Finally got a 1903 Colt Pocket Hammerless

[sigp220.45]

I've been looking for one for a while. They aren't rare, but the ones I came across were either buffed and pitted and reblued, or really nice and carrying a price tag to match. This one has plenty of honest wear, but the markings are sharp and I think the finish is worn but original. I suspect the grips are from a later model, and I'm sure the mag is a repro, but the price was right so here it is:





Chambering is, of course, the mighty "Calibre .32 Rimless Smokeless".



The serial number dates it to 1913, the beginning of Woodrow Wilson's presidency.

The early ones had a separate bushing, ala the 1911.



The prancing pony is still sharp.



With its Belgian cousin. The family resemblance is pretty obvious.



I haven't shot it yet, and I hope my 56 year old eyes are compatible with the 102 year old sights.

It really feels good in the hand, and while its "big for a .32" that doesn't bother me. It makes me feel like Bogie at the end of Casablanca, and that counts for something.

Anyone else a fan?

 

[MAG-NUM]

You found your self a nice one! Looks well taken care of for the age.
As you may know I recently received a slightly newer version of the same pistol (1944) and I agree that it fits the hand well and is a handsome pistol. I'm looking forward to shooting mine soon. Bob

 

[jlrhiner]

One day, the universe will align, unicorns will dance on rainbows, and I will wind up in the same dimension at the same time as one of each is for sale. And they will be mine!!!!

 

[DocB]

Yeah, I've got one of them in a 38 auto that I bought back in 1979 for $85. That was a lot of money back then, so I had to think about it before I made the purchase.

 

[Captain O]

If the new Colt wasn't $1500, I'd buy a new model to shoot. The darned things are so accurate it is incredible.

Don't be fooled, the european loading of the .32 ACP is good enough to use as a carry piece. It will kill far more quickly than you would care to imagine.The Buffalo Bore 73-grain +p load for the cartridge will penetrate a skull or breastbone with consummate ease and kill a human rather quickly.

Bullet placement and penetration from the old 1903 Model with new 73-grain +p Buffalo Bore will "settle somone's hash"... right now!

 

[Mike in Reedley]

I have it's tired younger brother in .380 from 1927. Great pistol to hold while watching gangster vs G man or old Bogie movies.

 

[Muley Gil]

I had one years ago. It shot fine. Wish I still had it!

 

[Comrad]

I have it's little brother Model N .25 in original box.

 

[DGT]

I've had a 1908 for years. Same pistol but in 380. They are great fun to shoot once you get used to the tiny sights.

 

[John F.]

Mag may be original -- need pics

Very nice old Colt!

The magazines for the earliest pocket autos differed in several respects
from the later "2-tone" and late full-blue models that everyone is familiar with. If you could please post some detailed photos of your mag, I can probably tell you if it is an early original. Especially need to see pics of both sides, the bottom of both sides in detail, and the magazine feed lips and follower.

These are fantastic pistols. I wouldn't trust the new Colt repros to be anywhere near as totally reliable and accurate as even a worn original.
I used a .380 as my CCW for 18 years, and have shot thousands of handloads with LRN through several of them. I literally have never had one malfunction. Ever.

Good luck with your gat -- I am properly envious!

John

 

[JH1951]

I love mine.... You will find it to be quite accurate and a joy to shoot. One of JMB's finest renditions IMHO. Don't let people tell you the .32 acp is worthless. Nobody I know would want to stand in front of one.

 

[duck32man]

Nice! My all time favorite cc semi auto. I've been hawking for a 380 but the prices are a bit steep.

 

[Arik]

Last week was the first time I handled one. Nice gun...for its time. This example was in about the same condition as yours. After holding it I thought 2 things. 1) how big people's pockets must have been back then. Today a pocket gun is half the size and still just barely fits. 2) people had tiny infant hands. I couldn't reliability grip the gun and disengage the grip safety. The grip was sooooo thin. I thought about picking it up but I'm beginning to think my days of surplus and just old guns in general collecting is coming to an end. I had this feeling that it would sit around for a while while I regretted the monetary spending and traded it towards something else.

 

[Absalom]

It really feels good in the hand, and while its "big for a .32" that doesn't bother me. It makes me feel like Bogie at the end of Casablanca, and that counts for something.

Anyone else a fan?

Actually, more like Bogie in "Key Largo" .

Mine shipped on April 30, 1917, shortly after our entry into the war, to a hardware store in Milwaukie. There is no bluing left, but no trace of abrasion or corrosion either. It must have just rubbed off over decades of carry. I'd love to know this gun's story.

 

[Grayfox]

I'm a fan.
I've got a 1903 .32 with a well worn finish and a 1908 .380 that's been refinished. Got both of them at decent prices and they're both great shooters.
The Pocket Hammerless Model M is one of those classic guns that you just can't help but like.

