Confession time

sigp220.45 · #1 06-04-2017, 06:00 PM

No shame here - I'm a big fan of the .25 auto.

My first was a Raven, and it was perfectly reliable. I traded it off, but soon had a Beretta 950. Once while I was in Rancho Cordova, CA, I was carrying it quite illegally. I was slowly flunking out of USAF navigator training at Mather, AFB, and went for a late night jog after a tough day of steady underperforming. A group of local yutes were in the process of crossing the street to intercept my lumbering course, no doubt to praise me for defending their freedom. I removed the little Beretta from my pocket and showed it to them like you'd show somebody the time on a pocket watch - hey, lookie what I have. The head yute stopped, grinned, gave me a little salute, and led his crew back to their side of the street.

I traded that one off, and was .25less for a while, until I got this lovely little FN 1905/1906, the same gun as a Colt Vest Pocket.

I carried it today when I went to the King Sooper to get a morning paper. I survived nicely.

It shoots well, and I have confidence in it.

So, please - I know most of you manly men wouldn't dream of carrying such an impotent little thing. I get it.

But I suspect I'm not the only forum fella who drops one of these into a pocket and sallies forth into the mean streets. Or maybe I am.

Any other .25 toters out there?

ColbyBruce · #2 06-04-2017, 06:16 PM

I have owned a Raven, several Berettas, a couple of Gillessi's, a Stering, and a HK 4 with .22, .25, .32, and .380 barrels and mags. The .25 shot very well in that HK 4.

PALADIN85020 · #3 06-04-2017, 06:23 PM

This little .25 is extremely well made and still functions as John Browning intended, even though it's pushing 100 years old now!

John

GeoJelly · #4 06-04-2017, 06:30 PM

Not fancy and a little bit scratchy - but only an arm's reach from the desk and 100% reliable so far ... I like it so much I finally found a wide-slide Tomcat a few days ago. The Tomcat is much, much heavier - I would say even heavier than an Airweight J-frame.

PALADIN85020 · #5 06-04-2017, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoJelly

Not fancy and a little bit scratchy - but only an arm's reach from the desk and 100% reliable so far ... I like it so much I finally found a wide-slide Tomcat a few days ago. The Tomcat is much, much heavier - I would say even heavier than an Airweight J-frame.

You do know that a rubber band is not a real effective substitute for a lost slide spring, don't you???

John

Irn-Bru · #6 06-04-2017, 06:40 PM

My Walther Model 5. Unfortunately the barrel broke off after 6 rounds. Now resides in a baggy in bits

LedFowl · #7 06-04-2017, 06:41 PM

Here's another Beretta 21a in .25 acp. Mine is reliable, but hard to shoot accurately.

824tsv · #8 06-04-2017, 06:42 PM

In original box with original instruction sheet.

Mule Packer · #9 06-04-2017, 06:44 PM

This little 1905 Fabriques Nationale Armes de Guerre was my dad's. It was given to him by his Uncle Vern, an attorney who was disbarred for trying to bribe a jury. Uncle Vern then got a job as a prison guard at the Utah State Prison located at Point of the Mountain, just south of Salt Lake City.

From what my dad told me, Uncle Vern was known to frequent some of the local parlor houses in the city. Where he got this gun is anybody's guess. For all we know, it could have originally resided in the bodice of some brothel madam.

Anyway, when Dad gave this diminutive little pistol to me, he said, "I'm going to give you the same advice Uncle Vern gave me when he first gave me this gun. Don't ever shoot anybody with it. You're liable to make them awfully mad."

PALADIN85020 · #10 06-04-2017, 06:58 PM

Here's a Colt Model 1908 in its original environment...

John

sigp220.45 · #11 06-04-2017, 07:38 PM

Also, it kills bears.

boykinlp · #12 06-04-2017, 07:59 PM

One old and one newer:

deadin · #13 06-04-2017, 09:35 PM

Only two in the collection:

Mauser M1910

Sauer M1913

les.b · #14 06-04-2017, 09:44 PM

Well, it probably won't surprise anyone here that I have a few. Here's one just like the OP's:

Here's another shot...Fogive the .32 ACP upper right. .... Top left, Baby Browning, manufactured by FN in Belgium, and imported until deemed "too small" by the 1968 gun control law. One of the smallest and nicest of the .25s. Center of the group, a 1908 .25 Colt (manufactured in 1925) which in turn was based on and very similar to the Fabrique Nationale (FN) 1903 Browning patent .25 ACP. Lower left, the already posted 1903 FN. by the way, this little gun was called the "Baby Browning" until the relatively recent somewhat smaller "Baby Browning shown in the upper left. As a side note, the 1903 FN version of the "Baby Browning" in .25 was the gun issued to Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond while he was serving as Assistant to the Director of Naval Intelligence in Britian during WWII.

I actually have two of the Baby Brownings, one came in the red lined pistol rug, but the other came in this pocket holster, which is a collector item in itself, as it was made by the famous Alfonso's of Hollywood holster maker, best known for their Western style fast draw rigs that were featured in many TV and Movie Westerns.

I know that I have a few more around somewhere, just can't lay my hands on pictures right now.

