Inspired by SquidSix, and a 1908 with a bad refinish, is a properly sighted 1921 Colt. Thanks Novak. They installed a full Wolff spring kit for no charge. I did send the kit. Maybe they knew it was my birthday! Back in two weeks. Impressive!!
Oh man thats great! I do love the heck out of mine, and yours a fair bit nicer.
The finish looks great. Did you farm that out or do it yourself? Beautifully done!
Oops, I'm a sucker for a new holster too. Only OWB for me. Can I carry one in the chamber guys??? S# 41824
I'm a sucker for a new holster too, unfortunately the last one I went in to buy cost me over $1,500 dollars.
Love the pocket Colt .380, on the bucket list for sure.
I don't know who did mine--bought it this way. Be aware that these guns are not drop safe. A few years ago a gun writer was killed when he dropped his.
I don't know who did mine--bought it this way. Be aware that these guns are not drop safe. A few years ago a gun writer was killed when he dropped his.
Could you give some more details on the gun writer who was killed? Possibly a link to the story? I have not heard about this and would like to find out more about it. Thank you.
Here are some excerpts from his memorial, as printed in the August, 2009 edition of SWAT and written by editor Denny Hansen.
“Longtime SWAT Magazine Contributing Editor Steve Malloy was killed in a tragic shooting accident at his home on April 16. As best as can be determined, Steve had a pistol in his waistband and when he bent over to tie his shoes, the pistol fell onto the floor and discharged—the bullet struck Steve in the chest. He was found in the garage, apparently trying to leave the home to summon aid.”
“When dealing with things of a tactical nature, Steve was the epitome of the word ‘professional.’”
The weapon in question was a 1903 Colt Pocket Model pistol, carried with a live round in the chamber. It was a classic old gun that is revered by those who appreciate fine firearms. The 1903 .32 and the 1908 .380 Pocket Models have a long and honored history. Such guns were issued to Generals like Patton and Eisenhower in WWII, and to OSS personnel in the same time period. Hell, my grandfather shot an armed robber in self-defense early in the 20th century with a 1903 Colt .32 that’s still in the family: that particular gun was the first semi-automatic pistol I ever fired, before my age had two digits in it. Slim and compact, comfortable to carry, sweet of trigger pull and deadly accurate and reliable, it was the kind of pistol a “gun guy” like Malloy would appreciate.
It also did not have a secured firing pin and was not “drop-safe” against inertia fire. You don’t carry a 1903, so it doesn’t matter? Well, if you carry a 1911, it does matter, because both mechanisms were designed by John M. Browning and are remarkably similar. You aren’t going to ever drop your gun? Good that you’re the first perfect human who’s immune to error. It’s safe to say that neither you nor I are the Second Coming of the perfect human incapable of making a mistake. And these old Colt designs are not by any means the only autopistols that are not “drop-safe”!
Well, it's not that it can't happen... lately the DMV and folks are busily telling the story of the driver who was killed by a loose box of facial tissues that struck him in the back of the neck in a 30MPH accident.
" The chances of getting eaten up by a lion on Main Street aren't one in a million, but once would be enough."
-- Lockwood's Long Shot
I don't play the lottery and I don't worry about a loose book on the back seat of my car. Either thing could come back to haunt me, but I'm guessing my demise will be from something mundane like somebody answering a text while driving.
The 1903/08 (collectively the model M) may well have some risk associated with carrying a round in the chamber, but if I need to use that weapon in seriousness, odds are good there's an even bigger risk of not having a round in the chamber.
All that said, I recall it's a 2-part firing pin and it would take darn little to make up a titanium replacement for one or both sections.
Yes! It is really well done. And the grips have the finest checkering I've ever seen on wood. The rear sight is a big blocky thing that I should replace.
I now have three Novak Colts.
Each of these is .380, although one was originally a .32
The one with the Giraffe Bone grips is a full house custom: they did the whole works on that gun and it came out great.
The one with the Holly grips is sights and safety only. I did that one myself mostly.
The rosewood gripped version was a rough local purchase and I sent the top half off to Novak, who got it back to me in 20 days, rails trued, sights installed, and blue finish done. I love it.
Here are some excerpts from his memorial, as printed in the August, 2009 edition of SWAT and written by editor Denny Hansen.
“Longtime SWAT Magazine Contributing Editor Steve Malloy was killed in a tragic shooting accident at his home on April 16. As best as can be determined, Steve had a pistol in his waistband and when he bent over to tie his shoes, the pistol fell onto the floor and discharged—the bullet struck Steve in the chest. He was found in the garage, apparently trying to leave the home to summon aid.”
“When dealing with things of a tactical nature, Steve was the epitome of the word ‘professional.’”
The weapon in question was a 1903 Colt Pocket Model pistol, carried with a live round in the chamber. It was a classic old gun that is revered by those who appreciate fine firearms. The 1903 .32 and the 1908 .380 Pocket Models have a long and honored history. Such guns were issued to Generals like Patton and Eisenhower in WWII, and to OSS personnel in the same time period. Hell, my grandfather shot an armed robber in self-defense early in the 20th century with a 1903 Colt .32 that’s still in the family: that particular gun was the first semi-automatic pistol I ever fired, before my age had two digits in it. Slim and compact, comfortable to carry, sweet of trigger pull and deadly accurate and reliable, it was the kind of pistol a “gun guy” like Malloy would appreciate.
It also did not have a secured firing pin and was not “drop-safe” against inertia fire. You don’t carry a 1903, so it doesn’t matter? Well, if you carry a 1911, it does matter, because both mechanisms were designed by John M. Browning and are remarkably similar. You aren’t going to ever drop your gun? Good that you’re the first perfect human who’s immune to error. It’s safe to say that neither you nor I are the Second Coming of the perfect human incapable of making a mistake. And these old Colt designs are not by any means the only autopistols that are not “drop-safe”!
I remember this when it first happened. I added it to the list of others who have suffered a similar incident in my career path. Sad, yet it happens over and over. I guess it goes to be expected to some extent.
Heck, I bought a gun off of a gent who had a "firearms accident" a few days later and died. Sad all the way around.
Novak Colt 1908 380
Linear Mode
