Colt 1908

[Awsomepossum]

Hello Gang,

I never thought I would have acquired a Colt 1908 in 380 but I did it. The serial number is 627XX and dates to 1923 from my knowledge. Finish is a little rough, but hasn't been chromed or sportized. Do the grips and mag look original to this year model? There is also, a letter w and a triangle p on the frame, I assume just proofs. What would be a fair market value on this Colt? Also is it worth it to get a factory letter from colt and see where it was originally shipped to ? Here's a youtube link

 

[reddog81]

The grips looks like there in a lot better condition than the gun. It's very common for the grips to crack and replacements are easily found. I'm guessing yours are replacements but with a gun in that condition it is to be expected.

The stamp on the trigger graud should be a vp stamp and it stands for verified proof.

I'm not up to date on the current values. $500 would probably be a good deal for a gun in that condition assuming it functions. I wouldn't be surprised to see that gun selling for $800 or more at a shop or gun show.

I would not spend the money on a letter unless you have reason to suspect some unusual history.

 

[Patocazador]

The 1908 .380's are going for a good bit more than the 1903 .32 acp models. I really don't know what's driving the high prices because there were a lot of these guns produced.

If I could find a 1908 in very good condition for $500, I'd jump on it. I saw one advertised for ~$1300.

 

[Awsomepossum]

I don't believe there would be any unsual history on it. What would the colt letters say about who bought it ? Thanks for the replies, I didn't pay very much for it and I'm excited to go shoot it.

 

[reddog81]

The letter would most likely tell you which hardware/sporting goods store it was shipped to. Colt doesn't have a record who who bought each gun unless the gun was a special order.

 

[jmace57]

I see .380s like that go for $600 to $650. The prices have gone up significantly in the past 4-5 years. .32s in that condition went for about $300 5 years ago and about $400+ now. .380s were about $400 5 years ago and now $600-$650.

 

[CapnMac]

I used to have a 1903 is similar condition. Was a nice bit of history. Sadly, 2008 took it away from me.

 

[blue32]

I could see a .380 in that condition go for $700, assuming the bore is nice or at least shootable. You can get a letter but it will be nothing more than a curiosity. It was likely shipped to some hardware store in the same configuration you have now. One thing you should do, is buy some replacement walnut grips if you're going to shoot it. The bakelite on mine cracked after a year. I've put a couple thousand rounds on my 32. When you shoot, take some time to align the tiny rear and front sights. The 1903 can be very accurate at 25+ yards with practice.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

They are nice to look at and play with, but the .380s are notoriously bad for jamming, especially with aftermarket magazines. Don't expect it to cycle perfectly no matter what ammo you feed it. I had an immaculate .380 with original magazine and FACTORY NICKEL! After new Wolff springs and a 2nd mag....still jamming. Sold it in disgust as it was easily the most elegant gun I've ever owned.

Now I have .32 Pocket Hammerless that looks like it spent a century buried in a landfill and it functions perfectly. Go figure.

 

[Monac]

They are nice to look at and play with, but the .380s are notoriously bad for jamming, especially with aftermarket magazines. Don't expect it to cycle perfectly no matter what ammo you feed it. I had an immaculate .380 with original magazine and FACTORY NICKEL! After new Wolff springs and a 2nd mag....still jamming. Sold it in disgust as it was easily the most elegant gun I've ever owned.

Now I have .32 Pocket Hammerless that looks like it spent a century buried in a landfill and it functions perfectly. Go figure.

Yes, the Colt 1908 jamming problem is now pretty well known. It did not affect all of them, but quite a few. The Shanghai Municipal Police, which carried Colt .380's in the 1920's and 30's, fixed it with little flat springs screwed to the outside of the slide that pressed on the barrel through a cut in the slide. During World War 2, the US Army or Navy made Colt come up with a fix for the problem. Colt found that adjusting the ejector (in some way that I forget) did the trick. They stamped the reworked guns with with an "M" before the serial numbers, seriously confusing collectors in future decades.

 

[entropy]

The one I had and should never have sold, fired .380 ball 95 gr. FMJ very reliably, I don't recall whether it had an M prefix or not, but it was a GI. I agree with reddog, $500 is fair value on that as is.