toivo
Member
I'm in the middle of negotiating to buy a Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless. Going by the serial number, I have determined that it was manufactured in 1919. I'm buying this pistol mostly for the history and the coolness factor -- I'm not planning to carry it on a regular basis. However, I'd like to know more about the safety of carrying this particular model in case I should ever want to carry it.
I've been web-searching and have come up with a variety of opinions. They mainly fall into three categories: (a) it's safe to carry cocked-and-locked; (b) it's safe to carry hammer-down with the manual safety on; (c) it's safe to carry only with an empty chamber. Most seem to agree that it shouldn't be carried hammer-down with the manual safety off.
I understand that there was a design change somewhere along the line that added a half-cock notch to the hammer, but I believe this change occurred after mine was made. I'm also aware that there was a high-profile fatal accident with a Colt 1903 recently.
What's the consensus on safe carry of a Colt 1903? I'd be interested to hear from anyone who owns one of these pistols, especially if you carry one and/or have some knowledge of the internal workings of the safeties.
I've been web-searching and have come up with a variety of opinions. They mainly fall into three categories: (a) it's safe to carry cocked-and-locked; (b) it's safe to carry hammer-down with the manual safety on; (c) it's safe to carry only with an empty chamber. Most seem to agree that it shouldn't be carried hammer-down with the manual safety off.
I understand that there was a design change somewhere along the line that added a half-cock notch to the hammer, but I believe this change occurred after mine was made. I'm also aware that there was a high-profile fatal accident with a Colt 1903 recently.
What's the consensus on safe carry of a Colt 1903? I'd be interested to hear from anyone who owns one of these pistols, especially if you carry one and/or have some knowledge of the internal workings of the safeties.
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