Colt 1903 Hammerless - Dave Sams

[lindermant]

earlier this year I picked up a well used Colt 1903 Hammerless (type III circa 1917). It looked like it could use a good home, and for the price I just couldn't leave her on the shelf.

I've read they're great shooters, and well they look flat out cool. I figured its size might lend nicely to my kids smaller hands when it comes time to introduce them to shooting too.

A few months back I sent her off to Dave Sams for a bit of freshening up. I asked that he clean up the rust/pitting as much as possible and give me a set of sights I could actually use yet look liked they belonged - I think he delivered

pardon the lint, oil, & fingerprints in the pics

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Wow! Nice job! I wonder if he could do anything for mine.

 

[Jim K]

Very nice job. Considering the original condition, don't feel bad about hurting any collector value. IMHO, the gun is worth much more now than it was before.

BTW, I heard that one of those wore out one time, but I have not been able to confirm that, and I think it was just a rumor.

Jim

 

[Old Fuff]

Nicely done. And not too many people know that a USGI .45 rear sight will fit the dovetail.

 

[Slugless]

Looks great! The sights are one of the big problems I have with the pistol. And the new finish looks great - mine is crappy and someone scratched their initials into the slide.

'bout how much did it cost?

 

[lindermant]

stevie-ray, give Dave a call and he'll take care of you.

thanks Jim & Old Fuff (and these things are tanks, I refuse to believe they wear out)!

slugless, if the scratches aren't too deep, they might be able to be polished out. Cost? Probably more than I should've spent, but whaddya gonna do

 

[Old Fuff]

You might be able to save some money, and maybe get a better job, if you do the preliminary polishing by hand before you send a gun to the bluer. What makes the finish whatever it is, is in the polishing, not the bluing process itself. Therefore the cost is determined by how much polishing the bluer has too do, and how he does it. If you have it done it's usually costs ya'. If you do it yourself all you need is some sheets of emery paper or cloth, and some small wood blocks for backers.

Notice I said HAND POLISH. Leave machine polishing with wheels to a pro.

You can save additional money if you disassemble the gun and send only the parts that need to be refinished. However if the gun is a model 1903 or '08 Colt Pocket Model this might not be such good advice. They are difficult to assemble if you don't know some tricks. Use your own judgment and perhaps leave this to the bluer. Other guns, such as 1911 style pistols (without additional internal gadgets and safeties) are easy.

 

[lindermant]

Old Fuff, I've often wondered how best to get the nice polished flats (not mirrored, but rather you can see the "grain" like the older Colts).

Is it best to set up a rig to fix the emery paper and draw the part across it, or fix the part and draw the emery paper on the part? I'd like to try this myself on my next Colt rescue, but I'm a little hesitant to take the first step

 

[Jim Watson]

Looks nice. I think I'd have splurged on a little larger thumb safety, too.
My present .32 is in too good original condition to mess with, though.

 

[lindermant]

thanks jim.

 

[Slugless]

Jim, et. all

What other aftermarket gizmos are available? I like these little pistols but the ergonomics are, well, so last century.

So far -

* replacement sights, .45 rear & some kind of front sight
* larger thumb safety (where would I get that?)

I find it hard to believe there would be aftermarket grips.

Anything else available? These really are pocket pistols & are so small they'd be good in a warm climate like here in Houston.

I gotta do a little testing on mine before I spend a lot of money on it. The person who scratched the slide also scratched the feed ramp

Because I was young & stupid I polished the feed ramp myself. It'll shoot FMJ but I need to try it with SP.

If refinishing it is in the $ ballpark of buying a new tiny little automatic, I'll probably do it.

 

[lindermant]

the front sight was custom made (very small tenon in slide) and silver soldered in. Any work to the thumb safety will be custom (read $$$). I'm sure Dave could've made one, it never came to mind. Original checkered/medallion grips are hard to come by, but plastic versions can be had from Numrich and/or Jack First.

I'm trying to hunt down an IWB or pocket holster. There's a photo of an appendix IWB rig here. I've emailed Mr. Garrity to check on availability.

If you go with Sams, he can check/correct the feed ramp and everything else that may need attention...

Concerning relative sizes, I just took this pic. Top to bottom - 9mm Combat Commander / 1903 Hammerless / Agent:

the 1903 is much thinner than the Agent

 

[Slugless]

Concerning relative sizes, I just took this pic.

I love this forum, THR rocks.

Thanks!

 

[bannockburn]

lindermant

Way to go! Nothing like refurbishing and refining an old classic like the Model 1903; especially when looking at the before and after pics. Definitely, a job well done.

 

[Jim Watson]

In the March 2006 American Handgunner there was an article with several highly customized 1903s. Lots of good ideas there, but everything would have to be fabricated or altered to fit; there is no cottage industry in Pocket Model parts and accessories like there is for 1911s and Glocks.

 

[lindermant]

thanks Jim - text of the article here, now to see if I can dig up the pics...

 

[Hoppy590]

lindermant

thanks for the link. that looks real slick. i might send my 1903 to him, as i like the 1903 as a carry piece but it needs a good cleanup and blue.

anyone know where to get "new" or reproduction barrels for the .32

 

[lindermant]

numrich has some (depending on what extractor cut your 1903 has) here. You can give Jack First a call and see if they have 'em...

 

[DogBonz]

That is so cool

I love old pistols.


Check out my dad's carry gun:

 

[M2 Carbine]

Nice looking pistol.

These are a couple I've had for many years.

Mine.


My Wifes.

 

[lindermant]

nice one DogBonz.

M2 Carbine, great little 1903's, the engraving is tastefully done!

 

[hhb]

All of the 1903's featured in this thread are a tribute to the nation's past. We couldn't afford them now.

 

[M2 Carbine]

lindermant
nice one DogBonz.

M2 Carbine, great little 1903's, the engraving is tastefully done!

Years ago I swapped a M1 Carbine for it. Then I found the Pearl grips at a gun show.
I called it my Wife's Sissy Gun.

 

[Iggy]

I love the little rascals. I have two 32's and a nickle 380.

View attachment 330297

 

[EmGeeGeorge]

here's mine; was by grandad's back up when he was a police back east.