Film Noir? Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless

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I've been meaning to post some pictures of this old Colt for a while. I've wanted a Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless in .32 ACP for a long time, and to be honest this was the first one I've ever seen "in the wild". Naturally there was no way I could let it get away.

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It's a 1928-vintage 1903, Type IV. From what I can tell it's all original and surprisingly unmolested. When I removed the grips to clean up some verdigris on the bushings and screws, I got the impression they have never been removed. The pictures show it being very clean, and it is. There's some hints of freckling on the finish, along with some hints of finish wear around the muzzle. Basically it's exactly what I had in mind: a decent example that dresses up nicely, while not being so clean to cause fear of putting it in a holster or putting rounds through it.

And yes, I've put a box and a half of .32 ACP through it. Since it isn't intended for anything other than to make my shooting friends go "oh" and "ah", it's only going to get fed whatever ball ammo I can put my hands on. It hasn't malfunctioned or given any hint that it will do anything but feed, fire, extract, eject and repeat as long as I'm willing to buy .32 ACP ammo. The sights aren't even really good enough to rate "abysmal" for most uses, but on a good bright day they're usable. Helpful hint to those not in the know: .32 ACP doesn't impress reactive steel targets. That plate rack you clean with your 9mm might not even flinch from a fair hit from the mighty .32. (Hits like a brick through a plate glass window? Only in Ian Fleming's imagination... :rofl: )

The one thing that I keep noting about the Model M is truly how slim it is. The grip is fairly short front to back as well, and the whole thing is just petite and "neat". I can see why it was such a popular carry piece back in its hay day. This little gem would be significantly easier to carry day to day than most of the modern plastic pistols I've owned.
 
Nice find! Looks to be in good shape, and I like the walnut grips! I watched for one for about ten years until I finally found this one:

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The Colt website says this one was made in 1922.

I'd seen some in very well-worn condition on auction sites from time to time, but wanted one with some decent finish. Found this one by accident by stopping into a gun shop for some reloading supplies and then checking the display case. It won't have this good a finish for very long, as I do carry it sometimes in the summer. You're right about the sights, but this thing points so well for me that I'm not all that worried about it.

If you want a decent holster for yours, Alien makes a good IWB for it, and Winthrop makes a nice OWB.
 

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Two great looking Colt Pocket Autos! My brother has one in excellent condition in .32 ACP and another one in .380 ACP (like new condition, factory nickel plated along with factory pearl grips with Colt medallions on them). The nickel plated one even came with a H.H. Heiser pants pocket holster!
 
I like mine a lot. They are very nice pistols and shoot as well as the tiny sights allow. The steel construction makes the recoil all but nonexistent. My daughter enjoyed shooting it when she was only eight. Everyone who's shot mine has enjoyed it.

 
That is a VERY nice Colt 1903, wanderinwalker. There is a very good book about them, by a man named John Brunner* but it is out of print and the only copy on Amazon is $395! You used to be able to get quite a nice Colt 1903 for that money. Another author, Donald Simmons, also wrote good magazine articles about the various 1903 types, and they might be available for less, if you want to read up on them.

*There is another author of the same name who wrote science fiction, which causes some confusion.

PS - There is a new video up about shooting a Colt Shanghai Police .380:

Please let me know if putting up such links is not desired.
 
I find it interesting how .32, .25 and even .22 caliber pistols were once considered sufficient self defense and in the case of the .32, military pistols. My grandfather carried around an old nickle plated .22 derringer. Robert Kennedy was killed with a .22. I guess bad guys were smaller back then. Wink Wink
 
That is a VERY nice Colt 1903, wanderinwalker. There is a very good book about them, by a man named John Brunner* but it is out of print and the only copy on Amazon is $395! You used to be able to get quite a nice Colt 1903 for that money. Another author, Donald Simmons, also wrote good magazine articles about the various 1903 types, and they might be available for less, if you want to read up on them.

