Having not attended one in awhile, I had walked the floor and was about to leave. Decided to revisit several specific tables of dealers specializing in C&R and glad I did.

Arrived just in time for dealer to be placing a gun on his table as a replacement for one just sold. Saw a nice condition Colt 1903 and then a tag price of $425. Now I'm REALLY interested. But when I turn it over...

It's a 1908 in .380, a MUCH rarer Pony and a gun I've been seeking for awhile. And the dealer negotiated with me to $400.

Enjoy some classic Colt goodness from 1926. Pretty sure I'm going to.

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Lucky you! I've always thought they were one of the most tidy and elegant of all the "pocket" pistols. Sadly, up here in Canada, you need a "prohibited" class license to own one. As a catch-22, you can't apply for or get a prohibited validation. Only those who had them "grandfathered" can own them. BTW, you're not allowed to transport a "prohibited" rifle, but you can a pistol!

Fantastic score, congratulations. I’d love to find one of those, even at double that price.

Now go and buy a lottery ticket.

Well done... If I found a 1908 in that condition priced similarly, it would be coming home with me!

You may want to replace the recoil spring. It’s probably the original and that gun is begging to be shot.

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"I also cook."

I have always wanted one of those but have never seen them in a condition that matched my preference and my pocket book. Congratulations that was a home run purchase from my perspective.

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Very nice find, and a good price, although it looks well used. I certainly wouldn't hesitate to buy it for what you got it for, though. Have you researched the SN# to determine production year?

When you shoot it, start out will FMJ, or "ball" ammo. If the .380 is anything like the .32, the feed ramp is cut for round nosed bullets and gets temperamental with JHP's. I have a 1903 military issue, made in 1943, and it will run FMJ all day long without a burp, but I get frequent failures to feed with JHP's like Hornady's flat-nosed XTP or even Remington round-nosed JHP's. These pistols are great CC guns, low profile and not too heavy. I quit carrying mine because of the issue with hollow point ammo, and it's value. I got mine from my Stepdad, who carried it in WWII.

Why is that on the "prohibited" list? Because it was designed for the military?

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"Why is that on the "prohibited" list? Because it was designed for the military?"

Because the barrel length is under 4".

Great find! One of my bucket list guns to add.

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Dave Ramsey Cultist

Great find and a very good price. The Colt Model M is a true classic. Flat and easy to carry, yet fits the hand oh so well. Very natural pointers.
I have a 1908 and a 1903. Both are just shooter grades, but I still like 'em.

At LEAST $300 under the going price for those. Very nice find.

That's what I've seen too, both in internet auctions and whenever one turns up locally. The front strap and grip safety aren't too patina either. About an 80-85% gun, all parts matching. I almost dislocated my shoulder reaching for my wallet, but the seller offered to "come down a little " without me even asking. Uh...okay, sure.

Took it out today, ran like a sewing machine, both with the original magazine and aftermarket mags.

But...now I want the 1903 .32 and a 1908 .25 .

When the first great gun "reclassification" came up, the Liberals used a Guns Annual as their guide and made a whole whack of firearms harder to purchase and own based solely on appearance. Originally they'd proposed a minimum barrel length of 110 mm as the difference between normal restricted and prohibited. Some bright spark realized that by reducing minimum barrel length by another 10mm (to 100 mm) they could gather a great many more pistols under the "prohib" catagory. So, things like Lugers and your Colt, by a stroke of the legislative pen, became almost impossible to obtain or sell.

But then, you'll want the revised version, too (Baby Browning).

It never ends, does it?

Wow, nice find. Congrats!

It's has amazed my when you look at the sales numbers of the 1903 and 1908 right up till the end of production the .32 out sold the .380 2 to 1.
Today it's not common to find many guns made in .32 but there are bunches made in .380.
Here's my 1903 bought from a member here not long ago sporting water bufalo grips.

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SWHF #595

Make sure your front sight is well staked, my 1908 .380 sent mine to parts unknown when shooting it about a month ago.

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Jim
Many K and N Frames

I could use a couple for mine.

It was actually closer to four to one. in terms of production numbers

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I've been meaning to take a pic of these three together for some time. You just gave me a reason to dig 'em out and do just that.
By all means, go for it. Absolutely wonderful guns!

That's not going to be my problem.

My wife wants it.

Now I'm almost obliged to get the. 32 .

Triple K was the brand I bought. $23 per. Ran fine. I liked that they marked the base plate the same as original, but upside down to combat fakes.

There are multiple online vendors selling them.

For the reason you mentioned, today's popularity of the 380, I always wondered why Colt didn't specify a percentage of the reproductions in 380?

Still LOTS of 32 repros sitting on websites and shelves unsold.

I too have been awaiting a very nice example at a price I'd like to pay...........it just hasn't happened yet.

When comparing the two is the .32 a bit smaller and lighter than the .380? If not then I could see why many folks prefer the .380's power over the .32's.

Congrats on a nice find at a bargain price. They usually are $800-1200. You did quite well!

I have my Grandmama’s 1908 in nickel. It was her EDC for decades. She liked to say that Dillinger had two when he was shot, one for each pocket of his jacket. I have the box and manual for it but the box glue is coming apart. You’ll like the feel of it when shooting.

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I invest in Lead and Copper!

Both guns are the same size and weight. Bear in mind that the 1903 had already been out for 5 years and had developed quite a following before the .380 was introduced. These were also the days when a .32 was considered perfectly adequate for self defense. Also, a 380 in a blow back pistol can be a bit snappy, whereas the .32 is a sweetheart that anybody can shoot well.

I had a Savage 1907 .32Auto when I was a very young teenager. I was small whippersnapper for my age and even then I felt the .32auto extremely mild recoiling.........that is when I could actually find and afford the .32auto ammo!

Back then, here in Texas at least, you had to have someone of age (21?) sign for and purchase handgun ammo. I still can remember my father growling on numerous occasions while filling out the "ammo book" at the local hometown hardware store.

All things being the same now, I think I'd rather have the power of the .380 for SD purposes, but to be honest I have plenty of other lesser collectible more powerful options available for that role.

Maybe since they made fewer of the .380 examples I could say I wanted it due to it being rarer?

Who am I kidding, if a really nice all-original Colt .32 comes along at a decent price it's likely to come home with me.

I'll be keeping an eye out for a 32 1903. Almost a must have at this point.

And about that Savage...

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Have a couple of the little colts. Have a rough one that I will gift to my granddaughter one day. Last time we went to the range I let her shoot up all the 32 ammo I had. Her last Five rounds she was doing head shots. Scored all five, it needs a panel replaced and probably a bbl. Bbl looks a bit pitted.

Man that's a good looking Savage. Is that a 1917?

Brings back memories for sure.

Yessir. 1917 in 32.

Got a pic or two handy?

P. S. I'm not "that guy " who always snags the premiums for $1.95. I don't get burned either, but this was an extraordinary circumstance imo. Dealer had it in inventory since 2008 per a sticker he had on it. It really was a lucky day.