt M1902”. Text CC BY-SA 4.0.
FROM WIKIPEDIA
The Model 1902 is a semi-automatic pistol developed by famous American firearms designer John Browning and produced by the Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company in the early 20th century. The Model 1902 was not a new design, but rather an incremental improvement upon the nearly identical M1900, and would transition from the 1900 into three distinct but related pistols with the same action and cartridge, the 1902 Sporting Model, the 1902 Military model, and the 1903 Pocket Hammer model. The 1902 Sporting model was so similar to the 1900 that it continued the serial number range, while the 1902 Military Model featured a different serial range as did the 1903 Pocket Hammer model. The 1902 Military Model featured a square and lengthened grip frame with an additional round in the magazine, while the 1903 Pocket Hammer featured a shortened barrel and slide but retained the Sporting model grip frame. The Colt M1905 .45 ACP pistol would be derived from the same lineage, also with a different serial number range.