*There is another author of the same name who wrote science fiction, which causes some confusion.

PS - There is a new video up about shooting a Colt Shanghai Police .380: [removed for clarity]

Please let me know if putting up such links is not desired.

Thanks for the hints about some of the reading material, and the link to the video is a welcome addition! I did watch Ian's previous video about the Shanghai Police 1908/.380s after picking up my 1903. And FWIW, my results trying "instinctive shooting" with my 1903 haven't been particularly impressive. Though using the silhouette of the pistol against larger targets at closer ranges provides decent results.
 
I find it interesting how .32, .25 and even .22 caliber pistols were once considered sufficient self defense and in the case of the .32, military pistols. My grandfather carried around an old nickle plated .22 derringer. Robert Kennedy was killed with a .22. I guess bad guys were smaller back then. Wink Wink
I like the .32 ACP cartridge. It is light, but has a little pep to it - and it was designed by John Browning who knew a thing or 2.
 
I love my 1903... probably the sweetest shooting pistol I own, and the lines of the gun are unmatched in their elegance. I’ve always wanted to have mine professionally reblued and engraved.
 
I find it interesting how .32, .25 and even .22 caliber pistols were once considered sufficient self defense and in the case of the .32, military pistols. My grandfather carried around an old nickle plated .22 derringer. Robert Kennedy was killed with a .22. I guess bad guys were smaller back then. Wink Wink

When Teddy Roosevelt was the NY Police Commissioner, he modernized the force by having them upgrade to .32 S&W Long. S&W made a "Regulation Police" revolver in that chambering for a long time. I have one, but it's more recent than Teddy's day (1922).
 
I really like the Colt 1903 and find it near perfect even today as a primary carry handgun. I even fits in my cargo shorts pockets that are pretty much de reguerre down here. As winter comes and temperatures plunge into the 40s and 50s and I start wearing a second shirt over the t-shirt I pull out one of my shoulder holsters and it still gets to go WalkAbout.

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Nice looking 1903. It’s got enough wear on it that you don’t feel bad about shooting it, yet it’s still in great condition.

The sights are tiny but they can usually get impressive groups if you concentrate. They always say “aim small - miss small” and with those sights you are forced to “aim small”
 
Nice looking 1903. It’s got enough wear on it that you don’t feel bad about shooting it, yet it’s still in great condition.

The sights are tiny but they can usually get impressive groups if you concentrate. They always say “aim small - miss small” and with those sights you are forced to “aim small”
Well, that one was made in 1906 and I just wish I was in half as good shape.
 
Philip Marlowe: "Somebody's always giving me guns." "I collect blondes in bottles, too!"

One of my more treasured guns is mine from the family.

Grandpa, and The Ol' Man too, carried this 1908 version as over-the-road truckers to cope with hi-jackers, union thugs and other ne'er do wells in the day.

For my part, I got a State Department *return card* for it and carried it overseas several times and at least twice pulled it in defense.

My sister sewed special pockets into a jacket and several shirts for it usually inside the left sleeve.

A pistol which will always be truly special to me. Also the very gun to cause me to truly appreciate the .32.


Todd. IMG_1057.JPG
 
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Well, he was upgrading from a Beretta .25, so...

I've actually had one of the said Beretta .25s pass through my hands in the past (not personally owned). It makes a Colt 1903 look like a cannon! :what:(And now I want a Colt 1908 Vest Pocket and a pre-WWII commercial Government Model to make a set. Great...)

Nice pictures and great pistols shown here! :thumbup:
 
I've actually had one of the said Beretta .25s pass through my hands in the past (not personally owned). It makes a Colt 1903 look like a cannon! :what:(And now I want a Colt 1908 Vest Pocket and a pre-WWII commercial Government Model to make a set. Great...)

Nice pictures and great pistols shown here! :thumbup:

Carried them both in the past. Though, the .25 was less carried as much as it was vacu-sealed in a *survival* kit.

Todd. IMG_1058.JPG
 
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