Colt & Luger production dates???

[Chuck R.]

Hi,

I just inherited a few guns from my uncle. Of special interest are a 1st generation Colt SAA in .45 Colt with the 7 ½” barrel. Finish is worn, but still shows some color case and bluing. The barrel and chambers are fantastic, so I’m going to shoot it along with my two 3rd generation SAAs. The serial number is: 355212.

The second interest gun is apparently a 1923 Commercial P08 Luger in 7.65. Pistol is in very, very nice shape and I’d judge it to be at about 85-90% on bluing and strawing. As far as I can tell all the parts have matching numbers. The SN is 80319. There are no martial markings.

Anybody have an idea when either or both were made?

The “other guns" are a refinished (badly) 1911 that I’m giving away, an Auto-Ordinance Thompson M1 which I plan on slaughtering a few cardboard silhouettes with, and a cute little Spanish .32ACP.

Thanks in advance Chuck

 

[Jim Watson]

According to the chart in Blue Book, SAA 355412 was made in early 1937 - they started the year at 355400.

I cannot pin down the year your Luger was made. They were manufactured from 1923 til about 1934 and yours is close to the middle of the serial number range for the model.

Just for your legal protection, is that Thompson a 16" semi-auto or is it the real thing?

 

[Chuck R.]

Jim,

Thanks for the fast reply and the dating on the Colt! I thought that SN range was towards the end of the 1st generation guns.

Yup, the Thompson is one of the 16” semis. My Uncle bought it because it’s “like” the one he carried in the Pacific, which I suppose is good enough reason for me to keep it. He had some other very nice guns: 1973 Win, Trapdoor, Smith Carbine, 2 barrel Parker shotgun set, and a couple of very nice Samurai swords. Not the wartime made type, the sharkskin covered handle and sheath family swords. I convinced my cousin to keep those.

Thanks again,

Chuck