Welcome to immediately’s Picture of the Day! In 1910, as Colt was finalizing the Mannequin 1911 design, they developed a smaller model chambered in 9.8mm (later additionally in .38 ACP) to focus on European and industrial markets. This experimental pistol was roughly 90% the dimensions of the usual 1911, that includes a 4.68-inch barrel versus the 1911’s 5-inch barrel. It grew to become the Colt Mannequin 1910. Solely 5 examples have been produced, with 4 being serial numbered. The pistols have been used to display Colt’s capabilities in European army trials and as leverage in negotiations with FN over market territories. Whereas performing effectively in British and Romanian trials, the design was by no means adopted or put into manufacturing. The pistol featured distinctive traits, together with a body too small to just accept customary 1911 magazines and no interchangeable elements with its bigger sibling. One instance, Serial Quantity 4, was refinished in 1929 for Colt’s museum when the corporate launched the .38 Tremendous 1911. Although commercially unsuccessful, the design previewed the idea of a reduced-size 1911 platform many years earlier than it grew to become fashionable.
“The 9.8 MM Experimental Pistol is a scaled down copy of the very uncommon Colt Mannequin 1910 .45 ACP Pistol. The slide is shorter and narrower and the 4 1/2 inch barrel has 4 concentric locking rings. The hammer has flat sides and a checkered spur. The slide has the early rounded rear sight. The slide cease and security lock seem like Colt Mannequin 1911 Particular Military elements. The journal is a modified Mannequin 1902 Navy journal with un-marked flooring plate and a full blue end. The checkered walnut grips have small diamonds surrounding the screws and are just like these on the Mannequin 1911 Particular Military. The pistol has the excessive polish Colt industrial blue end on main elements and the intense niter blue end on the rear sight, hammer, slide lock, set off and different small elements. “
Lot 3554: Experimental Colt Mannequin 1910 9.8 MM Pistol Serial Quantity 4. (n.d.). Rock Island Public sale Firm. {photograph}. Retrieved November 14, 2024, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/element/56/3554/experimental-colt-model-1910-98-mm-pistol-serial-number-4.
