Slick Shooters from the "Roaring Twenties"!!

[les.b]

Here's one for someone with really big pockets. A bare metal smooth action 1917 that I think was built in 1920. That tool is a demooner.

Wyatt:

That's a really cool "Pocket Pistol"!!! That would fit right in with the theme of "Slick Shooters of the Roaring Twenties"!!! With that short barrel, I'll bet it roars too. I think I remember seeing pictures of "Fitz", from the Colt factory with leather lined pockets sewn into his pants, carrying sawed off New Services in both front pockets!!! And was able to draw them in rapid fashion!!!

Best Regards, Les

 

[les.b]

Thread drift. A few more Mausers for Les B. None date from the 20s, though.

1. Cone hammer, Sn 5126. Probably dates from 1898-9.
2. Pretty little bolo with 6 round magazine and fixed rear sight. Retailed by Von Lengerke and Antoine (later Abercrombie & Fitch), In NYC. Probably around 1905.
3. If you were a Maxim MG gunner in WW I, you might be lucky enough to be wearing this rig on your belt for close in defense. "Red 9" in 9mm Luger.
4. Not a Mauser but an Astra 903, the full auto version. Yes, it's registered with BATFE. Probably around 1930.
5. Another non-Mauser, this one a Shanxei in 45 ACP caliber, markings indicate date of 1930.

Anyoen want to start a Mauser pistol string? I have a few and even have 3 Mauser revolvers.

Cyrano:

Well, those are just plain gorgeous!!! At least the ones made prior to the twenties could have been part of the roaring twenties!!! I have absolutely no experience with these firearms, but have always admired them... From afar!!! Not that I wouldn't like to have one, just a little above my bank accounts pain threshold!!

Thanks for sharing these lovely firearms.

Best Regards, Les

 

[les.b]

Colt Army Special, made in 1927. Caliber is 38 Special.

Warren:

That's a nice looking Colt!! I love my Army Special posted above, and if yours shoots as well as mine, you have a treasure!! Like the grip adapter as well.

Thanks for sharing,

Best Regards, Les

 

[les.b]

I forgot about this one, made in 1919. I expect it saw some use during the '20s.

John:

Great Savage. I have been on the lookout for a nice one for some time now. Along with a Remington 51, that is one that I hope to aquire some day. How does it shoot? I'll bet it saw action during the "Roaring Twenties "!!

Best Regards, Les

 

[les.b]

Does a S&W commercial 1917 on top of the refrigerator count?

I would venture to say yes!!!


Best Regards, Les

 

[Absalom]

Made just in time for the beginning of the Roaring Twenties: The serial places my Remington 51's production sometime in the summer of 1920.

 

[DocB]

I don't know if I would call this one a slick shooter. Also it pre-dates the 1920's by just a little. It is a 38 Auto making it a little more desirable than some of the others. I have shot it. Paid $90 for it back in the 1980's and had to think about it since that was so much money back then. I think it dates to the late teens.

 

[les.b]

Absalom:

That's a great looking Model 51!! How does it shoot? I'll bet that it saw action during the "Roaring Twenties"!! And the great thing is, it is probably still capable of holding its own with these plastic fantastic guns they crank out today. The old timers were made by real craftsmen who hand fitted parts made from drop forged steel. I'm not knocking today's guns, but they lack the personal touch of hancraftsmanship. Well, maybe some of the real high dollar 1911s, are made with that attention to detail,but we pay dearly for them.

Best Regards, Les

 

[les.b]

I don't know if I would call this one a slick shooter. Also it pre-dates the 1920's by just a little. It is a 38 Auto making it a little more desirable than some of the others. I have shot it. Paid $90 for it back in the 1980's and had to think about it since that was so much money back then. I think it dates to the late teens.

Well, Doc, I think it fits in perfectly!! It was around during the twenties, and I'd sure like to know what it was doing back then!!! Some bootlegger might have had it in his overcoat pocket!!! Or the Sheriff might have issued it to one of his undercover deputies for an investigation!!! If only they could talk, what amazing tales of adventure they might tell. Perhaps the bank president kept it in a desk drawer down at the bank, and used it to thrawrt a robbery!!! Who knows??? The Shadow??

