Description
Some prototypes are whispers of what might have been—and this one speaks volumes.
Introducing the Documented Factory Prototype Colt MK III J-Frame Revolver, serial X9704, chambered in .357 Magnum. This extraordinary revolver represents a chapter of Colt history that never officially came to life—a true factory experiment, preserved rather than produced.
According to the Colt factory letter, this revolver was shipped on October 16, 2008, without markings—an intentional omission that only deepens its allure. It features a 4-inch heavyweight barrel, a polished stainless steel finish, checkered walnut wraparound grips, and a wide spur hammer—a combination rarely seen on production models. These distinctive attributes point to Colt’s experimentation with balance, recoil management, and visual refinement at a time when the company was exploring new revolver directions.
What makes this piece truly remarkable is its status as a factory-documented experimental prototype, believed to have been part of Colt’s internal “Delta” project—an unproduced evolution of the Mark III series. The original yellow factory label (marked “Delta”) is referenced in the Colt records, confirming that this revolver was intended as part of that developmental line. Though the label itself is not included, its mention provides an essential glimpse into Colt’s design philosophy during the late 2000s—a bridge between tradition and innovation.
The revolver remains in exceptional, collector-grade condition, housed in a two-piece Colt “woodgrain” box, as noted in the letter. Every surface, from the polished stainless finish to the tight action, reflects the care with which Colt treated its internal prototypes.
For serious Colt collectors and firearms historians, this prototype offers something exceedingly rare: a documented piece of Colt experimentation, one that captures the imagination of what could have been had the “Delta” concept reached production. With its originality, documentation, and unmarked mystique, this Colt MK III J-Frame Prototype X9704 stands as both an artifact and an enigma—a genuine one-of-one Colt creation.
