The experimental Colt Model 1910 pistol is one of only four known and was developed by Colt as a possible replacement for the Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammer Pistol and to compete against Fabrique Nationale in Eastern European markets. Although Winchester manufactured several thousand rounds of 9.8 mm ammunition for the experimental pistol, it did not enter production and only five examples of this pistol were manufactured by Colt circa 1911. Four of these ultra-rare handguns are in museums and private collections. An example of a Colt Model 1910 9.8 mm pistol is illustrated and described on pages 472-473 of "U.S. Military Automatic Pistols 1894-1920" by Edward S. Meadows. The 9.8 mm Experimental Pistol is a scaled down copy of the very rare Colt Model 1910 .45 ACP Pistol. The slide is shorter and narrower and the 4 1/2 inch barrel has four concentric locking rings. The hammer has flat sides and a checkered spur. The slide has the early rounded rear sight. The slide stop and safety lock appear to be Colt Model 1911 Special Army components. The magazine is a modified Model 1902 Military magazine with un-marked floor plate and a full blue finish. The checkered walnut grips have small diamonds surrounding the screws and are similar to those on the Model 1911 Special Army. The pistol has the high polish Colt commercial blue finish on major components and the bright niter blue finish on the rear sight, hammer, slide lock, trigger and other small components. The right side of the slide is marked "AUTOMATIC COLT/CALIBRE 38 RIMLESS SMOKELESS" in two unequal lines. The left side of the slide is marked "PATENTED/APR.20.1897.SEPT.9.1902.DEC.19.1905" in a two-line block followed by "COLT'S PT. F.A.MFG. CO./HARTFORD.CT. U.S.A." in two lines. The left side of the frame is hand-stamped with the serial number, "4" above the trigger guard. "40 CAL/MODEL" are stamped in two vertical lines beneath the slide stop; "40 CAL" is hand-stamped and "MODEL" is stamped with a single die. "RAD 40" (Research and Development) is hand-stamped vertically above the magazine release. "98" is stamped on the lower left side of the barrel chamber above the lug. This pistol was originally discovered in the white by Mike Cairnes sometime in the late 1980's when it was sold to noted author Edward S. Meadows. At some point Mr. Meadows sent the pistol to the late, world renowned, gunsmith and restorer Steve Moller of Fulton Illinois to be finished. Included with the pistol are a First Place Award from the 2007 Colt Collectors Association (CCA) Show at Reno, Nevada, a CCA 2007 Display Award, a Texas Gun Collectors Association Spring 2008 Most Historical Award, a Texas Gun Collectors Association Display Award and a notebook entitled "LOST BABY FOUND/COLT'S 9.8 m/m AUTOMATIC PISTOL" which contains the specifications of the pistol and copies of articles written about the pistol's development.

Exceptionally fine. The pistol retains nearly all of the high polish blue finish with only very minor finish wear on the edges of the slide and frame. The barrel has 85% of the blue finish. The magazine has nearly all of the original blue finish. The niter blue rear sight has some finish loss on the top edge; the other niter blue components retain 98% of the fiery finish. The grips are also near mint with sharp checkering. The markings on the slide and frame are crisp. This is an ultra-rare historic and prize-winning experimental Colt semi-automatic pistol.