Best Regards, Les

tops · #15 06-04-2017, 09:50 PM

My mighty .25s. Either one carries great in a shirt pocket but I like the Browning the best. If a shirt has 2 pockets I can carry both and have a NY reload. Larry

Stevens · #16 06-04-2017, 10:43 PM

Here s my .25 (6.35mm) CZ it was my Grandmother's "Purse Gun" I find it shoots surprisingly well.

JohnRippert · #17 06-04-2017, 10:51 PM

Closest I have is a Astra Cub in .22 short.

I always like showing the size comparison pic.

boykinlp · #18 06-04-2017, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by les.b

Center of the group, a 1908 .25 Colt (manufactured in 1925) which in turn was based on and very similar to the Fabrique Nationale (FN) 1903 Browning patent .25 ACP.

Best Regards, Les

Les,
I see your Colt Vest Pocket serial number is a little earlier than mine. Yours is in much better shape though! Very nice!

Cyrano · #19 06-04-2017, 11:04 PM

1. Le Français Type Policeman (top), Type Poche (bottom).
2. Type Poche open for loading.
3. A dug up type Policeman. Traces of engraving can still be seen.
4. Iver Johnson Pocket 25.
5. Iver Johnson 25; all Bernadelli Baby parts on an IJ frame.

Cyrano · #20 06-04-2017, 11:06 PM

Mausers:
1. WTP-1.
2. WTP-2.
3. Model 1910.

Brianbasic · #21 06-04-2017, 11:08 PM

Here's my Raven P25(Ashton), former evidence gun. I rescued it and now. use it as my edc. She has run flawlessly so far.

deadin · #22 06-04-2017, 11:11 PM

Here are four more that were in my collection at one time.....
(Sorry about the small pictures, but these are from my archives....)

In order: French LeFrancais Pocket; Unis Vest Pocket; Haenel Q and a PAF Junior (Pretoria Arms Factory, South Africa)

Irn-Bru · #23 06-04-2017, 11:17 PM

One I actually forgot I owed until this thread. My Beretta Model 20. It's a little scarcer than the Model 21.

4T5GUY · #24 06-04-2017, 11:40 PM

Everyone has some really nice .25's. Here are all of mine, I
think.
Beretta 21BS Mauser 1910 Baby Browning
Galesi 506 Mauser WTP I Colt 1908
CZ 45 Colt JR

Thanks for the fun post.

BUFF · #25 06-04-2017, 11:48 PM

I don't believe I have ever owned a .25 ACP. Couple of .32 ACP's, which are close. Almost bought a Seecamp once.

Jeff Cooper said, if in a fight, he'd rather be armed with a hatchet than a .25.

sigp220.45 · #26 06-05-2017, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BUFF

Jeff Cooper said, if in a fight, he'd rather be armed with a hatchet than a .25.

If I could carry a hatchet in my front pocket I might agree.

Nah, on second thought I'd rather have a gun.

les.b · #27 06-05-2017, 12:22 AM

Well, BUFF, I don't usually carry a .25, because I have a lot of other stuff to choose from...but I see that you are LEO like myself, and I know that I've seen a quite a few of dead folks that got that way with a .25.

I'll agree, and I have the utmost respect for the Colonel, and have studied his works quite a bit, but....I would rather have a .25 than nothing, or even a hatchet!

Shot placement is very critical, and my own observations of dead folks with .25 cal holes in them confirm that the bullet striking something critical was the deciding factor.

On the other hand, I always like to point to another shooting victim that I know of, locally, who was shot through the torso with a .44 mag, and not only survived, but was back to work in a month or so. Why?....Nothing critical was destroyed, and prompt medical intervention helped stabilize the victim

Point is, that the little .22s and .25s are frequently underrated. Same thing with the .32. At one time it (the .32) was standard police issue in most European countries in the ACP form, and in many US police Departments in revolvers. Teddy Roosevelt, when he was Commissioner of the NYPD, chose the Colt .32 New Police as the first issue gun for the department, and issued thousands of them.

Best Regards, Les

Absalom · #28 06-05-2017, 01:04 AM

I only have one .25 in my collection. I don't carry it, but I'll show it off anyways. Those Browning designs, from little to big, are just irresistable.

4T5GUY · #29 06-05-2017, 01:17 AM

I really had hoped that this post wouldn't go down the, ".25
ACP isn't a viable option for self defense" road.
My .25's are mostly part of a greater collection of the same
manufacturers. They represent some of the smallest pistols
that were made by Mauser, Colt, "Browning", and CZ.
I actually have carried some of them at one time or another,
others I never would of course.

crsides · #30 06-05-2017, 01:29 AM

Here's a colt 25 in a box that I had not seen before. ca 1911.

Charlie

Davinman · #31 06-05-2017, 02:52 AM

here's one of my mouse gun 25's, i inherited the gun & it just sits in the box in my safe.

boykinlp · #32 06-05-2017, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crsides

Here's a colt 25 in a box that I had not seen before. ca 1911.

