Colt 1908 .25 Nickle Evaluation

[ZBill]

Folks: I'm considering purchasing this nickle 1908 Colt Vest Pocket, circa 1926. The finish looks original to me. I hope the attached photos may allow you sharp-eyed folks to comment on the finish. Slide numbered to frame. Grips look original. Were the safety and trigger nickled on these? I have seen photos of 1908's showing nickled pistols with case-hardened safeties and triggers and nickled ones. Asking price is $400. Comments appreciated. ZBill

 

[1 old 0311]

Blue Book lists $375-90%, $435-95%, $600-98%. I had one in blue that was a great little gun.

 

[pocketgun]

Mine came with blued slide and frame and case-hardened trigger, manual safety, and grip safety. I would assume the nickel finish is therefore only for the slide and frame. The grips are correct for the year. They are nice little pocket pistols.

 

[Old Fuff]

I can't tell for sure from the photographs, but it appears to me that the lettering might be slightly washed out, indicating an aftermarket polishing and nickel plating job. Most of the factory nickeled guns came with case-hardened triggers, but it would be a long shot to say that none were nickeled.

Factory nickeled guns are scarce, and worth more then blued ones - but you'd have to get it lettered by Colt to prove it was a factory job, and the cost of the letter might be more then the additional value of the pistol.

One other thing. If you shoot it be very careful when extracting and ejecting rounds from the chamber. Why? Because the firing pin is the ejector.

This makes no difference when it comes to kicking out a fired case, but it can make a big difference if you pull the slide back quickly while ejecting a cartridge. Do this gently...

It's one reason earlier owners sometimes carried the pistol with a loaded magazine but empty chamber.

 

[ZBill]

Thanks for the comments...

I noticed there is no rampant colt on the left rear of the slide like all of the examples on coltautos.com. That sends a signal to me that the pistol has been polished and refinished. What do you think? regards, zbill

 

[Old Fuff]

You are right, but I have seen slides where the horse-logo was missing. When that happened I doubt that Colt would hesitate to ship the gun. All of the other markings seem to be in place, but to me they appear to be hollowed out a bit, as if done with a buffing wheel. Also the serrations haven't been flattened or rounded, as I would expect with a crude pollishing job. Get a strong glass and examine them. My previous opinion was based on a gut hunch, and the pictures on my old monitor aren't good enough to made a desive judgment.

 

[pocketgun]

The picture of the left side posted above doesn't go far enough back to show the logo, which is behind the serrations (if it is there at all). At least that is where mine is.