new Colt 1903 hammerless

American1776 · Jul 1, 2017

The old Colt 1903 hammerless pistols were *not* drop safe for chambered-round carry.

Colt recently produced a run of 1903 Hammerless 're-makes'. Does anyone know if the *new* ones are fitted with a firing pin block, and is it now drop safe for modern pistol standards?

Thanks.

robertrwalsh · Jul 1, 2017

Actually Colt did not make them, a contractor did. As far as I know (can't buy one in CA, they are not on the list) they are an exact copy of the originals. Not drop safe. One thing I can't figure out. If you drop them straight down on a hard surface from some height, which is necessary to overcome the firing pin spring and fire, what would happen is the bullet would impact the floor and the gun would go flying. Scary and irritating but not wildly dangerous. I am not sure I see the massive worry there. (As a side note the magazines are very reasonably priced and do work very nicely with the original guns. I bought several and they work with all three of my original Colts.)

American1776 · Jul 1, 2017

robertrwalsh said:
Actually Colt did not make them, a contractor did. As far as I know (can't buy one in CA, they are not on the list) they are an exact copy of the originals. Not drop safe. One thing I can't figure out. If you drop them straight down on a hard surface from some height, which is necessary to overcome the firing pin spring and fire, what would happen is the bullet would impact the floor and the gun would go flying. Scary and irritating but not wildly dangerous. I am not sure I see the massive worry there. (As a side note the magazines are very reasonably priced and do work very nicely with the original guns. I bought several and they work with all three of my original Colts.)

Thanks for the info. Gun writer Steve Malloy was tragically killed in 2009 when his Colt hammerless fell from his belt holster, the pistol discharging and hitting him in the chest.
Dropped Gun Inertia Discharge

I like that little gun, but I wouldn't carry it if the re-makes were not drop safe

sigp220.45 · Jul 1, 2017

I believe the new ones are mechanically identical to the old ones.

I have my doubts about the Malloy story. Its seems like a lot of second hand information, generated by one forum post.

I carry my 1903 all the time. I accept if I drop it on its nose on a hard surface it could go off. So will every non-Series 80 1911 without a replacement superlight firing pin.

The thing that put me off the new 1903s was the cost. You can still find good real ones for less dough.

chief38 · Jul 5, 2017

Yup - the new contractor made pistols are good guns (judging from the 3 I have seen) but for the money they cost you can buy a real Colt M1903 or M1908 in very good condition. While the "copies" are quite nice and real purdy, there's nothing like the real deal in my opinion.

Breakaway500 · Jul 5, 2017

Don't drop your gun. Simple. Seriously though..in all my 60 years of handling guns..I have never dropped a pistol. As a youth I did manage to drop my air rifle out of a tree once,but that's been it.
I carry old guns all the time and don't think twice about them not being droppable. I guess I live on the wild side. I do like the 1903 Colt and could not care less if its drop approved. They don't crash test airplanes so why drop test pistols?

italiansport · Jul 5, 2017

I Wouldn't trade either of these original 1903s for two of these new Colt clones!
Jim

new Colt 1903 hammerless

American1776

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