Educate me about the Colt 1903 and 1908

[BSA1]

I have also developed a interest in the Colt 1903 and 1908 handguns but I don't know a whole lot about them and their values.

I looked at a couple of 1903's yesterday at LGS. One was excellent condition with its blue finish and wood grips with gold Colt logo. Grips looked to be like new. It was priced at $850.00.

The other one was well worn on the exterior with most of blue finish gone and rubber grips. It was priced at half the money.

Having been around the block a time or two Gun #1 is suspect to me. Excellent blued finish on a model this old and wood grips are flags as Blue Book says they came with rubber grips.

What should I be looking for when examining these guns and what are prices running?

 

[VA27]

Visit coltautos.com for what to look for as far as what's original equipment (grips), and then search completed auctions on the auction sites to see what they are bringing (not what sellers are asking for).

I'd want to look real close at a gun for $850, but I might haggle price on a $450 '08 (380).