Colt 1903 or 1908 Hammerless

Books I've seriously thought about it and am seriously considering having some rather intensive work done to an 03 I have for this purpose. She's a good solid shooter but doesn't have the finish to be a collector material. I'm thinking at minimum some Parkerization or Duracoat, new custom sights and trying to track down a new barrel replace all springs etc.

I wish someone still made the old girls. I think Colt is missing the boat by not reintroducing them.

Yes indeed! And one time I convinced a potential mugger he wanted to become an Olympic running star without firing a shot. They are fine pistols with a well-deserved reputation for both reliability and accuracy. But at this point in time the latest that were made are at least a half-century old. If you’re going to use one it’s a good idea to replace the coil springs, including magazine springs – and be sure you have good magazines because many of the aftermarket kind are total junk. Those that complain about the hard-to-see sights might be interested to know that both the rear dovetail and the front slot are identical to that used on the .45 Government Model, so those sights can be modified to work on the smaller pistol.

Those pistols made before 1922 (.32 = serial number 422,00 or .380 = 66,000) did not have a half-cock notch on the hammer to catch it if it followed down, nor an inertial type firing pin. Keep this in mind if you carry one. Later production was modified to include both features. How can you tell? After checking to be absolutely sure the pistol is unloaded and an empty magazine is in place, rack the slide and pull the trigger. Then pull the slide backwards about ¼ inch. If you pistol has the later feature you will hear the sear click into the half-cock notch (if there is one) the grip safety will pop out, and you can engage the manual safety.

About 1926 (.32 = serial number 468,097 or .380 = 92,894) a magazine disconector (safety) was added. Some like it, where others don’t. If you are one who doesn’t it can be removed.

Most people want a .380, but the .32 is more common and has a slightly better reputation for reliability. I don’t think that any bad guy on the receiving end would know the difference.

A 1903 .32 from 1913, with added ivory grips, rides in a custom ankle rig from Kramer leather whenever I do not want to be burdened with a belt gun or shoulder holster. I keep it chamber empty, and plan to rack while drawing. The safety problems are eliminated, and while not fast, it is usually a total surprise when I produce it. It also makes a good backup to a regular carry. Ankle carry is first rate for riding in a car, and if in a bad area, or ANY provocation to be armed better or more quickly, I just get it out, rack it, and keep it more accessible on or near me...it has never "accidentally" gone off when cocked and not locked (the safety is too "swishy" to rely on having it on safe IMO), so it is either conditon zero or Condition 3 for me.

Mine is .380acp. It does have the half cock feature.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq296/southerngent0012/Picture086.jpg

I once knew an older gentleman who looked like everyone's favorite uncle, about as meek and mild as they come. He had been on a city police force and had killed three men, then killed two more after he retired and was working as an armored car guard. The guns in those incidents were revolvers.

But he had made some enemies, so he carried an M1903 every day, every where. And no one ever knew it except a few friends. No permit, no license, just a man who wore a gun and knew how to use it if he had to.

Jim

I am really surprised this thread has not drawn more interest.

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Other threads in the past on this same subject have proved to be popular. Maybe its a case of needing time to be discovered.

I saw one of those 1903 Colts in a gunshop for $300. I don't know whether or not that was a good deal, especially since I'm a poor judge of condition.

Even NRA "good" conditon would probably be a good deal at $300. If the bore is fairly shiney, with lands and grooves pronounced, the exterior can be totally void of bluing (I'm not crazy for pitting; a worn gun is o.k. though), then it will make a good shooter or carry gun. I got my VG condition gun about 8 years ago for $240 at a gun show. I thought it was a steal then. I would pay $400 for another from the same year in the same condition.

How about the FN 1900?

I think that is about the coolest old gun (old .32 that is) that I have seen. They were apparently issued as military sidearms in WWI. I have heard others comment that they are solid as rocks. Shoot them with hot Fiocchi .32acp and you'd have a really need sidearm...maybe even CCW. Not sure if the safety is really safe or how you'd carry it...cocked and locked...probably not.

Anyway, FN 1900.

I carry my 1908 once in awhile. I need to get some pictures of it at some point.

I carried a 1903 .32 a few times.

These are great classic guns!

I like my '03, just wish I could find the correct grips to replace the one chipped one it's had since I got it. (Tried the early style, and the later style, seem to need an in-between<sigh>)

Finding jag & brush was a bit fun at first, too.

Great to shoot, though. Puts both ball and silvertips in the same spot rather nicely.

Mine is .380acp. It does have the half cock feature.

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How does the 1/2 cock feature work? How do you fully cock a completely concealed hammer?
The picture isn't up when I clicked on it.


When we were doing raids I would usually carry my 1908 in the pocket in my vest for a 3rd. Would some times carry off duty.
This one was born in 1921.

Mine was made in 1922.

I think those of us who like these pistols are the group that like the 1911.

If I can find a nice one at a decent price I will carry it sometime.

Not to hi-jack, were these the original pocket autoloaders?

To check for a half-cock, follow the instructions in post #3, or as an alternative.

1. Field strip the pistol. When you are done the hammer should be cocked. If your pistol has the magazine disconect feature, replace the EMPTY magazine.

2. Place your weak-hand thumb over the face of the hammer, pull the trigger, and ease the hammer all of the way forward. With the hammer forward you should note that the grip safety is compressed into the frame (fire position) and the manual safety is down in the "fire" position.

3. While holding the grip safety in, use your thumb to push the hammer backwards about 1/4 inch. If there is a half-cock notch you will hear a click, and if you release the pressure on the hammer it will not return all of the down.

4. When you are finished, push the hammer back to the full-cock position, remove the magazine, and reassemble the pistol.

In normal operation the slide cocks the hammer when it is retracted, in the same way a .45 Colt pistol does, but because the hammer is enclosed you can't see it.

Made in1913, Colt 1903, one of the three I carry the most. [/IMG]

To check for a half-cock, follow the instructions in post #3, or as an alternative.

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OK, I understand now. I misread it. At the time I was thinking he was saying he could carry it in the 1/2 cocked position.

OK, I understand now. I misread it. At the time I was thinking he was saying he could carry it in the 1/2 cocked position.

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No way! There is no reason to because you can't get the hammer into the half-cock and still load the chamber. If the chamber is unloaded there is no reason to worry if the hammer is cocked or not.

I do sometimes set the hammer at half-cock (if there is one) when storing an unloaded pistol. Doing so takes any stress off of the grip safety and firing pin springs. But the real purpose is to catch the hammer if it should slip and fall while carrying the gun - which is possible, but unlikely.

Another pistol that doesn't have a half-cock is Ruger's .22 Standard Auto (in all versions). However I have yet to hear of one going off because the hammer fell and wasn't stopped. However someone that went too far with a home-style trigger pull job cound end up with an unintended machine gun.

I carry my 1915 M1903 quite a lot, especially in the summer when concealment is more difficult. It is slim and snag-free, reliable and accurate. 16rounds of .32ACP in 2 mags. Despite the limitations of the round, I just plain like it.








Tinpig

You guys will enjoy this,

if you haven't seen it already. Check this out.

Jason