AUTOMATIC COLT PISTOL MILITARY MODEL 1902 CALIBRE .38. Calibre .38 Rimless, Smokeless. Capacity of Magazine, 8 Shots. THE action of this pistol is automatic except that the trigger must be pulled to fire each shot. The arm can be discharged at the rate of 5 shots per second, the cartridges being automatically supplied from a detachable magazine inserted in the handle of the pistol. After the pistol is charged with a filled magazine, one opening movement is made by hand, bringing the first cartridge into the chamber. On pulling the trigger the cartridge is fired, the empty shell is extracted, and a new cartridge loaded into the chamber, all these operations taking place automatically without any manipulation of the arm. This automatic operation of the pistol is effected by the recoil of the moving parts, and as a consequence the recoil is so absorbed, in being utilized, that it has not the usual disturbing effect. As, in this model, the slide remains open after firing the last cartridge, it is only necessary when reloading the arm, in this position, to insert the magazine; then press downwards the slide stop (to the rear of the trigger as illustrated). The slide goes forward inserting a cartridge without any movement of the slide by hand. The slide stop is operated by the thumb of the hand holding the pistol. Length of Barrel, . . . . .6 inches Length of Pistol over all, . . .9 inches Weight of Pistol,.....37 ounces Made only in the .38 calibre with 6 inch barrel; blued finish. Component Parts Automatic Colt Pistol. Military Model. Sectional View, Calibre .38 Automatic Colt Pistol.   The three main parts of the pistol are the receiver, the barrel and the slide. The receiver has suitable guides for the reciprocating slide, and below is the handle which is hollow and encloses the canridge marine. This is inserted in the handle from below and is there held by the magazine catch, which slightly projects from the bottom of Ihe handle; this projection serves to release at will the magazine from the catch, when it may be readily drawn from the handle for recharging. In front of the handle is the trigger guard in which the trigger is located ; in the rear and above the handle is arranged in the receiver the firing mechanism, consisting of the hammer, the scar, a safety device and the main spring; also the sear, safety and trigger spring. The lower part of the latter serves to actuate the magazine catch. The top of the receiver extends forward, from the handle and to it tho barrel is attached by two short links, one near the front end of the barrel and one at its rear end; these links are attached to the receiver by a link-pin and also to the barrel by a similar link-pin, and allow the barrel to swing rearward thereon. As both links are of the same length, the rearward movement of the barrel in swinging there- . on carries the barrel slightly downward, but the longitudinal axis, during all the movements remains parallel. Below the barrel the receiver has a tubular seat for the retractor-spring, which in front is closed by a ping fastened in the receiver by the lower link pin. The top surface of the receiver and two longitudinal grooves on its sides form the seat for the slide, which is guided thereon in rearward and forward movements. The rear part of the slide forms a bolt, the forward extension of which is a partially tubular cover enclosing the barrel. In the forward part of the receiver is a transverse mortise extending through the retractor-spring seat, and irans\erse recesses in the forward part of the slide serve to admit (lie slide lock which, passing through the sides of the slide and through the mortise, serves to lock the slide to the receiver. The retractor-spring in its seat in the receiver consists of a spiral spring the rear end of which rests against the receiver, and the front end of the retractor-spring carries a follower. The rear face of the slide lock has a slight recess, and when this lock is in its place, the front end of the follower rests in this recess, thereby confining the slide lock laterally; thus the tension of the retractor-spring is exerted to force the slide to its forward position. Upon the barrel are three transverse ribs, and in the interior of the slide are three corresponding recesses. These serve to lock the barrel and the slide firmly together when in their forward or closed position. Between the lucking recesses and front of the bolt the slide has an opening on the right side forthe ejection of the empty shells. The bolt is provided with an extractor, a firing-pin and a firing-pin The magazine is a tubular holder in which the cartridges are placed one above the other resting upon a follower acted on by a spring which presses upward. The upper end of the magazine is open to permit the escape of the cartridges; the side walls at the rear of the opening are turned inward and engage the rim of the topmost cartridge to prevent its escape from the magazine when it is pushed forward. The slide stop serves to lock the slide in its open position when the last cartridge is discharged.