Colt Producing New Model 1903 Pistols

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"I should also mention that this will be a very different type of “re-introduction” than befell the Remington Model 51. Curt Wolf, the man running the project, is very much into historical arms, and his new 1903 will be identical to the original 1903 – no polymer, no big modern sights, no change in caliber, etc. That may be a disappointment to some, but it will be a relief to those of us who appreciate the svelte lines and elegant craftsmanship of the Colt 1903. - See more at:"

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Looks like the point is to make it all original...so, I doubt we'll see stainless or modified safeties/sights/grips etc. on the initial run.

VooDoo
 
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Before anyone gets carried away you'd better wait to find out delivery time and MSRP on a blued gun. I suspect it will be in the $1600 ballpark. :eek:

Colt likes to work the collector market, and can do well on limited runs so long as they sell for high prices.

Presuming the new pistol is a true copy of the original one, they may make considerable money selling replacement magazines (marked "Colt" of course) and barrels.
 
Well said, 'Fuff.... New barrels and mags for the original Colt Pocket Hammerless pistols will sell like hotcakes. And not cheaply either I'll bet...

VooDoo
 
I just hope make the safety a little more robust

I doubt they will. It's the collector's market they are looking at. Collectors and well-heeled fans will want it to be exactly the same.

And what if the internal parts are made using MIM technology??? :what: :D
 
I suspect that if/when Colt does actually re-introduce the Pocket Model Hammerless the folks who now say they want one will stay away in droves because 1) they can buy originals cheaper and 2) no one wants a copy, especially one with quite a few shortcomings as a defense gun.

I still remember that when Mauser resumed Luger production, everyone cheered. They cheered. They didn't buy.

Jim
 
I still remember that when Mauser resumed Luger production, everyone cheered. They cheered. They didn't buy.

Actually they had better sales in Europe then here. I've also noticed that collector prices on those that are still new-in-box have been going up.

As for the Colt. I expect to get rich reassembling the ones that new buyers decide to take completely apart... :evil:
 
I suspect that if/when Colt does actually re-introduce the Pocket Model Hammerless the folks who now say they want one will stay away in droves because 1) they can buy originals cheaper and 2) no one wants a copy, especially one with quite a few shortcomings as a defense gun.

Sure I already have one, and don't have the kind of spare change to start doubling up on anything. But if this had happened a couple of years ago I would certainly have spent twice the money for a new 1903, I just feel a little guilty sometimes shooting a gun thats over 100 years old. And how exactly is this a copy? Same gun same blueprints same company, or am I missing something?
 
1. The old ones were machined and hand fitted by the masters, and the new ones are CNC'd by low paid employees?

2. The old ones always work.
And it remains to be seen if the new ones do?

rc
 
Maybe its just me, but that gun looks like crap. The wood and finish leave much to be desired for $1400. I had to do a double take when I read that WAS the brand new gun.
 
Same gun same blueprints same company, or am I missing something?

What blueprints???

In 1945 the U.S. Navy informed Colt that they were having problems with some of the .380 Pocket Pistols they'd ordered, and requested a full set of blueprints. Colt replied that they couldn't satisfy this request because...

They themselves did not have a full set of drawings, and never had. :what:

They made and inspected parts using gages, not blueprints; and otherwise depended on the substantial skills of they're workers and inspectors. This procedure had been in place well before the Civil War, and had never changed.
 
Note that these guns are not being made by Colt, they are being made FOR Colt by Mr Wolf's company; who has been making a few new Gatling guns for them, for Heaven's sake.

Mr Wolf said, in the SHOT video, that they had to reverse engineer the gun from originals bought in the market, there being no drawings or specs.

This one is "ugly" because it is a copy of the late production General Officer's Pistol, complete with wartime Parkerizing. Supposedly a few blue and even fewer nickel guns are in the works.

I fear it will do no better than S&W's new made Schofield of a few years ago.
 
Here is what a late issue general Officers looked like new (new refinished) in 1968.
Originally made in 1922, and rebuilt for a General officer and reissued in 1968.

image.jpg

rc
 
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I would be more than happy to put up the cash to do a review if the price isnt too absurd.
 
Maybe they will make more if these do really well. They just don't listen to us, "their consumers". Bring back the Python, DS, the 1903 and other guns that we actually want instead of another single stack 9mm, or a new AR or other gun that has been done to death. It can be done if they tried, they just showed us that they can, what are they going to use the tooling for after the initial run?
How many times do we have to go through this? Colt will never be bringing the Python back. It would be a very bad financial move for them. You hear all the time that people want a new Python. And they do. They honestly do. But 90% of the people who loudly demand one, won't be there with the money when they see what Colt actually has to charge for them to make a profit. They were in limited production at the custom shop a few years ago. Why do you think they got dropped from the lineup in the first place? The same goes for the Detective Special. The problem is those two revolver are old designs with lockwork that dates from the late 19th century, and demands lots of expensive handwork. Colt simply can't make them cheaply enough to compete with Rugers and S&Ws which have more modern lockwork, or concessions to modern production realities, like MIM parts, etc. You wan't your Python with MIM parts? Or would you rather have it just as good, in every way, as the old ones were, right down to the mirror-like royal blue finish and pay $2500 for it? Those are your choices.

Now if Colt is going to produce a modern run of the Model M, even a limited one, especially in .380ACP, it would be really cool if they'd put this prototype into production (it came up for auction a few years ago, and I almost bid on it, but I didn't have the money).

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Mr Wolf said, in the SHOT video, that they had to reverse engineer the gun from originals bought in the market, there being no drawings or specs.

Here is the original letter and drawings for patent number 747585.

http://www.google.com/patents/US747585

http://www.colt25.com/images/patents/US747585.pdf

There were several variations for this gun made (the original had a removable bushing, later versions a fixed bushing.) so drawings may not have been kept by Colt if no patents were filed. If a patent was filed both Colt, Brownings family and the patent office kept copies. Drawings are available on line.

The original copies of the patents, drawings etc. are quite valuable and folks don't lend that stuff out except to museums.

tipoc
 
Patent drawings and drawings used to tool parts are very different. I bet the effort to reverse engineer the pistol, make a 3-D model, and create the tooling was extensive. The end product will not be inexpensive, inexpensive finish or not.
 
I think there are a fair number of people out there who would like a Colt 1903 General Officer's 32 and cannot afford one. Prices for them are very high, well over $1,500 AFAIK.

Whether they will pay $1,400-$1,500 for a first-rate, shootable replica of one is an interesting question. I hope the answer is yes, because then there might be more of this kind of thing, and somebody might make something I would want. The problem is, I cannot think of anything that is:

A) as expensive as a General Officers 32

B) a design as sound and relatively simple to make as the Colt 1903 (remember how poorly the Mitchell stainless steel Lugers turned out?)

C) chambered for any cartridge that is still reasonably available (unlike, say 8mm Bergman-Simplex, 7mm Nambu, or even 38 ACP).

Oh, well, I can dream. :)
 
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Very interesting. This would be another one that I would like to pick up if I could swing it somehow. I have been looking for a nice shooter 380 just for fun since a buddy showed me his and asked about it.
 
Jim beat me to it.
NOT made BY Colt, made FOR Colt.
The Gatling Gun people are a totally separate outfit.

That said, the commentary in the blog asking what Colt will do with the tooling after the limited run is finished is irrelevant, since it won't be Colt's tooling to begin with.

And further- over the past few years I've seen repeated "Dream Lists" that include "Wish they'd bring back the 1903".
If this goes forward, it SHOULD illustrate quite clearly the fact that bringing back these older designs WILL HAVE TO INVOLVE HIGHER PRICING THAN MOST WANT TO PAY.

People have asked for the 1903 for years, now when it may be coming true there's much commentary about "Too high" and "You can buy a 90% original for HALF that!" :)

Here you see the reality.
And that applies even more to the never-say-die "Gimme a NEW PYTHON!!!!" perennial.
Not enough profit for Colt to tool up, pricing would be too high for sustained sales in volume.
Denis
 
Billy Shears said:
The problem is those two revolver are old designs with lockwork that dates from the late 19th century, and demands lots of expensive handwork.
I'm seeing an analogy here to many handmade products of the past. A friend of mine makes a good living repairing and restoring antique woodwork in old houses: moulding, trim, banisters, etc. The original stuff was made with hand tools and can't be replicated using modern techniques. His clients are mostly yuppies buying country houses, and believe me, they pay a pretty penny for his skills.

I think the only thing that would drive prices of the 1903 replicas down would be good old "economies of scale." They can be mass-produced, and if the company could be guaranteed a large volume of sales, they could produce them in sufficient numbers to drive down the cost-per-unit. I'm thinking of the Italian SAA clones that cowboy-action shooters use. However, I don't see a market for the 1903 that is anywhere near that large.
 
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