Colt 1903 question

[ACORN]

I've always wanted a Colt 1903. At the Pittsburgh gun show I saw a 1903 Colt that was parkerized but had no U.S. Government markings. It didn't look to be a recent rework. Were any other 1903's parkerized but not marked U.S.? The price was in the range I'd expect to see an original 1903 sell, but not one that has been reworked. The shop that has it is local to me and is generally fair in his prices.

 

[LWCmdr45]

According to Pate's "U.S. Handguns of World War II," Parkerizing wasn't implemented on the M1903s until relatively late in the war (ca. Oct., 1944) and coincided with changing the sights to a square notch rear/ramp front and increasing the number of slide serrations from 17 to 19. By this time, all *military* pistols would have been U.S. PROPERTY marked, but it is known that the OSS stipulated no such markings on some other models used by them. It may also have been an earlier (pre-1942) U.S.-purchased example, which are known to have *not* been stamped with the U.S. PROPERTY marking, that was arsenal refinished later in or after the war. And, of course, it may have been a commercial model that someone decided to have refinished commercially.

Steve

 

[Onmilo]

A serial number would be helpful in determining which it may be.

 

[ACORN]

Onmilo A serial number would be helpful in determining which it may be.

Yeah I know I should have gotten it.
The finish looked "old" and the edges were sharp. But it couldl have been redone.
I'm going to try this week to have another look at it.

 

[Old Fuff]

If this is a World War Two period gun it should have checkered walnut grips rather then one's made out of black hard rubber. It will (or should) also have a magazine disconector. Serial number should be above 543000

I have seen a fair number of 1903 pocket models that have no known military history, but have been refinished by Parkerizing. In several cases the owner was trying to sell the story that it was an "unmarked OSS gun." :banghead: