1908 Colt vest pocket .25

[popeye]

Friend of mine sold me a 1908 Colt vest pocket .25.. I got it for $200. Definitely a shooter grade. The guy that sold it to me makes grips and he included some nice stags. (he gave me orig grips too) The guy installed new spring kit from wolff including the recoil spring.. Two issues. Slide will not pull back far enough so I can engage the slide lock. I think it's spring bound. The grip safety (spring not replaced) is really awkward to depress, coupled with a lot of spring tension on it. Can it be pinned ala S&W Centennial?

 

[VA27]

Ask him if he still has the original spring, then count the coils (don't measure the length, as the old one will already be compressed some), cut the new spring 3 or 4 coils longer than the original, try it and clip 1 coil at a time until you can latch the slide back.

Yes, the grip safety is hard to depress. That's 'cause it's a SAFETY. JMB knew what he was doing and I don't think it would be a good idea to pin it. The thumb safety is easy to disengage and you'll want that grip safety functional if you ever decide to drop it in your pocket. I know of one guy who shot himself in the rear with a Baby Browning (easily disengaged safety and no grip safety). He kept it wrapped in a hankie in his hip pocket. He gave it to his cousin (a friend of mine) 'cause he no longer trusted it.

My '08 is from 1915, all patina and still shoots like gangbusters. I think it's one of the 2 best 25's ever made, the other being the early Seecamp.

Congrats on the new gun!

coltautos.com has more info and dates of mfg.

 

[hatchetbearer]

I just found one of these a few weeks ago in an old barn in a hidey hole under the floorboards. wrapped in an oily rag, a newspaper from the thirties, and stuck into a sardine can. it was missing the magazine, barrel and firing pin. Got the parts on order, cannot wait to take her out.

 

[popeye]

Thanks for replies. Haven't shot it yet,and will not till I get spring length resolved. This little gun was made in 1919 and has the mag safety incorporated around ser #140000. That safety was apparently designed by a Browning employee and carried over to other pistols.
I may try to "adjust" the spring tension on the grip safety as it takes some conscious readjustment of the gun in the hand to deactivate it, and then overcome the heavy spring.

 

[hatchetbearer]

There is a flat spring under the grip safety, buy an extra and slightly bend the prongs back.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

I got this one years ago, with two original magazines, from a guy that said it belonged to his deceased aunt. He also said she kept it in a sock in her nightstand drawer for 30-40 years.

Did she? I guess only the aunt (if there was one) really knows.

 

[popeye]

C&L: Outstanding gun. 86 years old and it looks new. Mine has zero case hardening left on the trigger and grip safety. I talked to the orig. owner of mine and he has the orig. spring so we "count coils" later this week. Original magazines are hard to find and you're lucky to have a second.
hatchet: I'm getting the hang of this safety thing. It doesn't help with arthritis in both hands. I'll try your advise if I can't make it work consistently.

Thanks, Jim

 

[VA27]

One thing I forgot. Keep the original spring. My last range session with Winchester White Box ball ammo I had numerous failures to eject. Premium ammo (Hornady, etc) worked fine as did S&B ball ammo. I also have a friend who says his won't run with WWB. I don't know if these 2 guns just don't like WWB, or if it's just not 'hot' enough.

 

[hatchetbearer]

as a precaution, dont cut, bend or alter any of the original springs, you can buy them all from wolff and numrich for like $30.

 

[popeye]

Finally got a hold of original owner of the gun. Installed the old spring and sure enough the slide will now lock back using the slide lock lever. I forgot to count coils but I'll do so in the near future. The Wolff spring appears to be too long.