Any info on Colt 1908 .25 auto?

[Run&Shoot]

I just inherited a cute little .25 Colt Automatic from my infirm father. My brother and I already received the rifles but this was his last pistol, that he had gotten for my mother.

From what I can tell in the NRA disassembly book it is probably a Colt Automatic .25 of the 1908 design. Supposedly these were stopped being made in 1946 after about 50,000 were made the serial number looks to be 2xxx, and the finish is 80% blue but kind of scratched up.

It has a heel mag release, and magazine disconnect safety, thumb safety and grip safety and is about the tiniest little pistol I have ever seen. I guess about the size of the Baby Browning.

Can anyone confim this model, and if so give an approximate date of manufacturer? Based on the above I would gues before 1910.

Is there any value to this? Any place to get parts for something this old? I was thinking of replacing the springs and trying it out at the range someday. Probably has some nasty little kick and web of hand bite.

 

[Diamondback6]

Sir, you might check out Sam Lisker's site over at http://www.coltautos.com . I would link you straight to the 1908 Vest Pocket model, but his site's not set up to allow it.

Not a 1908 expert by any stretch of the imagination, but thought this might give you a lead or two.

EDIT: Looks like yours, assuming it's a Model N (1908 Vest Pocket), was made in 1909, according to Lisker.

 

[1 old 0311]

Had one a few yars back. Great little gun, The S.N. was 2057**. Colt stated it was made in 1914. Ajax made stag grips for them that looked great.

 

[doncameron]

I got one that rides in my front pocket, great little shooter! SN.196xxx, made in 1918.


1908
1
850
1929
375350
6900

1909
850
22250
1930
382250
5350

1910
23100
19100
1931
387600
5200

1911
42200
19300
1932
392800
2300

1912
61500
20400
1933
395100
1900

1913
81900
21000
1934
397000
1750

1914
102900
20550
1935
398750
850

1915
123450
10400
1936
399600
2035

1916
133850
21825
1937
401635
3865

1917
155675
19375
1938
405500
500

1918
175050
19750
1939
406001
1800

1919
194800
43000
1940
407800
1000

1920
237800
43000
1941
4 made
4

1921
280800
34400
1942
409061
1

1922
315200
12825
1943
none
0

1923
328025
11725
1944
none
0

1924
339750
13250
1945
none
0

1925
353000
4000
1946
408600
1000

1926
357000
6950
1947
420500
200

1927
363950
8050
1948
1 made
1

1928
372000
3350
LAST
420705

 

[Old Fuff]

One thing everyone should understand about Colt's Vest Pocket Model.

It doesn't have an ejector, and instead the long nose on the firing pin serves for this purpose. Therefore if you are ejecting a live cartridge be very careful, because as you pull back the slide the firing pin will be pushing against a live primer!

Do it gently.

This is the reason many used to carry with a loaded magazine, but empty chamber – which still is a wise precaution. Otherwise it is a very neat and reliable pistol.

Also don’t dry-fire the pistol unless an EMPTY cartridge case or a snap-cap is in the chamber. Otherwise you risk breaking the firing pin.

 

[Old Fuff]

It has a heel mag release, and magazine disconnect safety

Something is amiss - the magazine disconector wasn't incorporated into this model until serial No. 141,000 in 1916. Check the serial number (2,xxx) again.

 

[XavierBreath]

Thanks Old Fuff! I did not know that!

The Old Fuff's knowledge base is amazing.

 

[Essex County]

I bought one for fifty or sixty dollars some thity years ago. I was into pocket autos back then and I enjoyed shooting them. High quality and would get lost in a pants pocket. Mine was totaly reliable....Hang on to it!.... Essex