C O L T

bdGreen · Nov 24, 2020

There, I said it.

A four letter word on the Smith and Wesson forum.

I was able to fulfill a bit of a 'gotta have' today.

Picked up this C O L T 1903 in the venerable .32 ACP cartridge.

I have always admired the total design of this hundred year old pistol.

It has quite the provenance also.

Got it home tonight and disassembled it. Ha. First time jitters. Came apart really smooth.
Re-assembly, not real smooth. But, I did it.

Holding this 'melted down' gat in my hand was quite an experience.

Light weight, smoothed over and comfortable to hold. And, no hammer bite.

Anyone help with the year of manufacturing?

Enjoy,

bdGreen

Tap image to enlarge.

Absalom · Nov 24, 2020

bdGreen said:
Picked up this C O L T 1903 in the venerable .32 ACP

Anyone help with the year of manufacturing?

1916. Good condition for that vintage. Nice find!

moralem · Nov 24, 2020

1908 and 1917. One with no finish at all and the other reblued......

Valmet · Nov 24, 2020

I’ve always thought those old Colts were some of the coolest handguns. Nice score OP

chief38 · Nov 24, 2020

I own one in each calibre, .25, .32 & .380. I didn't buy them for SD/HD, didn't buy them for competition, but simply because they are SUPER COOL! BTW I do shoot them and not one jam out of any of the three since I've owned them!

I have a bunch of magazines for each calibre and most are original two tone cyanid treated versions. Just love these little things!

glenncal1 · Nov 24, 2020

bd- that holster is cool.

I also have all three, here are the .25 and the .380 couldn't find a picture of the .32.

turnerriver · Nov 24, 2020

An informal survey of hundreds of Heiser holsters shows that the Colt pocket autos are a close second to the Government Model in popularity.
Does your holster have a maker’s mark ?

Heiser-model-903-pocket-holster-with-a-Colt-pocket-auto.jpg

Regards,

bdGreen · Nov 24, 2020

turnerriver said:
An informal survey of hundreds of Heiser holsters shows that the Colt pocket autos are a close second to the Government Model in popularity.
Does your holster have a maker’s mark ?

Regards,

The holster does not have a makers mark.
It, I suspect, is custom made and much newer than the Colt.

I would be interested in finding a period holster for my Colt. The one in your picture of the Heiser is very nice.

Someone went to a lot of trouble to fabricate the custom case and holster for this guy.
Happy to have it.

bdGreen

Thuer · Nov 24, 2020

Love that pistol. The 1903 is the only pistol in my collection. Mine is from 1940. I do like yours. It is a early one.

Babysitr · Nov 24, 2020

Grips on these little dudes are a constant debate....Grandpa left me mine , from 1912....I see all kinds of logos on the grips...lots of reproductions....I've been told to get some cheap ones for shooting,as the orig. ones break easily, not sure about that though....nice pistol

bmcgilvray · Nov 24, 2020

bdGreen said:
There, I said it.

A four letter word on the Smith and Wesson forum.

I was able to fulfill a bit of a 'gotta have' today.

Picked up this C O L T 1903 in the venerable .32 ACP cartridge.

I have always admired the total design of this hundred year old pistol.

It has quite the provenance also.

Got it home tonight and disassembled it. Ha. First time jitters. Came apart really smooth.
Re-assembly, not real smooth. But, I did it.

Holding this 'melted down' gat in my hand was quite an experience.

Light weight, smoothed over and comfortable to hold. And, no hammer bite.

Anyone help with the year of manufacturing?

Enjoy,

bdGreen

Tap image to enlarge.

Why they could almost be Colt Model 1903 brothers. Your nice new .32 is less shabby than this one, also from 1916, but mine's first rate mechanically with a bright bore.

Absalom · Nov 24, 2020

Even though in contrast to WW II, these did not see any use in WW I, many specimen from that decade sure were well used. Mine is a year later, from 1917.

.357magger · Nov 24, 2020

Model M s are a toss up with 1911s as my favorite JMB pistol design.

Sleek, thin, very accurate, and one of the most ergonomic handgun designs, even to this day. Boringly reliable too.

Below is my "1908" in .380 (they're really all 1903 Pocket Hammerless as far as Colt named them). Mine is a Type III, from 1926.

22hipower · Nov 24, 2020

Nice bd, great leather for it too. I don't have a 1903 but here's my only 1908. Nice to have a chance to show these "off brands" once in awhile.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

JH1951 · Nov 24, 2020

Congratulations on your new-to-you Colt!
Take it out and shoot it - I think you will be quite impressed!
For me, the 1903 is one of the most accurate and reliable 'smaller' size handguns ever produced. They are also a pleasure to carry as they really do not get in the way or bog you down.
Here's one of mine from 1924:

Erich · Nov 24, 2020

I don't like Colts all that much in general, but I sure am glad I clicked on this thread.

Walter Rego · Nov 24, 2020

Bogie inspired me. A Model 1908 .380 from 1922 that shipped to Shapleigh Hardware in St. Louis.

Xfuzz · Nov 24, 2020

Guess I have gone gangster to.
Climbed out of the deer stand this am and made a
couple stops.
Picked this up:
Book shows 1922
.380 with what I think are genuine MOP stocks.

moralem · Nov 24, 2020

I will stray a wee bit here and offer up another .32 just not a Colt but a Savage from 1919.......

Grayfox · Nov 24, 2020

Another happy owner of the trio here. Wonderful guns and very natural pointers.

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