Charlie

Dang Charlie,
That is a definite gem! Since that gun is a 1911 vintage, this must be 1912! It is in great shape.

bracebeemer · #33 06-05-2017, 08:47 AM

I like little guns too!
Bill

boykinlp · #34 06-05-2017, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bracebeemer

I like little guns too!
Bill

I would like that one too! I definitely love the Heiser holster.

forindooruseonly · #35 06-05-2017, 09:06 AM

I sneered at the .25 for a long time, without actually shooting one.

My girl has a Mauser 1910 that her grandfather brought back from WWII, so we cleaned it up, put new springs in it, and took it to the range. Not the most accurate with it, but it was definitely fun to shoot!

I have to admit, there is something endearing about the little cartridge.

tndrfttom · #36 06-05-2017, 09:18 AM

I believe I paid $65 for this little Galesi. Bought it because it was inexpensive and I had 4 boxes of .25 ACP ammo at home. It functions well and seems well-made. I guess the 68 Gun Control Act stopped the importation of these.
Anyone know what model number this is?

DWalt · #37 06-05-2017, 09:19 AM

For many years my carry gun has been a Galesi .25 (sorry I do not have a picture of it, but see the posting above), which is a finely made pistol along the lines of a Baby Browning or Colt 1908. I carry it in a sheath cordura holster in my right front pants pocket. I don't even know it's there and no one can tell I'm packing. I've never had any need to use it, and I pray that doesn't change. But if I need it, it will be enough. I have determined that it is highly reliable with Blazer 50 grain FMJ loads, and that's what's in it. The Galesi is one of those handguns barred from importation after GCA-68. Charles Whitman had one in his arsenal at the Texas Tower shooting, but I don't think he fired it. BTW, if you carry a .25 pistol, 50 grain FMJ loads are the best. You can buy several flavors of expanding bullet .25 ACP ammo, but in practice they won't expand much, if at all, and their penetration is inferior to the 50 grain FMJ.

turnerriver · #38 06-05-2017, 09:29 AM

My Colt with a Heiser belt case designed to hold cartridges too small to put in a cartridge belt. I carry this sometimes, I live in Miami and like Sig said, it's awful easy to slip in my shorts pocket when going out to the store.
Les, that is a very fine holster you have.

A little Browning.

Regards,
turnerriver

kwill1911 · #39 06-05-2017, 10:35 AM

turnerriver · #40 06-05-2017, 10:51 AM

Kevin, those are outstanding.
I think this is the holster that Scott Meadows shows as being provided for the US .25 pistols.

Regards,
turnerriver

italiansport · #41 06-05-2017, 10:56 AM

Here's one of mine. A Mauser 25 auto i bought in parts at a garage sale. The owner had brought it to a "gunsmith" who couldn't fix it. I had it working again in short order as the biggest problem with it was being gummed up!
Jim

I have several but here's one more. I bought this Browning Vest Pocket from the original owners daughter. it had resided in a bedroom drawer in the original fitted case since new. The box of original ammo came with it and it had exactly one magazine thru it over the years!

KSDeputy · #42 06-05-2017, 10:58 AM

I had a stainless Jennings many years ago. I sold it because the .25acp round is about worthless. I would rather have a .22lr, which I have in my TPH.

kwill1911 · #43 06-05-2017, 11:27 AM

Thanks, turnerriver. I wish I had a holster like that. I do have the little Heiser shoulder holster as seen in this picture. (Sorry to OP for thread drift.)

robertrwalsh · #44 06-05-2017, 12:28 PM

They are neat little toys. I own four of them, an older Colt, a Colt Pony, an older Beretta and a vest-pocket Browning. On RARE occasion I actually carry one, when I am in a situation where anything bigger would be too difficult to hide. Any gun is better than no gun, though I do consider a .25 sub-minimal for effectiveness. That being said, nobody wants to be shot with one.

H Richard · #45 06-05-2017, 12:52 PM

This isn't my first, I had a 1910 Mauser back in the 50's, and like a fool traded it away. This little one shoots surprisingly well.

Old cop · #46 06-05-2017, 01:20 PM

Western Auto sold me a .25 auto that I carried laced into the top of my Corcoran combat boots until I got my first J frame for b/u to my service thirty-eight. I gave that little gun to a relative long ago and don't know what happened to it.

KEN L · #47 06-05-2017, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PALADIN85020

You do know that a rubber band is not a real effective substitute for a lost slide spring, don't you???

John

You are mistaken. It should be obvious the rubber band is being used in place of a missing mag catch. DUH!!

labworm · #48 06-05-2017, 01:40 PM

Purchased new in 1990 for $195.00.

I have had it for 27 years and it ain't going nowhere, my favorite mouse.

DWalt · #49 06-05-2017, 03:19 PM

Back when I was a kid, the guard at the local bank carried a .25 auto (I think a Colt) in a belt holster. I guess he thought it was big enough. He usually wore a bow tie and had a cigar in his mouth. You could do that back then. That had to be a really boring job just standing around in the bank lobby every day.

lonestar57 · #50 06-05-2017, 04:05 PM

Here's a 102 year old one I picked up on a local gun board: Don't have a lot of information on it but it's believed to be engraved back in the day by Wolf and Klar of Ft Worth, Texas. Also don't know who or what the initials stand for. If you do please contact me.