For a long time I had a desire for a Colt .32 1903 Pocket Hammerless, but I could never seem to find one that agreed with me. People wanted too much for guns that had little to no finish left, and exorbitant amounts for guns in better condition. Then one day five years ago, I walked into a gun store that I hadn't been in before. I wasn't even really intending to, I just happen to see the sign for it while driving past and thought, "why not?"
In the very first counter on the right there sat a 1903, with a price tag that I was more than happy with.
In 1928, Colt sent a shipment of 12 guns to the Shapleigh Hardware Company in St. Louis, MO. Included in that shipment was this 1903. Something seems off about it though. Those sights don't look original. And it looks like there's something written on the side.
Well would you look at that. King? I hear he made some pretty fancy sights, particularly for revolvers.
For the life of me I can't get my camera to keep focus on the front sight, but that should still give an idea about how bright that orange/red insert is.
I imagine many people on this forum are by now familiar with D.W. King and the excellent upgrades his company performed to revolvers made by both Colt and S&W. I myself was lucky enough to snag a Colt-King Super Target Officer's Model years ago. King's catalog was quite extensive though, and he worked on just about anything anyone was willing to pay for, including pocket guns.
In the years since I acquired this I have yet to see either another complete example of a 1903 with these sights or even just the sights themselves sans the 1903. About the only thing that would have made me happier would be finding one with a reflector as well. For what it's worth, these sights make for an immensely pleasurable shooting experience on this gun.
So let's see those King modified guns.
In the very first counter on the right there sat a 1903, with a price tag that I was more than happy with.


In 1928, Colt sent a shipment of 12 guns to the Shapleigh Hardware Company in St. Louis, MO. Included in that shipment was this 1903. Something seems off about it though. Those sights don't look original. And it looks like there's something written on the side.


Well would you look at that. King? I hear he made some pretty fancy sights, particularly for revolvers.


For the life of me I can't get my camera to keep focus on the front sight, but that should still give an idea about how bright that orange/red insert is.
I imagine many people on this forum are by now familiar with D.W. King and the excellent upgrades his company performed to revolvers made by both Colt and S&W. I myself was lucky enough to snag a Colt-King Super Target Officer's Model years ago. King's catalog was quite extensive though, and he worked on just about anything anyone was willing to pay for, including pocket guns.
In the years since I acquired this I have yet to see either another complete example of a 1903 with these sights or even just the sights themselves sans the 1903. About the only thing that would have made me happier would be finding one with a reflector as well. For what it's worth, these sights make for an immensely pleasurable shooting experience on this gun.
So let's see those King modified guns.