Slightly Used Colt .32 Automatic

[ancientnoob]

Just recently, I stumbled upon an opportunity to purchase a slightly used .32 ACP handgun. It retains approximately 90% of high polished blueing and all the small parts, screws, sights, trigger and safety catch are finished in an amazing super bright blue. There are small dinks and scratches all over the pistol, and a small amount of wear on the fore end, front and back straps. The pistol came with its original Gutta-Percha rubber grips and a pair of urethane faux MOP panels, original blued 8 rd single stack magazine and a reproduction magazine.
Designated Colt’s Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless Automatic Model M, .32 Rimless Smokeless, marked “Browning Patent”, triangular cur slide serrations and sporting a very scarce 4” barrel and short lived separate barrel bushing. It is also the first year of “VP” verified proof on the trigger guard bow. This Type 1 pistol left Colt’s factory in the year 1905!
Being the pistol is 115 years old it think it looks pretty darn good. I wanted to acquire some custom panels and opted for 50,000 year old Mastodon Ivory from Spresser Custom Grips.

 

[unclenunzie]

Like the post or the laptop gets it!

A fine addition to any collection.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

My 1903 was a reliable performer, unlike its .380 cousin. Factory magazines are mandatory to get them to run right, and they arent cheap, but its hard to find a classier, more elegant classic pistol.

Nice score!

 

[ancientnoob]

My 1903 was a reliable performer, unlike its .380 cousin. Factory magazines are mandatory to get them to run right, and they arent cheap, but its hard to find a classier, more elegant classic pistol.

Nice score!

It might be worthwhile to mention Colt never made the .380 1908 in a 4” configuration only the .32ACP, and only until serial number approx. 72000.

 

[ancientnoob]

Does anyone know why Colt decided to cut the barrel length from 4" to 3 3/4 " ? I would think one would want as much barrel as possible for the 32ACP. Concealment would not be affected but I would think velocity may even if only slightly.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Does anyone know why Colt decided to cut the barrel length from 4" to 3 3/4 " ? I would think one would want as much barrel as possible for the 32ACP. Concealment would not be affected but I would think velocity may even if only slightly.

Perhaps it had something to do with eliminating the external bushing?

 

[Monac]

I like the Type I 1903's most of all, although I have to admit the 1930's guns with walnut grips are better looking. There are all kinds of reproduction grips available, by the way, from repros of the factory originals to very nice fake ivory, with many varieties of wood and bone in-between.

 

[Monac]

Does anyone know why Colt decided to cut the barrel length from 4" to 3 3/4 " ? I would think one would want as much barrel as possible for the 32ACP. Concealment would not be affected but I would think velocity may even if only slightly.

I have no idea, but I do have another question: Why did Colt never make the safety-catch hold-open point the same as the dismantling point? That has been my only complaint about the 1903, because it makes them needlessly inconvenient to take apart.

 

[ancientnoob]

I like the Type I 1903's most of all, although I have to admit the 1930's guns with walnut grips are better looking. There are all kinds of reproduction grips available, by the way, from repros of the factory originals to very nice fake ivory, with many varieties of wood and bone in-between.

I saw that! I wanted something a bit more unique went with Mastodon Ivory. I thought it was appropriate for such an old pistol.

 

[ancientnoob]

I have no idea, but I do have another question: Why did Colt never make the safety-catch hold-open point the same as the dismantling point? That has been my only complaint about the 1903, because it makes them needlessly inconvenient to take apart.

I totally have to agree. Also with the absence of the integrated bushing the barrel rotation aspect of the take down requires a bit more dexterity.

 

[indy1919a4]

Wow nice pistol.. Jaw dropping grips.. Where as I am not one to get Ivory grips.. I do want those.. thanks for the photos..

