Lot 1224

Historic Serial Number 11 Prototype Colt Model 1910 Pistol

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Historic Serial Number 11 Prototype Colt Model 1910 Pistol

Estimate: $35,000 - $55,000

Starting Bid: $30,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 22, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Extremely Rare and Historic Serial Number 11 Prototype Colt Model 1910 Semi-Automatic Pistol Originally manufactured in 1910, this is a historic example of the extremely rare Colt Model 1910 pistol, representing an extremely important evolutionary piece in the story of the eventual adoption of the Model 1911 by the U.S. military. There were reportedly only 12 Model 1910 pistols manufactured, making them incredibly rare and a piece missing in many U.S. military Colt automatic pistol collections. These pistols were initially manufactured to be an improvement upon the "straight-gripped" Model 1909. They were first submitted for testing on 9 February 1910, when Captain Walter G. Penfield described the "improved model" as having a more simple mainspring cap, smaller, and attached to the spring, extractor inside the breech, ejector made square, angle of the grip changed, the sear, trigger, and grip safety springs made in one piece, butt of the grip sharply angled instead of rounded, barrel slightly lowered, and the ejection port slightly enlarged. Even with all of these "improvements", the pistol performed quite poorly in initial testing, jamming seven times in the first 157 shots, and John Browning withdrawing it from the test to try to improve the design. The second test occurred five days later, with the pistol operating much better that time, only having one misfire in 1,000 shots. It still wasn't perfect however, as Browning had to straighten the recoil spring retaining piece multiple times, and it eventually broke completely. Browning believed this was due to the piece being made too thin and of inferior steel, an issue that could easily be remedied. In July of 1910, a special grip was requested by the ordnance department, the main feature of which being a smooth right panel which slightly swelled into the palm. The special grip was tested by the School of Musketry, who did not favor the "improved" grip over the original checkered grips. In August of 1910, a few Model 1910 pistols were fitted with thumb safeties, this example not being one of them, which the Ordnance Department found favorable, especially for use with mounted troops. On 10 November 1910, the Ordnance Board met to pit the Model 1910 Colt and Savage pistols against each other for the second to last time, with the main feature of this trial being an endurance test, with 6,000 rounds fired through each. After this trial the Board's assessment was "That neither automatic pistol in its present design is believed to be satisfactory for adoption in the service because of insufficient strength of parts...The Colt automatic pistol is believed to be much the more satisfactory of the two." One of the issues with the Colt pistol which was found during this specific trial was that the grip screws continually worked themselves loose when subjected to sustained fire. After the issues with both pistols in the final test of 1910, the Chief of Ordnance decreed that another series of tests would be held on 15 March 1911. To this test, Colt submitted the Model 1911 Special Army, a design which was approved for adoption by the U.S. military on 29 March 1911. These Model 1910 pistols are discussed in depth on p. 114-115 of "The Government Models: The Development of the Colt Model of 1911" by Goddard and on p. 98-109 of "U.S. Military Automatic Pistols 1894-1920" by Meadows. The left side of the slide on this pistol is marked with the two-line two-block patent dates (ending with 1905) and Colt address while the right side has the two-line caliber marking. The left side of the frame is unmarked, while the serial number “11” is marked on top of the frame internally near the disconnector hole. It is fitted with blade and rounded top notch rear sights, a long smooth trigger, checkered slide stop, a short grip safety, and a straight smooth mainspring housing with the lanyard ring staple on the base. It correctly lacks the thumb the Model 1911 "Special Army" pattern thumb safety that was later also adopted on the Model 1911 accepted by the U.S. military. The blued barrel has the correct wraparound lugs and is unmarked. It is also fitted with the correct small diamond pattern checkered grips also seen on the Special Army. This pistol is furnished with an unmarked two-tone pinned base magazine. The previously mentioned book by Meadows notes that though a serial number 12 Model 1910 pistol is listed in the factory ledgers, there are no listings for serial numbers 9, 10, and 11. This information is also confirmed on p. 234 of the previously mentioned book by Goddard.

Manufacturer: Colt

Model: 1910

BBL: 5 inch round

Gauge: 45 ACP

Finish: blue

Grips: walnut

Serial Number11

Class: Curio & Relic Handgun

  • Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection
  • Condition: Very fine as professionally restored to its factory prototype configuration utilizing a mixture of original and some newly made components, retaining 98% plus of the high polish blue finish, 90% plus of the case colors on the hammer, grip safety, and mainspring housing, and 95% plus of the bright nitre blue on small parts with some very light handling evidence. The grips are excellent with only the slightest handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. A historic piece of the evolution of the legendary Model 1911 pistol which is a missing link in many Colt automatic pistol collections!

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000