Best Regards, Les

 

[G.T. Smith]

my little sweety

Here's mine. Made in 1922 and shoots great. Some time ago, I got brave and with the help of a video, I detail stripped it . I think it was probably the first time for the gun. It was a little gunked up but was still shooting fine. I traded a dirt bike for it that I had bought for $40. Thought I got a pretty good deal. Wish I could find a period holster for it.
Peace,
Gordon

 

[les.b]

Here's mine. Made in 1922 and shoots great. Some time ago, I got brave and with the help of a video, I detail stripped it . I think it was probably the first time for the gun. It was a little gunked up but was still shooting fine. I traded a dirt bike for it that I had bought for $40. Thought I got a pretty good deal. Wish I could find a period holster for it.
Peace,
Gordon

Gordon:

Beware!! These little guys (or gals)... Are addictive, and pose a genuine threat to your wallet!!! You got a real deal on that first one. I wish you well in the future, as I can see some of the early warning signs of addiction!!! Just kidding. I wouldn't let either my .25 or my .32 go for any amount of money. They are tactile pieces of history that are just as functional today as they were a hundred years ago. Sure, the .25 is not a .357 magnum, and it doesn't start with a "4", but in my police role, I have seen a big healthy young man dropped like a sack of feed with a .25. I have also spoken with a guy who took a .44 magnum through the torso, and was back to work in a relatively short time.

Why? Shot placement. The .25 hit something important. The .44 didn't.

Do I carry a .25 EDC? No. Would I rather have one than a pointy stick? Yes. Have I ever carried one for protection? Yes.

Hang on to it. They grow on you.

Best Regards, Les

 

[Warren Sear]

Warren:

That's a nice looking Colt!! I love my Army Special posted above, and if yours shoots as well as mine, you have a treasure!! Like the grip adapter as well.

Thanks for sharing,

Best Regards, Les

Thanks, Les. That revolver belonged to my dad, and was coincidentally made in the same year he was born. He and my uncle would shoot incredibly hot loads (357 magnum in everything but name) through it, and it survived and is still in excellent mechanical shape. After he died, my mother gave it to me. Of course, it is not for sale at any price.

I do take it out and shoot it now and then, and it is indeed a great shooting revolver.

 

[moralem]

I just found this one at my local shop while picking up a 25-5 I just acquired from a member. This one is a colt model 1903 dated to 1920. I believe it to be refinished with original big horse grips that turned brown. It will be my shooter.

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[John F.]

"Brown" Colt Hard Rubber Grips

Moralem, you mentioned your Colt Pocket Auto has original grips that turned brown. I used to carry these on a daily basis a couple of decades ago as they were reasonably priced, wonderful shooters, very accurate and totally reliable. They also were much easier to carry in our hot, humid climate than a 1911.

I once purchased one that had one pristine "black" grip -- the right one, and the left grip -- the one that would be next to the body on a right-handed shooter -- was brown. Couldn't figure it out, wondered if it had been exposed to sunlight for a long time somehow.

Then, I carried one with pristine original grips for MANY hours on an especially hot, steamy day, inside the waistband. Perspiration, etc. turned the left grip brown in just one day!! Horrified, I tried Armor-all on it, and it restored the original black finish. I then did the same with the other one with a "brown" inside grip, and it fixed it also. Hope this helps!

I noted all the rave reviews of the Remington 51. I admit, it is elegant and sleek as can be, but is a Pederson design and IMHO overly complicated. I had 2 in mint condition and both were jam-o-matics with perfect factory mags and factory ammo. Got rid of them both. There's a reason why Remington only sold (IIRC) about 60,000 of those and Colt sold ~535,000 .32 M1903's and another ~135,000 .380 Model M's (the colt factory designation for the 1903 Hammerless Pocket Auto.)

They are incredibly well-built guns, and it's hard for me to imagine that the new "Colt" repros will be as totally reliable, smooth and accurate as the originals...

Enjoy your fine pistols! They are truly a vestige of a wonderful era in American firearms manufacture that we'll never see again.
John

 

[moralem]

John

Thanks for that info on the grips. I may try the armor all on the inside of the grip and see what happens. I suspected that they turned brown from exposure just wasn't sure how and in this case on both sides. Here is a pic of my 1908 model 1903 Type II

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[Faulkner]

I have several Colt 1903's but this is my favorite, manufactured in 1923. I also have a Remington 51 and I think the ergonomics are fantastic, but it's hard to beat the classic lines of the Colt pocket pistols.

 

[DWalt]

"Sure, the .25 is not a .357 magnum, and it doesn't start with a "4", but in my police role, I have seen a big healthy young man dropped like a sack of feed with a .25."

For over 10 years, my CC pistol has been an Italian Galesi .25 auto from the early 1960s. As well made as any of the small .25s, prettier than most, and 100% reliable so long as it is loaded with CCI Blazer FMJ ammo. Not so much with other brands. That's fine with me, as FMJ bullets are the best choice for a .25 as penetration is deeper, and "expanding" .25 ACP bullets often don't. The Galesi is small, light, and concealable. I carry it in a sheath in my left front pants pocket and there is no clothing "print" at all - no more than car keys or a pocket knife. I often forget it is in my pocket. I always avoid going to areas where it is more likely to be needed (seedy bars, bad parts of town, etc.), and operate under the assumption that if I ever do need to use it, it will be up very close and I can get off several shots to critical body areas rapidly. Much better to have that .25 with me at all times than a M1911 which is not.

 

[les.b]

Well, I've posted this one elsewhere, but here is a Colt 1917 Army marked gun, in the coarse finish that was found near the end of production for the First Woeld War. According to the serial number, though, using "Proofhouse's" numbers, it would have been made in 1920, well after the end of the war. It has all of the military marks though. I'm certainly no expert on military arms, and put it forward as fitting into the "Roarin Twenties" theme. It is in almost mint condition, but with some unusual exceptions: notice that someone has thoughtfully done a rather crude "checkering" job on the otherwise nice grips, also, not showing in this photo, but the bottom of the grip frame surrounding the lanyard swivel, the metal is a patina, almost like the gun had been carried in a full flap holster, and was only exposed in that area for wear. ??? Who knows. But there is no bluing wear on the barrel or elsewhere to show that it had been kept in a holster. Bore looks like the day it came from the factory. I shoot it with both moon clipped 45 autos, and my special Auto Rim handloads.

It may be close to the date of Wyatt Burps neat snubby conversion.



Anyway, I'm not sure how I can call a cannon of this size a "Slick Shooter", but it was in the right place at the right time!!!

Best Regards, Les

 

[les.b]

I just found this one at my local shop while picking up a 25-5 I just acquired from a member. This one is a colt model 1903 dated to 1920. I believe it to be refinished with original big horse grips that turned brown. It will be my shooter.

Moralem:

Thanks for sharing with us!! Yes, that looks like it has been refinished, but that will not affect its value as a shooter. These little guns fit the definition of "slick". They have nothing to snag, and they are slim and were designed by probably the greatest firearms genius ever to live. They are just as appealing today as they were 100 years ago. You have a great shooter there!!

Best Regards, Les

 

[les.b]

I have several Colt 1903's but this is my favorite, manufactured in 1923. I also have a Remington 51 and I think the ergonomics are fantastic, but it's hard to beat the classic lines of the Colt pocket pistols.

Great, Faulkner, that is an impressive 1903!!! It warms my heart to see all of these treasures from the past being preserved and used by folks so many years after they were built. As I have said earlier, this particular gun was designed by a genius, and built by master craftsmen, and are just as functional today as they were 100 years ago.

Thanks for letting us see it!!

Best Regards, Les