Until two days ago I knew next to nothing about Colt semiautomatics, so it is completely unjust that I fell into ownership of an uncommon variety of the M1908 Hammerless in .380 caliber. Or "calibre" as Colt spells it on their firearms.
There were about 138000 of these made between 1908 and 1945; the vast majority of them were commercial. The last roughly 3200 were purchased by the US military and are stamped US PROPERTY. Some of these, perhaps only a few hundred, are considered a General Officer's model. (This scanty survey is based on based on the research of others; if I am misrepresenting it, the fault is entirely mine.) The "M" on the serial number represents a factory magazine modification that was made before the guns were distributed. I am embarrassed to admit that i don't yet know what the magazine modification consisted of.
I just lucked into one of these GO guns, M137992, seemingly one of the last 20 made. Produced in 1945, it was not issued until May 31, 1950, when it was presented to Air Force Brigadier General Clarence S. Irvine, whose aviation accomplishments can be turned up with a Google search.
The gun may never have been fired, though there is a chance it was fired some and well cleaned after its occasional use. the finish is 98% or better.
I have more than half wanted an early Colt auto in .32 or .380 for some time to keep company with a .25 that I inherited from the estate of a favorite uncle. I was hoping to find a nice one, but I had no expectation that I would come across a rare one. I am of course ecstatic. Now I must compile some documentation about General Irvine and the circumstances under with this pistol was delivered into his hands.
There were about 138000 of these made between 1908 and 1945; the vast majority of them were commercial. The last roughly 3200 were purchased by the US military and are stamped US PROPERTY. Some of these, perhaps only a few hundred, are considered a General Officer's model. (This scanty survey is based on based on the research of others; if I am misrepresenting it, the fault is entirely mine.) The "M" on the serial number represents a factory magazine modification that was made before the guns were distributed. I am embarrassed to admit that i don't yet know what the magazine modification consisted of.
I just lucked into one of these GO guns, M137992, seemingly one of the last 20 made. Produced in 1945, it was not issued until May 31, 1950, when it was presented to Air Force Brigadier General Clarence S. Irvine, whose aviation accomplishments can be turned up with a Google search.
The gun may never have been fired, though there is a chance it was fired some and well cleaned after its occasional use. the finish is 98% or better.
I have more than half wanted an early Colt auto in .32 or .380 for some time to keep company with a .25 that I inherited from the estate of a favorite uncle. I was hoping to find a nice one, but I had no expectation that I would come across a rare one. I am of course ecstatic. Now I must compile some documentation about General Irvine and the circumstances under with this pistol was delivered into his hands.
