Should I get a Colt 1908 .380

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Dustbowl

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So this is the wrong place to ask when someone’s on the fence...... but I dropped by my local shop because I hadn’t made the trip in a while annndddd

Boy oh boy, I just handled a Nickel Colt 1908 in .380 auto and I just fell in love with it. I’ve got a 1903 in .32 and have been looking for a mate and this one just fell outta the sky. I dated the serial to about 1920. I already have a nice leather holster and if I pull the trigger (Haha) I plan to carry and shoot a bit just because I hate safe queens.

There’s a few cons though. I took it down right on the counter and the recoil spring and plunger were put in backward. That’s just a Wolff spring and back in business. The Mag is for sure a repro but it fits and is silver too. The finish is iffy in a couple spots but it’s still good. Price was marked $495. I’m probably going to do a trade but tell me what ya’ll think.
 
My '08 was nothing but heartbreaking jam-o-matic- and that was with a factory two-tone magazine. The gun was clean and well lubed, and still refused to make it through a full mag without a jam, despite trying 5 different brands of ammo and a second magazine. The Shanghai Municipal Police had so many problems with theirs that they carried them with only six rounds in the mag and added a tensioning spring on the slide-
1908ph_105911b.jpg
On the other hand, my '03 in .32 was a pretty solid feeder.

I know that some others here have had better luck with the .380 Colts, but my experience was terrible.:(

I agree they are beautiful pistols, but I dont keep unreliable guns, so I recommend against it. Just my 2 cents, good luck.
 
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I have the Colt 1908 that my maternal grandfather carried in France during the great war. He was an outdoorsman and preferred to be armed even though he was in the medical corps. My maternal grandfather was an orthopedic surgeon in the medical corp.

It has performed well with 90-100 FMJ ammunition. It is a great addition to my collection.

I've also obtained a couple 32 ACP 1903 pistols that prefer to shoot than the 1908 380 ACP versions.

Both the 1903 32 ACP Colt pistols or the 1908 380 ACP Colt pistols are great guns.
 
I absolutely love my '21 Colt 1903 and now I find myself also looking at the .380acp 1908. I don't recall ever reading a bad review on the 1903s but I've come across a few for the 1908 colt that gives me pause.

If I can find someone I know/trust who's selling theirs, I'd rather go that route than a stranger off Gunbroker (even if my 1903 was from a stranger and great).
 
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I would almost recommend a more modern Colt Mustang if you're looking for a carry Colt, but if you want a 1908 for your collection, by all means buy it there Dustbowl, now if the shop will let shoot it before you buy that 1908 and you find out it functions flawlessly then definitely buy it.
 
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Dustbowl

My brother has a nickel plated Model 1908 in .380 (also came with factory pearl grips and a Heiser pocket holster), that has had no problems to date. That's a decent price for one and would make for a great addition to your collection. Try using some Flitz to clean up the nickel plating if you do decide to get it.
 
I would I love those old Colts. I wouldn’t pay $495 though I would try to get it for closer to $400
 
When I see or hear of an '08 for sale, I only think of two things: How is the finish and bore, and what is the price. If I found one that was reasonable and in good shape, I would buy it as long as all the right parts were there.
If the one you are looking at meets the first criterion, I think I would pay close to the asking price, say .. $450.
 
Sounds like a good deal if the finish is original. At that price I'd assume a refinish and it's still probably the going rate based on your description.
 
Okay, I have a question... I was looking at a sweet looking Colt that was marked 38auto. What is it a 380acp or pre 38super? LGS had the tag marked 380acp but gun was clearly marked 38auto... I was suspicious and took a pass.
Oh, SN was a 5 or 6 digit...
 
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Okay, I have a question... I was looking at a sweet looking Colt that was marked 38auto. What is it a 380acp or pre 38super? LGS had the tag marked 380acp but gun was clearly marked 38auto... I was suspicious and took a pass.
Oh, SN was a 5 digit...
.38 ACP, the forerunner of the .38 Super.

Did it look like this-
Colt-Model-1903-Pocket-Hammer-38-ACP-Round-Hammer_101003531_58199_4EC595955E2F5B1B.jpg

Although factory ammo can be hard to get, reloading is easy as it is dimensionally the same as .38 Super. These guns can be worth big $$$$ if in good condition!
 
It depends on why you want it. If it's because you will appreciate it as a collectible antique that is shot rarely, go ahead as long as the price you pay isn't exorbitant for the model and condition. If it's to be an alternative to a modern .380, forget it. The modern gun is a better gun.
 
If you want a REALLY nice 380 shooter I love my Browning 1911-380 which I believe is roughly the same size as a 1908. But I can appreciate a piece of history though.
 
I seem to remember an ad for new 1908, .380 ACP copies from someone like Spring field Armory or Fulton Armory or something like that.

To lazy to look for it.
 
flightsimmer

You may be thinking of the Colt Model 1903 (.32ACP), re-issue series, manufactured for them by U.S. Armament. They come with a matte blued finish ($1338), Royal blued finish ($1544), or nickel plated ($1647).
 
Probably so. I wonder why they didn't do a .380?
Yeah, but that's pretty pricy, I might go for one in Parkerise for $750 Alex.
 
$495 for a Model M .380 is a good price, even without an original mag. You can find a (blued) .380 mag for $100-$150 on eBay likely. I have been seeing even fair condition ones selling for $600.

If you buy it, consider getting some replacement grips for when you shoot it. I had a really nice one, that the grips broke the first time I shot it.
 
NIGHTLORD40K

The Shanghai Municipal Police had so many problems with theirs that they carried them with only six rounds in the mag and added a tensioning spring on the slide-

According to one Colt collector I knew the Shanghai Municipal Police Commissioner also had a problem with patrolmen selling their issued ammo on the black market. So much so that they had cutout windows made for the magazines so at a glance you could see how many rounds the patrolmen were carrying on their shift.

So being the enterprising individuals that they were some patrolmen still sold their ammo but had wooden dummy rounds made to look like their issued ammo! Eventually this little ruse was discovered and I think they finally had to resort to issuing them their ammo at the beginning of their tour and then making them turn it in at the end!
 
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