hubcityhoss
Member
This gun was giving to me by my aunt today and I just wanted to know more info about this gun. Year made, what ammo to use and also value. I cleaned and oil it up and everything seems smooth. Should be a fun shooter.
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colt automatic calibre 32 rimless smokeless
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sigp220.45
US Veteran
What a great gun! Its a Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless - one of the great concealed carry guns of all times:
Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Yours looks to be in great shape. Congratulations. (It uses regular .32 ACP ammo) I'm not sure about value on these nowadays - I'd say upwards of $500 at least. I'm sure someone more in the know will chime in with a manufacture date - according to this chart its 1916:
http://www.guncollectorsclub.com/1903.htm
Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Yours looks to be in great shape. Congratulations. (It uses regular .32 ACP ammo) I'm not sure about value on these nowadays - I'd say upwards of $500 at least. I'm sure someone more in the know will chime in with a manufacture date - according to this chart its 1916:
http://www.guncollectorsclub.com/1903.htm
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I have a 32 and a 380 in the pocket pistol series. Easy to carry and conceal. Send me you address and I'll copy my disassembly sheet and the dates i have for these fine little semi auto's
[email protected]
[email protected]
OP
hubcityhoss
Member
Thanks for the info! I went to the range today and stopped to visit my aunt when i was done. She asked me what I was doing and when I told her she comes out with the colt and also a titan 38 special. They were my uncles who passed a couple years ago and the guns scared her to have in the house. She really flipped when I told her the 38 was loaded!
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OP
hubcityhoss
Member
Is it okay to fire this or should I just keep it as a collector?
Looks like it was made in 1916. Definitely fun to shoot!
TACC1
TACC1
What a coincidence! I was just in my LGS day before yesterday and saw one of those on the consignment shelf. The serial number dates it to 1909. I almost put down the money for it right then, but it was a new add to the shelf and still subject to the 30-day pawn hold. I'll go back in a few days when it's unrestricted and look at it again. If it's still there, I may pick it up.
Yours looks like a nice one. I'd shoot it.
UPDATE: When I got back to my LGS, the 1903 was off the shelf. I should have moved when I had the chance.
I consoled myself by buying a couple of other things.
Yours looks like a nice one. I'd shoot it.
UPDATE: When I got back to my LGS, the 1903 was off the shelf. I should have moved when I had the chance.
I consoled myself by buying a couple of other things.
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OP
hubcityhoss
Member
Thanks for the input... I will be shooting it this weekend. Just aint right having a gun you can't shoot anyways.
I have a #154XXX from 1913 that has less remaining finish than yours. They are great shooters (even with those tiny sights) and are about as thin a pistol as I know of for their size. Extra magazines are readily available, but locating any other parts is problematic. The original barrel with mine was badly pitted and after searching for several years I was able to find one from another pistol that was "parted" out.
If needed, you can get a spring kit from Wolff that includes the recoil spring along with a few others. Disassembly beyond a basic field strip is supposed to be a booger, so the extra springs that came with mine are unused. These came along just after the dawn of semi-auto pistols, so many of the easy maintenance shortcuts we take for granted these days were unheard of then.
If needed, you can get a spring kit from Wolff that includes the recoil spring along with a few others. Disassembly beyond a basic field strip is supposed to be a booger, so the extra springs that came with mine are unused. These came along just after the dawn of semi-auto pistols, so many of the easy maintenance shortcuts we take for granted these days were unheard of then.
This might help or give you more info. I have one and it shoots great!
http://stevespages.com/pdf/colt_32_&_.380_hammerless.pdf
http://stevespages.com/pdf/colt_32_&_.380_hammerless.pdf
Faulkner
Member
Per the serial number chart for Colt 1903's, serial number 198892 was manufactured in 1916.
I've had a love affair with Colt pocket pistols for years. Nice ones are starting to demand a premium but can still be found. I've acquired a few through the years and have found them to be very reliable and very accurate. A little heavy by modern standards for a pocket pistol, but the new stuff don't hold a candle to the fit and finish of one of these babies.
I've had a love affair with Colt pocket pistols for years. Nice ones are starting to demand a premium but can still be found. I've acquired a few through the years and have found them to be very reliable and very accurate. A little heavy by modern standards for a pocket pistol, but the new stuff don't hold a candle to the fit and finish of one of these babies.
Badkarma 1
US Veteran
COOL!! A Colt Model M or Colt Pocket Auto!! I love these old gems!! I've had my fair share of them myself mostly in .32 ACP, although I did have one .380 that wasn't near as accurate as the .32 versions.
Shoot it! It's accuracy will astound you as will it's mild manners and reliabilty! And most will feed hollow points, mine loved the old Fiocchi 60gr. HP load that was rated at over a 1000 fps!
These are dandy little guns and like everybody else says they have more class than anything made today!
Bogart used a lot of these in his movies, along with many other stars of the 30s and 40s, heck one even showed up in an episode of Simon & Simon!
They are timeless classics, enjoy your Colt! Dale
Shoot it! It's accuracy will astound you as will it's mild manners and reliabilty! And most will feed hollow points, mine loved the old Fiocchi 60gr. HP load that was rated at over a 1000 fps!
These are dandy little guns and like everybody else says they have more class than anything made today!
Bogart used a lot of these in his movies, along with many other stars of the 30s and 40s, heck one even showed up in an episode of Simon & Simon!
They are timeless classics, enjoy your Colt!
Dale
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monet61
US Veteran
Colt .32 auto
Without aging myself too much, I had one that I carried as my first BUG. After a year or so, I went to a .44 special but I sure
liked that Colt.
Without aging myself too much, I had one that I carried as my first BUG. After a year or so, I went to a .44 special but I sure
liked that Colt.
OLDFED
Member
Learn to dissassemble (field strip) the Colt to keep it clean. Be sure the safety lever is "stiff" and engages fully, especially if you're going to carry it with a chambered round. That bar in the rear is a grip safety. You'll note this isn't a target pistol but rather a point-and-shoot. Parts/mags are available online. I'd contact a custom holsterer and get a nice rig for your belt...something of the period. I have two of these and love them! It was my very first gun back in 1954.
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I've got one in .32 acp and one in .380 acp and I love these little Colt Auto's! They are REALLY reliable, have a decent trigger pull, and despite their puny little sights, are actually quite accurate.
I would however never carry one for S/D purposes because of two major factors.......
First of, I do not like carrying it cocked and locked - the little safety can be knocked off way to easily, and if you carry them without a round chambered, you need two hands to operated the weapon.
Secondly, I really have no confidence in the .32 & .380 as S/D rounds. I just think they are too light, too small, and lack "stopping power".
But as a shooter and collectible, they are fantastic!
Chief38
I would however never carry one for S/D purposes because of two major factors.......
First of, I do not like carrying it cocked and locked - the little safety can be knocked off way to easily, and if you carry them without a round chambered, you need two hands to operated the weapon.
Secondly, I really have no confidence in the .32 & .380 as S/D rounds. I just think they are too light, too small, and lack "stopping power".
But as a shooter and collectible, they are fantastic!
Chief38
OP
hubcityhoss
Member
Appreciate all the info.... I bought some ammo today and look forward to going to the range this weekend to see how well it shoots.
OP
hubcityhoss
Member
Per the serial number chart for Colt 1903's, serial number 198892 was manufactured in 1916.
I've had a love affair with Colt pocket pistols for years. Nice ones are starting to demand a premium but can still be found. I've acquired a few through the years and have found them to be very reliable and very accurate. A little heavy by modern standards for a pocket pistol, but the new stuff don't hold a candle to the fit and finish of one of these babies.
Beautiful Collection!!!
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