9mm colt 1903.

[MUSICALGUNNUT45]

I was just looking at a colt 1903 pocket hammerless the other day and thought to myself, with todays technology somebody could produce this design chambered in 9mm then I went online and saw C&S's 45 acp version, I liked it but its just not the same. If someone ( preferably colt) could produce the same gun in the same size only chambered in 9mm. then I would definitley buy one and even carry one does anyone else agree.

 

[ATBackPackin]

Absofreakinlutely!

 

[Old Fuff]

This is something that's often suggested, but not practical, at least in a pistol of the same size.

It was originally designed around the .32 ACP cartridge, and later expanded to .380 ACP, but when chambered for that cartridge there were some problems.

As for 9mm., first of all the round is too long to fit in the magazine, and to cycle through the action. Second (and more important) the pistol is straight-blowback and the slide and barrel are never locked together, as is the case with most popular 9mm pistols. In a straight-blowback design the 9mm is much-too-much.

You could of course redesign it to be a locked-breech pistol, but the result would be thicker and larger. That would remove much of the attractiveness that the pistol now offers.

Last but not least, many of the potential buyers would want a double-action trigger pull option and a positive firing pin block or lock, neither which was featured in the 1903 design.

Perhaps you should take a look at Beretta's new Nano...

 

[VA27]

The Nano and the SIG P290 are both HUGE compared to the 1903/08. Take a look at the Kahr PM9 or the Kimber Solo. Much closer (but still thicker) in size.

 

[MUSICALGUNNUT45]

This is something that's often suggested, but not practical, at least in a pistol of the same size.

It was originally designed around the .32 ACP cartridge, and later expanded to .380 ACP, but when chambered for that cartridge there were some problems.

As for 9mm., first of all the round is too long to fit in the magazine, and to cycle through the action. Second (and more important) the pistol is straight-blowback and the slide and barrel are never locked together, as is the case with most popular 9mm pistols. In a straight-blowback design the 9mm is much-too-much.

You could of course redesign it to be a locked-breech pistol, but the result would be thicker and larger. That would remove much of the attractiveness that the pistol now offers.

Last but not least, many of the potential buyers would want a double-action trigger pull option and a positive firing pin block or lock, neither which was featured in the 1903 design.

Perhaps you should take a look at Beretta's new Nano...

I've seen the nano its too ugly for my tastes.

And If C&S managed to build it into a 45 whats stopping someone from making into a 9mm. I guess I didn't choose my words carefully enough so lets say a modifed version of the 1903 that retains the looks.

 

[rcmodel]

The C&L one is just a 1911 with a hammer shroud silver soldered on the rear of the slide.

As Old Fuff said, a 9mm version of the 1903 would have to be a locked breach design like most all major power pistols are.

And then it would not be a blow-back 1903, even if it kinda looked like one.

I also agree that modern features like a drop safety firing pin lock would have to be a part of any new design.

Before long, a modern 1903 in 9mm would still look like a duck, but it wouldn't quack like a duck.

rc

 

[Old Fuff]

And If C&S managed to build it into a 45 whats stopping someone from making into a 9mm.

Nothing, except in today's manufacturing economy it would be expensive (especially if the maker expected to make a profit). Be that as it may, for an idea of what it might look like, take a look at Fabrique National's model 1903 (not to be confused with the Colt) chambered in 9mm x 20 (about the same size as the 9mm x 19, but much less powerful.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

The best part of the Colt 1903 or 1908 (.380) is their size. They are just right; flat, sleek all over, and feel right in the hand. Also a great reputation for reliability. If you made them in 9mm or .45, they'd be fatter and heavier, and require a totally different lockup. It would never be the same gun, as C&S's custom version shows us. No way does that gun look sleek or handle anything like the originals.

 

[ei8ht]

Check out the Kimber Solo. It is as close to a Colt 1903 as you can get and is
9mm. Extremely popular and hard to get . I have had one on order since April.
You can find them on GunBroker.com though. It looks and feels like a Colt Hammerless
really a neat Pistol

 

[MattTheHat]

Colt already did it, in 1908.

-Matt

 

[Onmilo]

The 1903 was first produced in Belgium in 9mm Browning Long caliber.
The cartridge as first loaded was slightly hotter than the later .380 acp but not anywhere near as powerful as the 9mm Parabellum.

The 1903 would need a locked breech design and some beefing up to end up as a useful 9mm.

There are plenty of better designs on the market today to make the idea impractical.