I'm getting old...really old...

[Beemerguy53]

So there I was today, browsing in my local gun shop, when I spotted a worn, but nice, Colt 1903 in .32 ACP. The young man working there handed it to me, and as I was examining it, I mentioned casually that Humphrey Bogart had used a 1903 to dispatch Edward G. Robinson in Key Largo...

The kid looked at me quizzically, and told me he's never heard of either of those two gentlemen...

Another customer of my -- ahem! -- "vintage" looked at me and we rolled our eyes...

 

[les.b]

Well....tell us....didja buy it??? I love those. I only have one, but it's a great shooting gun, and in my opinion, one of Browings masterpieces!!

Best Regards, Les

 

[Beemerguy53]

Well....tell us....didja buy it??? I love those. I only have one, but it's a great shooting gun, and in my opinion, one of Browings masterpieces!!

Best Regards, Les

No, I didn't buy it, but I'm thinking about it. No box or papers, about 75% of the finish left. It was priced right, though...I might go for it.

 

[steelslaver]

When I am at a place that ask your name when you order I always respond with Frank Zappa. Mostly goes right over young peoples heads. I bet that Ringo Star would get no response from a lot of them.

 

[les.b]

I have a few related firearms .... Here's my 1903 along with a 1908, the FN version of the 1908, and a later "Baby" Browning. The 1903 is just a slick gun, and to me is really timeless in its beauty.

These exquisite little pistols are remarkably accurate as well.... a magazine full at 15 yards:

Best Regards, Les

 

[Rudi]

Key Largo was a great film, Bogy at his best.

 

[vonn]

Some guns and movies are timeless.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Key Largo was a great film, Bogy at his best.

It's one of my favorites. Bogey was fearless and strong and resolute, Edward G. Robinson was at his evil, malevolent best, and Lauren Bacall was just gorgeous. Great plot, great cast, and a truly great ending...

 

[les.b]

Hey...there's lots of reasons to own a 1903:

Best Regards, Les

 

[jeffsmith]

My Daughter who is under 30 knows and loves Bacall and her movies
so, she would have known

 

[loknload]

Classic piece from a classic period of time and a great picture!

 

[125JHP]

When I am at a place that ask your name when you order I always respond with Frank Zappa. Mostly goes right over young peoples heads. I bet that Ringo Star would get no response from a lot of them.

When I go into a restaurant and have to wait to be called (over the intercom) I say my name is Donner

then I usually hear ...(Donner Party of 2)

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Going back to being old, several friends of mine and I were waiting to get into a restaurant near our alma mater university when these young ladies behind us asked us if it is "grandfather's day". I informed them that if their grandmother attended this university, one of us probably was their grandfather. End of conversation.

 

[Tom K]

When I am at a place that ask your name when you order I always respond with Frank Zappa. Mostly goes right over young peoples heads. I bet that Ringo Star would get no response from a lot of them.

Maybe Ringo Starr would.

 

[sheepdawg]

It's one of my favorites. Bogey was fearless and strong and resolute, Edward G. Robinson was at his evil, malevolent best, and Lauren Bacall was just gorgeous. Great plot, great cast, and a truly great ending...

Jay Silverheels as one of the Oceola Brothers. One of his last roles before becoming famous as the masked man's faithful Indian companion.

Ask the youngsters about The Lone Ranger and Tonto.

 

[Levallois]

I feel your pain. My 33 yo daughter is named Lauren after Lauren Bacall because as a young man I saw Key Largo when it was on TV and fell in love. I told that story to a 20-something coworker and got the blankest of blank looks. Never heard of Ms Bacall or the movie. What's this world coming to?

 

[Kurusu]

Well....tell us....didja buy it??? I love those. I only have one, but it's a great shooting gun, and in my opinion, one of Browings masterpieces!!

Best Regards, Les

Hey Les! Look closely at the pistol in your first photo. It is a classic Colt yes. But not a model M.

Edit. But is also a 1903.

 

[crazyphil]

Getting old? I was cruising along with my granddaughter in the passenger
seat. It was December. I turned the radio on. Then I said: "That's
Bing Crosby (singing White Christmas). Granddaughter says"
"Who's He?"

 

[JcMack]

I was gonna say Bogey's gun (top pick) looks like a 1903 pocket hammer chambered in .38 ACP.

 

[OLDSTER]

Like, the young man, like, didn't like, ya know like, get like, your like, eyeroll like ??

 

[s&wchad]

Hey Les! Look closely at the pistol in your first photo. It is a classic Colt yes. But not a model M.

Edit. But is also a 1903.

I was gonna say Bogey's gun looks like a 1903 pocket hammer chambered in .38 ACP.

Yes, Bogart is holding two different guns in the photos.

Hard to tell the barrel length of the gun in the first photo and I can't see the shape of the grip frame, but it appears to be a 1903 Pocket Hammer. I guess it could also be a 1902 Sporting or Military. You can see the wedge near the front of the frame that retains the slide, which is a carry-over from the percussion revolvers.

1903 Pocket Hammer (top), 1903 Pocket Hammerless (bottom)

The gun in the second photo is a 1903 Pocket Hammerless.

Those are great movie stills! Makes me want to break out the old Fedora and trench coat and have a smoke!

 

[JcMack]

Colt quit making the .38acp pocket hammer in 1927, right around when the 1911 .38 super came out. The .38 acp and .38 super share the same cartridge dimensions which created some not good problems.

 

[s&wchad]

Colt quit making the .38acp pocket hammer in 1927, right around when the 1911 .38 super came out. The .38 acp and .38 super share the same cartridge dimensions which created some not good problems.

No doubt...
The slide comes off the back of the frame and the only thing retaining it is the wedge. Kind of a scary design... If the wedge lets go, you'd probably get hit in the face with the slide. I'll bet that'd leave a mark!

 

[Kurusu]

I was gonna say Bogey's gun (top pick) looks like a 1903 pocket hammer chambered in .38 ACP.

BINGO!

Edit. And... If you want to know that photo is a still from "Dead Reckoning".

 

[moralem]

It's one of my favorites. Bogey was fearless and strong and resolute, Edward G. Robinson was at his evil, malevolent best, and Lauren Bacall was just gorgeous. Great plot, great cast, and a truly great ending...

Don't forget Claire Trevor, a beauty in her own way.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Star Wars came out in 1976. Anything or anyone before that was in the Dark Ages!

So my kids tell me. They were born from 79 to 84. The nice thing is, their kids treat them the same way!

No one will ever say that I was "Cool", but at least I've always been interesting!

Ivan

 

[WardenRoss]

"What's your Australian Shepherd's name?" asks the young lady in Tractor Supply. "He sure is cute!"

"Matthew Quigley" I reply.

"Matthew what? That's an unusual name. Where did you get that?" She replies.

Happens a few times each week. I am feeling old!

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

You guys must be really old...... I just turned 76 2 days ago. I remember watching the Lone Ranger on Dad's big ole radio.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

 

[BearBio]

Key Largo was a great film, Bogy at his best.

Was Bogie in it? I only remember Loren Bacall!

 

[glenwolde]

When I go into a restaurant and have to wait to be called (over the intercom) I say my name is Donner

then I usually hear ...(Donner Party of 2)

LOL...I'm going to use that. Hmmm.....maybe use "Dance"...when they call "Dance Party of 2" you boogie on up to the podium...

I usually use "Fabio".