 

[94045]

Just recently, I stumbled upon an opportunity to purchase a slightly used .32 ACP handgun. It retains approximately 90% of high polished blueing and all the small parts, screws, sights, trigger and safety catch are finished in an amazing super bright blue. There are small dinks and scratches all over the pistol, and a small amount of wear on the fore end, front and back straps. The pistol came with its original Gutta-Percha rubber grips and a pair of urethane faux MOP panels, original blued 8 rd single stack magazine and a reproduction magazine.
Designated Colt’s Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless Automatic Model M, .32 Rimless Smokeless, marked “Browning Patent”, triangular cur slide serrations and sporting a very scarce 4” barrel and short lived separate barrel bushing. It is also the first year of “VP” verified proof on the trigger guard bow. This Type 1 pistol left Colt’s factory in the year 1905!
Being the pistol is 115 years old it think it looks pretty darn good. I wanted to acquire some custom panels and opted for 50,000 year old Mastodon Ivory from Spresser Custom Grips.
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Really nice piece. Nice grips.

Purportedly the pistol in John Wick Parabellum used by Winston although some people believe it was actually a 1908 Pocket Hammerless (.380 ACP). I always hate it when that happens. Seems like it drives up prices (I tend to acquire not sell).

 

[ancientnoob]

Really nice piece. Nice grips.

Purportedly the pistol in John Wick Parabellum used by Winston although some people believe it was actually a 1908 Pocket Hammerless (.380 ACP). I always hate it when that happens. Seems like it drives up prices (I tend to acquire not sell).

A couple of people recommend to me the John Wick movie, eventually I will have to see it.

 

[ancientnoob]

50,000 years old? Some guys just refuse to buy new grips.

Nice pistol, by the way.

Thanks bud. It would have been more accurate to say between 10,000-50,000 yrs old. The material once belong to this critter that roamed North America and went extinct approximately 10,000 years ago.

 

[jar]

I have no idea, but I do have another question: Why did Colt never make the safety-catch hold-open point the same as the dismantling point? That has been my only complaint about the 1903, because it makes them needlessly inconvenient to take apart.

It's interesting but shows a pattern at Colt. The Colt 1908 Vest Pocket is similar, the hold open fully exposes the ejection port while on the 1906 FN version the hold open aligns at the point the barrel can turn for field stripping. The hold open notches are in the same place but the Colt uses a seesaw motion using the far end of the safety to lock back while the FN locks safety or hold open at the same point on the safety.

 

[bannockburn]

ancientnoob

Very nice Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless, even more so with those grips!

Thanks for sharing (and note to self: must get a Colt Pocket Hammerless some day in the near future)!

 

[94045]

It's interesting but shows a pattern at Colt. The Colt 1908 Vest Pocket is similar, the hold open fully exposes the ejection port while on the 1906 FN version the hold open aligns at the point the barrel can turn for field stripping. The hold open notches are in the same place but the Colt uses a seesaw motion using the far end of the safety to lock back while the FN locks safety or hold open at the same point on the safety.

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I have one of those but seeing that it served my Great Uncle as his Railroad Gun for his entire career it likely has less than 10% of it's bluing left and a little pitting. Still functional though. Reminds me I need to search through the safes and find it.

 

[Tallball]

Nice pistol. Great find!

 

[ancientnoob]

I have one of those but seeing that it served my Great Uncle as his Railroad Gun for his entire career it likely has less than 10% of it's bluing left and a little pitting. Still functional though. Reminds me I need to search through the safes and find it.

When you find your great uncles pistol please share photos!

 

[ancientnoob]

It's interesting but shows a pattern at Colt. The Colt 1908 Vest Pocket is similar, the hold open fully exposes the ejection port while on the 1906 FN version the hold open aligns at the point the barrel can turn for field stripping. The hold open notches are in the same place but the Colt uses a seesaw motion using the far end of the safety to lock back while the FN locks safety or hold open at the same point on the safety.

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Those are so similar but yet so different.

 

[jar]

Those are so similar but yet so different.

Well, built to the same patent. Originally there was no manual safety on the design. Colt turned it down initially but FN jumped on it. When Colt saw the sales figures they made a deal to make it as well. Colt was the first to add the manual safety and FN followed. My guess is that FN learned from what Colt customers said and so modified the safety to act as a safety and hold open for field stripping.

 

[ancientnoob]

Well, built to the same patent. Originally there was no manual safety on the design. Colt turned it down initially but FN jumped on it. When Colt saw the sales figures they made a deal to make it as well. Colt was the first to add the manual safety and FN followed. My guess is that FN learned from what Colt customers said and so modified the safety to act as a safety and hold open for field stripping.

I like what FN did with the trigger as well, making it a hair wider.