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Title:	PISTOL, SEMI-AUTOMATIC -  COLT PISTOL MODEL 1910 9.8MM
Maker/Manufacturer:	BROWNING, JOHN M.
Date of Manufacture:	1909-1910
Eminent Figure:
Catalog Number:	SPAR 6644
Measurements:	OL: 20.3CM 8" BL: 4 3/4"

Object Description:

COLT PISTOL MODEL 1910 9.8MM
Manufactured by Colt, Hartford, Ct. - Experimental Colt cartridge utilized in a modified scaled down version of the M1910 Special Army. Grip safety. Blued finish; two piece checkered walnut grips with diamond panels. Lanyard loop in butt. Designed as replacement for .38 M1903 pocket. Complete with 8-round detachable box 1902 type magazine. Only 4 were manufactured. This is the unnumbered prototype.

Markings:
Slide: PATENTED/APR. 20. 1897. SEPT. 9. 1902. COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. CO./HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A. Right side: AUTOMATIC COLT/CALIBRE 38 RIMLESS SMOKELESS.
Backstrap: P O.
Magazine: MIL./COLT/38 CAL.

Weapon donated to Springfield Armory Museum, Inc. by Mr. R.A. Montgomery, Villanova, Pa. on 3 June 1976.

Notes: "The Model 1910 experimental is a scaled down (approximately 7/8th size) version of the 1910 .45 caliber pistol. Although the factory records are sparse on this pistol, it is assumed that it was developed as a possible replacement for the .38 caliber Model 1903 pocket hammer.
There are a number of related artifacts pertaining to this pistol which give some additional clues regarding its development.
There are two cartridge gauges marked '38 COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOL, EXPERIMENTAL' AND '9.8 COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOL, MODEL 1910, OCT. 1911' respectively, which would indicate that Colt changed the nomenclature of the pistol during its development and that it was an active project as late as October of 1911.
The fact that various cartridges were considered is evidenced by the fact that three barrels which chamber three different cartridges. One is chambered for .38 ACP, one for a 9.8 m/m semi-rimmed cartridge and the other for the 9.8 m/m rimless cartridge.
The caliber decided upon was the 9.8 m/m rimless. Winchester worked with Colt on the development and manufacture of the cartridge and ultimately produced several thousand rounds. Most of the boxes of cartridges examined are marked with the lot number and dated August of 1911.
Although there is no written documentation to indicate that the Ordnance Department tested this pistol, there is an example in the Springfield Armory Museum collection. The Army's strict adherence to their decision to adopt a .45 caliber pistol would, as it had on numerous occasions, have led to the ultimate rejection of this smaller caliber pistol.
It is known that Eugene Reising, at the time a Colt employee, demonstrated the 9.8 m/m pistol in Rumania, Bulgaria and Serbia in 1911.
There are four known examples of this pistol, which have come to be termed the "baby Colt" by collectors.
Serial number 1 is presently in the David Buehn collection.
Serial number 2 has not been located.
Serial number 3, prior to its placement in the factory reference collection in 1929, was reconditioned and the slide re-rolled with contemporary markings. It is presently owned by William H.G. Goddard.

"An unnumbered example is in the Springfield Armory Museum. This pistol has an unfinished receiver and several of the small parts have been replaced with those of a later vintage." - Edward Scott Meadows

See, Bady, COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOLS, pg. 192; Meadows, U.S. MILITARY AUTOMATIC PISTOLS 1894-1920, pp. 472-473.

References:
Bady, Donald. COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOLS. Borden Publishing Company, Alhambra, Ca. 1973.
Goddard, William H.D. THE GOVERNMENT MODELS: THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COLT MODEL 1911. Andrew Mowbray Publishers. Lincoln, R.I. 1988.
Meadows, Edward Scott. U.S. MILITARY AUTOMATIC PISTOLS 1894-1920. Richard Ellis Publications, Inc. Moline, Il. 1993.