Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless

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I very recently purchased a Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless. It is a pistol that I was in complete awe of from the very first time I saw one. Truly a beautiful classic!

Does anyone know a good place to buy quality parts? Right now I know I need a new recoil spring, a grip screw, and I would like a second magazine. I looked on-line, but I would like to know the places that you trust and have received good service from.

I would love to find an on-line manual if anyone happens to know of one.

Also, is there a way to take the magazine apart to clean and oil? It looks like the bottom plate is soldered on.

Thanks for any help and feel free to tell me anything I should know about this pistol. Pictures are soon to follow.

Shawn
 
I am sorry to say I can't help with the questions but congrats on getting a sweet pistol.
 
Gunshows...in people misc Parts Boxes...

e-bay...( parts, original care and use sheets...Holsters )

Gunbroker ( Magazine )

Repop Magazines probably will not be satisfying...so bear that in mind. Original Magazines tend to be a little pricey, but, worth it if in good condition.

Dunno on dismantling a Magazine...never done it. Solvents and Aerosol Carb Cleaner should aid in cleaning out any old Oils or Greases in one.

Know your Grip Scew when looking through people's Gun Show parts Boxes...

Pretty sure aftermarket/replacement Recoil Springs are available fairly easily...but I do not know from where, other than whatever companys offer them for M1911s, might have them.


Those are wonderful Pistols...very sweet.


Where's the images to see it?

Post some images!
 
Thanks gentlemen. I am also thinking about having it refinished, any suggestions? Right now I am thinking about brushed nickel and maybe have a few pieces polished, but very open to any ideas.

Here are the pics as promised.

When one classic deserves another. Another good thing about taking these pics is that I got to drink some of my best bourbon.:D
 

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For parts, you might want to try:

gunpartscorp.com

poppertsgunparts.com

parts4guns.com

jackfirstgun.com

gun-parts.com

If it were me, I wouldn't refinish the gun. It looks in pretty decent condition just as it appears in your photos. I think it looks fine just the way it is.
 
Thanks for the info. I found a stock screw w/ escutcheon.

I have looked all over for an IWB holster and only found one. Anybody know of any?

Shawn
 
IMHO, Fix it up, leave the finish as is and put it in the safe to preserve it.

There are better modern and common firearms for carry. She's already earned her retirement.
 
Carry and shoot the one you have. IF you want one with better finish, save your money and buy an original with original finish in 99-100%. It will be an investment, and you can take it out and fondle it, then put it back in the safe, while having the "lesser" one to really enjoy. My ankle gun has more wear than yours, and I pack it at least once every week.
DSC05340.jpg
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Wolff makes the best replacement springs you can buy:
http://www.gunsprings.com/Semi-Auto Pistols/COLT/1903 PM 7.65 & 9mm /cID1/mID1/dID71

The magazine can be dissembled just like a 1911 mag, by pushing the follower down part way with a popcycle stick or dowel rod, and sticking a nail or punch through one of the holes below it to hold the spring down.

Then shake the follower out, and pull the spring out.

Go here for complete owners instructions:
http://www.coltautos.com/

I also agree that your gun is too nice to refinish it with brushed nickel and a few parts polished.
Eewww!
Sounds like a pimps gun with all that bling!!

rc
 
I've got one I picked up a few years back.


1903.gif


It had been refinshed with what appears to be a nice parkerized finish, so I don't have to worry about it's collector's value.

It's a great shooting little pistol and one of my favorite plinkers, very good accuracy I might add.


Parts are rare and hard to come by.

Definitely try to get factory mags, all the aftermarket ones I've tried are junk.
 
I wonder what the exact amount of value would be lost by refinishing that. I have a 1903 Pocket Hammer in .38 Auto that I'm having refinished, but it's in bad shape.
 
If one is so far gone that collectors wouldn't want it, then go ahead and refinish. If it has 50% or more, and the bore is good, SOME collectors might want it (some are unique with proof marks, foreign government markings, or recorded as sent to or used by certain entities such as OSS, the UK or othe countries,US Army generals, etc, so refinishing THOSE would be a bad idea...a Colt letter can tell you, but they cost money (but are interesting, just the same...you migh find out where it was shipped, or some other historical data.) I used to want my guns to all be "pristine", but now a nice evenly aged or worn gun is also cool, and I can use it all I want, and it changes little, and changes the value little.
 
During the era when the 1903/08 Hammerless Pocket Model was made Colt used two different blue finishes, Charcoal Blue, and Gas Oven Blue. Neither of them can be exactly duplicated using modern bluing methods. For that reason collectors will pay big to bigger bucks to get exanples that still have their original blue finish. If you have a pistol that has at least half of the original finish and have it refinished the market value will drop, not increase.

Shooters on the other hand don't usually care, but think long and hard before you get one of these pistols refinished.
 
From what I'm seeing I'd leave it be.

I picked up one in seventy to seventy-five percent condition for something like $375. All the others I had seen were basically devoid of finish for considerably more. This one had been refinished but superbly. The wear to it since refinishing is all good. As it turns out a guy who I know who is a Colt expert is convinced that it had to have been refinished by Colt with light service since . Mechanically it looks a lot like new with a bright and crisp bore. The only downside is that the grips are wood (but Colt later issued) but also in outstanding condition. I still haven't shot it almost a year after I stumbled on it. The thought was that the shop based the asking price on being refinished without realizing who had done the refinishing. This was the same shop that sold me an 85 percent Colt Diamondback for $425. My gunsmith almost fell over when I told him what I paid for it. I stop by that shop frequently :)

Welcome to the 1903 club.
 
Easy, easy, easy, lol. It has already been refinished before and not that well of a job, the pictures really do it a lot of justice. Therefore it's value has already been reduced, so figure since it already has been I may as well have it finished the way I would like.

On that note I did see a black nickel finish that I really liked.

Nobody knows of a holster for this piece? I have a primary and secondary carry gun, but wouldn't mind carrying it from time to time.

Thanks for all the other help.

Shawn
 
I made an IWB holster with a metal spring clip. It was rough side out and held the pistol quite well. I sold the pistol to pay bills and the holster went too. It was a 1908 Pocket Auto in .380. Best packing pistol I ever carried. I carried the gun on my right hip above my wallet in my waist band.
 
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