Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless .32 ACP Pistol

[weisse52]

Seeking the advice of those that know.

I have a desire to buy a Colt Model 1903 or 1908. I found this one and was wondering if anyone out there might have an idea of the value. I have done some looking around, but prices are all over the place.

These are the photo's emailed to me with this description:

Great sale of this piece of history.Colt 1903 Hammerless Pocket Model, one of the first of the concealed semi-auto pistols made by Colt. There are three safety mechanisms that were incorporated even in this early model. A positive slide lock, a hammer block lever and a grip safety. The pistol was fairly flat and small for carrying yet comfortable in the hand. This particular pistol is chambered in .32ACP and has a 3 3/4" barrel. The take down is very simple for cleaning. The 8 round magazine has proper two tone bluing.The gun functions perfectly, bore is fine, overall still a functional and collectible Colt mfg. in 1917 with serial number begining with 246xxx

Gentlemen tells me it fires just fine and is willing to meet me at a range to test.

So, with this little bit of information can anyone offer an opinion on value?

 

[Kman]

From those pics?? looks to have fairly even honest wear all around, and i'm guessing strong patina on the grip straps, very little case colors left, and probably rust pitts in a few spots, it's around $300 in my area.

 

[Jim K]

Those pictures are so poor that I can't tell anything about condition, which is the whole thing with those guns, and probably why you see such a variation in price. There is also a price variation among the four types, with the earliest type bringing some 60% more than a second variation in the same condition.

As a general rule, they will run anywhere from about $150 for little finish to $2000 or more for a "U.S. Property" gun in 100%, and even more for a documented general officers pistol.

At a gun show today, I saw a couple of dozen, with good ones in the $600 range. They will all work OK unless completely worn out, which some are. But, again as a general rule, those guns were bought for home defense and stayed in the sock drawer for years. Check barrels, though, unless you are a pure collector. Sometimes the original owner fired the gun with corrosive ammo, then just stuck it away.

Jim

 

[Logan5]

Somewhere between $350 and $450, I'd say... But I'm just guesstimating condition and then shaving east coast prices.

 

[weisse52]

I wish I had some better pictures myself. Anybody have a good reference to point to to age for serial numbers?

 

[Claude Clay]

walnut grips 1924 on. Logan5 priced it well.

 

[bannockburn]

weisse52

Colt .32 Hammerless Automatic

Type 1-SN 1 to 71,999
1903 to 1908

Type 2-72,000 to 105,050
1908 to 1910

Type 3-105,051 to 468,096
1910 to 1926

Type 4-468,097 to 572,214
1926 to 1946