 

[Captain O]

Colt is building them again (2500 of them) the price is steep, but they are "Parkerized" and are rollmarked as "US Army Issue".

If you can afford the $1500.00 price tag, you'd best get one while you can.

 

[neorebel]

SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEET pistol buddy!~!

 

[Gunhacker]

Congrats on the 1903!!

This website by far has the best info around about the 1903 Model M's: Colt Automatic Pistol and Revolver Information - 18 years of Service to Colt Firearms Collectors

PDF's of the original instruction sheets are also available for download.

Don't waste your time with the aftermarket magazines, the general consensus on the Colt forum from people with experience with them is most of the time they don't work well, and why used Colt magazines for these guns are running in the $100.00 neighborhood.

This is my 1903 .32acp - 1918 type III, with it's big brother Series '70 Gold cup:

I put those later style Colt emblem aftermarket wood grips on it to preserve the original black hard rubber grips, which are in excellent shape, as is the gun itself:

 

[John F.]

Per Gunhacker:

"Don't waste your time with the aftermarket magazines, the general consensus on the Colt forum from people with experience with them is most of the time they don't work well, and why used Colt magazines for these guns are running in the $100.00 neighborhood."

What he said! It's almost unheard-of for aftermarket mags to work.
John

 

[Old TexMex]

I'm still looking. They don't grow on trees ya know.
I got a great Mexican charro style holster and belt for one, but no pistola....yet.

 

[tops]

Congratulations on your new acquisition. I think the 1903 .32 auto is the nicest .32 auto ever made. I have one and a 1908 .25 auto. When I get rich I will get a 1908 in .380. Larry

 

[alwslate]

sigp if I'm not mistaken your early model with the barrel bushing has
a 4" barrel. The barrel length was reduced to 3 3/4" in later versions.
I've got a pretty decent model 03 .32 auto that I bought around 15 yrs
ago when prices were still pretty reasonable. Prices for these things
just keep climbing. I'd like to have one in .380 but I don't expect to
ever find one at any reasonable price.

 

[03hemi]

Would love one to go with my Tommy gun, keep'n an eye out. Just curious, what should I expect to pay for a shooter?

 

[claudel]

I like mine a lot. I have two. This one's from 1916

Been using it for CCW lately. Doubt if I need more gun, really...

This is my nicer one from 1909

I recommend a set of aftermarket grips if you're going to shoot it as the original rubber ones can be fragile

 

[K Frame Keith]

Nice Colt! I am a lifelong fan; my Dad's off duty was the similar Colt 1908 Pocket in .380ACP. He had no idea how old it was, he purchased it used in the early 60's and carried it until retirement. I have it now, it is worn and pitted (Dad is a Marine but not a gun guy) and shoot it once and a while. Sometimes I consider carrying it out to dinner.

 

[JH1951]

Would love one to go with my Tommy gun, keep'n an eye out. Just curious, what should I expect to pay for a shooter?

A shooter with little finish and correct magazine I think you would be looking at around 400.00ish..... Maybe a bit less if you spend time looking. This is based on what I have been seeing on GB recently. Prices are all over the place and going up it seems. Be patient and you may find a nice one locally for around that price.

 

[Cyrano]

This is mine. A WW II gun, Parkerized and stamped US Property. It has BNP markings on the barrel so apparently it went to Britain. Came with the original cardboard box, cleaning rod and spare magazine still in the wrapper. Pricey; I haven't fired it much.

 

[CScott]

I got mine from my mother. When she was about 93 years old she realized that she couldn't remember how it worked. I showed her but her hands were too weak. So she wanted me to give it to my son, which I might do someday. . .
Anyway, it's in great shape and when I take it out and "limber it up some", I remember my mom quite well. She called it her "38".

 

[alwslate]

Here's my 03. Some loss and freckling of the blue finish but it's
original. I've had this old Hunter brand holster longer than the Colt but
they look like they belong together.

 

[Gunhacker]

It just tickles me how whenever a post about these 1903's is done somewhere, it always attracts a lot of posts from people that either have one or want one... amazing how much staying power these little pistols have maintained.

Too bad Colt's reintroduction is a pricey rendition of a government issue "officers gun", instead of a reasonably priced, humble, John Q. Public edition, otherwise I'd snap one of the new ones up in a second, and give my original a chance for an occasional rest... I'd feel a lot better about sending a Buffalo Bore load down range from a new gun than out of one from 1918, which is why I've yet to do so.

Although, it is rumored that after the parkerized military version, they plan to produce a blued version... hopefully, less expensive. I think with the original military versions being so rare, they decided to make these in equally low numbers to ensure that it doesn't affect the premium on the originals.

I'm hoping the opposite will occur with the blued commercial model being so "common".

Sigh... back from dreamland, I keep forgetting... I'm in California, no chance in getting any new issue of a semi-auto pistol due to our current laws.