The Colt's 1903 Pocket Pistol in .32 ACP

[Doug Bowser]

The Colt’s 1903 Hammerless Pocket Pistol

By Doug Bowser

Ever since I saw Humphrey Bogart using a 1903 Colt Pocket Pistol while playing Sam Spade, I was intrigued with them. The pistol is the brainchild of John Moses Browning and like many of his designs very difficult to disassemble and reassemble. I acquired a 1903 .32 ACP pistol that had been re-nickeled. Buying a pistol that was serviceable but not a collector’s piece made sense to me. I paid $225.00 for it. The action and barrel were in VG+ condition and the guy that refinished the pistol did not buff off all of the markings.

The next step for me was putting in a supply of .32 ACP ammunition. I found 2 boxes of Prvi Partisan FMJ ammo with 71 gr bullets. The ammunition functioned well in the Colt. I consider the .32 ACP adequate for most self defense situations. You have to think of the old saying, some gun is better than no gun. I believe the grip safety and the thumb safety make this handgun safe to carry for self defense.

I was surprised that the trigger was crisp and clean. The sights leave a LOT to be desired but reasonably good accuracy at 15 yards is possible. It is a pleasure for me to own several older handguns and rifles. I am always impressed with the quality of manufacture and design.





Colt’s 1903 hammerless Pocket pistol



The NRA 25 yard B-8 target fired at 15 yards

 

[Monac]

Dang. $225 is about half of what most people want for any lump of rust with "Colt" stamped on it, let alone a functional shooter of a popular model. Congrats!

The 1903 .32 is not as easy to take apart as it should be. I have never heard an explanation of why Colt did not put the cut for the safety catch to hold the slide open at the disassembly point on it (or on the 25 automatic either, for that matter). Everybody else who manufactured this design, like FN with their scaled-up 9mm model, or the countless crude Spanish knockoffs, had it there. OTOH, it is snap compared to some stuff, like a Remington Model 51, and does not require tools, like an FN Browning 1900.

These guns are so popular that a a reproduction of the version issued to generals, admirals, couriers, and other government agents in World War 2 is being made. It is being sold under the Colt name, although Colt is not actually manufacturing it. It costs about 5-6 times as much as yours.

Yours may have acquired a coat of nickel or "bumper chrome" sometime after it left the factory. I am not good at telling that from photos. These guns can look very good if WELL refinished, and grips are still made for them, in a vast array of materials. I saw a set made of "fossilized mastodon tusk" on Ebay! I have seen some with modern sights fitted as well.

PS - A bit of collector's lingo: if your gun does NOT have a magazine safety, it is a Type 3. If it does have one, it is a Type 4. If it were made for the US government, with sights and grip serrations like a Colt 1911, it would be a Type 5. The Types 1 and 2 had a different muzzle bushing arrangement from yours. I apologize if I am telling you things you are well aware of already.

 

[Tallball]

Great pistol! I lucked into a refinished one with replacement grips for $330 and thought I got a good deal. You practically stole yours! The real limit to its accuracy are its tiny sights. Beginners and recoil-adverse people love to shoot them.

 

[golden]

This is a poor choice for concealed carry or as a car gun, but it is a nice shooter and a good range gun. I do not like single action autos for self defense and when I had this gun out as my tv room gun, I kept the chamber empty with a full magazine. I shot FIOCCHI XTP hollow point and COR BON Powerball out of it without any problems and would use either load for self defense.
The large size makes it very easy to shoot and contributes to its practical accuracy. If I were very recoil sensitive, this would be a useful house gun. I would go with a WALTHER PPK for concealed carry.

 

[Oldschool shooter]

I have one, it belonged to my grandfather. A lot of fun to shoot, but better options for concealed carry.

 

[bannockburn]

Doug Bowser

My brother has a Model 1908 Pocket Hammerless pistol in .380 that was nickel plated from the factory along with a set of factory pearl grips. To say the gun is stunning looking would be an understatement. To top it all off it also came with a Heiser pocket holster.

 

[Rudolph31]

Years ago I used a WWII Walther PP for concealed carry. One day at the range the firing pin broke. Since then I’ve only used newer guns for defense and shoot the relics for fun. Broken parts are not unusual on old guns and no matter how cool I won’t trust them again.

 

[Doug Bowser]

When I carry a pocket pistol, it is a Savage .32ACP. I never carry a single action pocket pistol with a round in the chamber.

 

[Danoobie]

Dang. $225 is about half of what most people want for any lump of rust with "Colt" stamped on it, let alone a functional shooter of a popular model. Congrats!

QFT. I'm getting a little tired of the hackneyed old pawn shop saw "It's a COLT!" So what? Big deal.

That said , OP, that looks like a GREAT 1903 for the money. I was shopping them a couple years ago, and finding
more ding, scratch, and rust than gun that folks were asking North of 500$ for.

As to .32 pocket guns, the CZ70 is a little heavy, but has a reassuringly heavy DA trigger.

 

[If1HitU]

That is a sweet looking .32 ACP.

 

[browningguy]

This is a poor choice for concealed carry or as a car gun, but it is a nice shooter and a good range gun. I do not like single action autos for self defense and when I had this gun out as my tv room gun, I kept the chamber empty with a full magazine. I shot FIOCCHI XTP hollow point and COR BON Powerball out of it without any problems and would use either load for self defense.
The large size makes it very easy to shoot and contributes to its practical accuracy. If I were very recoil sensitive, this would be a useful house gun. I would go with a WALTHER PPK for concealed carry.

Is that the answer to a question nobody asked? I've been carrying single action semi's for going on 40 years without a problem, as have millions of others. I do have some plastic striker fired guns, PPS, XDM's etc., but the great majority of my pistols are single action.

 

[Iggy]

View attachment 770645 View attachment 770646
Blue 1903 & Nickel 1908. That's when they knew how to make pocket pistols.

 

[tbob38]

Thanks for the writeup on your fine Colt. I recently got a Mauser HSc in 7.65 and have been shooting it. It's quite accurate and has more internal machinery than a threshing machine. Got the proper dies etc and have a batch of cases sized and primed, ready to load.