The forgotton 32 auto

[Old Fuff]

The 1903 Colt needs to be made again by someone.

That's easy to say, but not so easy too do.

In Browning's day, the highest quality guns (and Cot was a top quality maker) had parts that were machined from steel forgings. The resulting guns were great, but this sort of construction isn't always compatible with the kind of technogies that are necessary today because of manufacturing economics.

So first of all, manufacturers now are generally not set up to make guns the way they used to, and if they did so the resulting gun might cost as much or more then an excellent or like-new original.

And many potential buyers might insist that the hammer be at rest and not cocked while the pistol was being carried, and if necessary fired with a long double-action style trigger.

Personally I would be delighted if someone made a high quality clone of the 1903/08 Pocket Model, but any market study that Colt (or whoever) had made would tell them that the idea wouldn't work.

 

[gazpacho]

I also thoroughly enjoy 32acp. I have a bunch of Keltec P32s. My CZ83 ihas precious little recoil. I bought a Manhurin PP for my wife. My only true safe queen is an HK4.

 

[BruiseLee]

I've owned a Beretta Tomcat for years, and never experienced a malfunction due to rim lock. Even with my 10 round mag. I do take care in loading the mags, though.

 

[C0untZer0]

I have several 32 revolvers and one 32 pistol that I enjoy shooting. My little Seecamp is a real Jewel. As to its power, one has to remember that one Gavrilo Princip a Serb, killed Arch duke Ferdinand and his wife at 10:30AM and both died. He was shot once in the neck and slumped over and died quickly, she was shot in the abdomen and died a few minutes later. Two shots and 2 killed at 9 feet distance. Shot placement is more important in pistols than the caliber.
- snooperman -

Princip used an FN Model 1910 to kill Arch Duke Ferdinand and Princess Sophie of Hohenberg, but it was actually chambered in 9mm Kurz (380 AUTO).

Richard Belfield in his book "The Assassination Business: A History of State-Sponsored Murder" states that the pistol was .32 and that is what is referenced in the Wikipedia article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archduke_Franz_Ferdinand_of_Austria

Princip's weapon was the Browning .32 ACP cartridge, a relatively low-power round, and a pocket-sized FN model 1910 pistol

But Thomas Ilming of the Museum of Military History in Vienna says, in response to that exact question:

Dear Sir! The caliber of the pistol which was used to kill Archduke Franz Ferdinand is 9mm kurz. I hope this response is of some help for you. Please do not hesitate to contact me again, if you have some further questions. Best regards Mit freundlichen GrüßenIng. Mag. Thomas Ilming Leiter Referat WaTe (Waffen und Technik) