Here's one I pulled out of the vault for a quick picture. A Colt Model N, or 1908 Vest Pocket in .25 ACP. This one manufactured in 1913 and after over 100 years it's starting to show some minor pitting in the finish but overall is in excellent condition. Shoots well too.

I found the advertising from back in the day to be interesting as well. Safety was a big feature of the Colt pocket pistols; "Three safety features make it absolutely safe to handle." Probably not idiot proof, though.

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Faulkner, you and I seem to have very similar tastes.
I bought this not long ago from another forum member. Mine was made in 1915, is surprisingly accurate and so far, hasn't missed a beat.

I wouldn't carry one as a primary defensive weapon, but I'd love to have one of those little beasties as a backup gun. I envy you guys.

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Oh well, what the hell.

Roe

Curious as to the pitting that you describe and I can see in the pics.
Does the gun look like it has been refinished at some point?
I didn't think you could get pits through bluing, but maybe I'm wrong.

On blowing the picture up, they are actually "freckling" not pitting.
Nice gun!

I love my Vest Pocket, mfg 1911...and both of its big Brothers, one in .32ACP mfg in 1911, and one in .380ACP mfg in 1908...

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Silence is the virtue of fools

Those little Colts are REALLY GREAT guns.

I agree, "freckling" would be a more accurate description. Seems to be the original finish.

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A 1908 was my first carry gun. Even with the safety features I carried it with an empty chamber and a loaded mag.

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John
S&WCA Life Member

NOTHING is idiot proof. Idiots are just way too clever and sneaky.

Here is my own, "kick my hind-parts" addition to the thread. I let one leave my possession for a pittance many years ago; and to add insult to injury, I passed on a very nice condition one for $350.00 last year.

I really miss my "mind" sometimes..... After seeing these great examples, I want one more than ever.

The first one, by Faulkner, shows a different designed grip panel from any of the others pictured. The Rampant Colt has a "figure" outlined behind it, that at first glance would seem to be a surf board or jon boat.

It is actually a fancy rendering of Colt's Mfgr. company's "C" . I know all the rest of you posters mostly knew that, but just in case there was a smidge of interest.

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wanna do right-- not right now

Here is my 1908,ser.# 123432 maybe 1915.
Dick

It appears to me that the M1908 in the OP has been refinished. The giveaway is that the trigger, manual safety and the grip safety should have a case-hardened finish if original. It's a pretty gun, and may be a good shooter, but it's not "as issued."

For comparison, here is one with the original finish.



Here is another picture from my historical archives, which was also dated 1919. Apparently these guns were popular with the distaff side - although I would suggest a better-fitting and better-secured holster!

John

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There was a time in which a semi auto .25 ACP was considered to be
a perfectly adequate self defense gun. Not these days when many
think the .380 just isn't big enough. When I watch the films of WW1
and even WW2 I always notice how thin people used to be compared
to today when so many are overweight. Maybe that's it, people today
have more body armor!

I also have a Colt vest pocket which was made in 1911. It has been refinished and has some pitting but is a fun little gun & always works 100 percent with factory ammo!

I've got one someone brought to the Police Dept to get rid of (pre 1960) Dad brought it home....... still in the box.

At one time Dad had IIRC 4 or 5 of these "drop-offs" he gave me a couple to use as trades to get my first revolver..... a Smith Model 10 in the mid-70s

I think one reason the .25 is not as deadly as it once was is because of quicker and better medical care. Not many years ago it was a long time to the hospital. Now within 5 min. an ambulance will be on the scene with better care than hospitals once had. Larry

John, it looks like this young lady has decided she has been without "staff" long enough; and moved on up to the next step.

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wanna do right-- not right now

I've posted this one before. It's not a Colt, but it was built on the same pattern. I wish it were a Colt. It's a little .25 acp that once belonged to a great-uncle (who nobody in the family wants to talk about) who was disbarred for trying to bribe a jury. It was said that he spent a considerable amount of time frequenting the red light district, both in an official and unofficial capacity. I've often wondered if this little semi-auto had spent much of its life discreetly tucked into the bodice of some parlor house madam. One can only imagine.

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Pack light and cinch tight.

This was my first handgun. It was found in an old cabin in the Missouri river breaks of western North Dakota. It was rusted and froze up, I dropped it in a bucket of solvent and then worked on it with steel wool. Got the slide to work, the bore and insides are like new. There was 2 rounds in the mag and both of them fired. Not a collectors item but means a lot to me since I've had it for almost 50 years.

Attached Images

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Late to the party as usual, but here's mine in the original box with brochure. Circa 1917.

If I can locate another Colt Junior, I'll have a Full House: 3 Vest Pockets and 2 Juniors.