Heirloom Precision 1903 Colt (Ready for another 107 years)

[farscott]

That is a true, one-of-a-kind custom. Very cool idea and great execution.

 

[rodinal220]

Colt should offer something like this as a regular production or custom shop option.

 

[MattTheHat]

Thanks for the comments, guys. I had a chance to put a few rounds through her today. She's a shooter!

-Matt

 

[Deaf Smith]

They are not drop safe chamber loaded. One SWAT LEO gun writer DIED when his 1903 fell from his waistband and fired when it hit the ground.

If you pack 'em, carry them chamber empty.

Deaf

 

[MattTheHat]

Absolutely correct!

-Matt

 

[NMGonzo]

Royalty in Austria just got a shiver up their spine.

Gorgeous, one of my holy grial guns.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

What WERE the odds that the muzzle would be pointed right at the head of the victim when the gun struck the ground, jarring the gun to fire? Anyone want to speculate? I'm calling that one a "freak" accidental homicide. Yes, you can be totally safe by carrying chamber empty, or you could spend years trying to duplicate an accidental shot like that (under lab conditons, of course) by deliberately throwing your gun down to get it to go off in a specific direction.

 

[Old Fuff]

Keep in mind that about 1922 Colt addressed the loaded chamber issue in 1903/08 Pocket Models by (1) adding a safety/half-cock ledge on the face of the hammer to preventing it from going all of the way down if the sear/hammer hooks engagement failed, and (2) changed the firing pin design to duplicate the one used in the Government Model .45 pistol where the pin is shorter then the well it rides in. While these solutions were not perfect, they did offer a considerable improvement.

Both of these features are backwards compatible if you can find a hammer, sear and the firing pin parts.

Otherwise do carry with the chamber empty unless there is a substantial threat that would justify doing otherwise.

 

[Deaf Smith]

What WERE the odds that the muzzle would be pointed right at the head of the victim when the gun struck the ground, jarring the gun to fire? Anyone want to speculate? I'm calling that one a "freak" accidental homicide. Yes, you can be totally safe by carrying chamber empty, or you could spend years trying to duplicate an accidental shot like that (under lab conditons, of course) by deliberately throwing your gun down to get it to go off in a specific direction.

Sharps,

You are dealing with 100+ year old guns. The mechanisms are old. The little .25 pictured was STRIKER FIRED, no hammer.

I've owned the Colt 1903, 1908 (actually a FN 1906), Browning 1910, 1922, Astra Cub, Raven, Jennings, and other .25s.

The safety designs back then were not at all like today's. No firing pin lock, Most safeties actually worked of the grip safety and all other safeties simply blocked the grip safety, small thin parts. And again, 100+ years old.

If packed, I'd chamber empty them or at least a very good holster that kept them from falling.

Deaf

 

[MattTheHat]

Actually Sharps, I seem to recall reading about several different people have had this happen over the years. The one mentioned above was simply the most recent. As old fuff mentioned, the problem can easily be remedied with some newer parts.

For me, I don't worry so much about it, as I plan to carry it in a decent holster. I've carried a few of these pistols over the years with less formal storage strategies (in a pocket or in the tank bag) while on motorcycle road trips. If I'm not going to carry it in a holster, I don't chamber a round, just to be safe.

If I knew I was going to be in a situation where I *needed* to have a round chambered, I'd have grabbed a more appropriate weapon. But, you don't always know where you'll end up. If I thought it was prudent, I'd carry chambered without loosing any sleep about it.


-Matt

 

[Deaf Smith]

Matt,

I agree. As long as a good holster with either safety strap or good retention it's not that risky. The LEO that was killed, Steve Malloy, packed it 'Mexican style", in his waistband.

Here is a good article by Massad Ayoob on the subject.

http://www.tactical-life.com/online/combat-handguns/dropped-gun-inertia-discharge/

Deaf

 

[Pilot]

That is beautiful. Look at that Browning design. Perfect, even by today's standards.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

I was just pointing out that the odds of the worst possible angle of an accidental shot from a dropped gun that fires from jarring the cocked hammer is astronomically low. Obviously, it did happen, at least once. But as I stated, if you only get one "likely" fatal hit from 600,000 to 800,000 attempts to duplicate the accident, are we going to worry about it? It is possible more people are likely to get killed hitting a tree while skiing. People are not going to stop skiing around trees just because of those odds. FWIW, I often carry a 1913 Model 1903, chamber empty, and just plan to rack it fast during the draw. If I were in a very dangerous area, I'd just chamber one and carry it loaded until I got to a safer area, much like the cowboys would "load six" instead of five if knowingly going into a fight. If I was REALLY worried about imminent danger ALL the time, I'd just carry a bigger and more modern gun. It is just too much fun to occasionally carry my 1903, and worry later.........

[/IMG]

 

[hAkron]

That gun looks amazing. Extremely well executed, and tasteful.

 

[MattTheHat]

I'm with you Sharps. If 8 rounds of .32ACP doesn't do it, I shouldn't have been there to start with.

What kind of holster do you have in the pic?


-Matt

 

[Lucky Derby]

Excellent! The old design still has a lot going for it even with today's standards.

That is why Kimber came out with the Solo.

 

[Lucky Derby]

Beautiful gun.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

Ankle rig was made by Kramer, however, I bought it quite a few years back when the price was a lot lower. They are pretty pricey now, but still the most comfortable on the market.

 

[Wags]

Beautiful and a class act! I've always wanted a a 1903 or 1908 Colt.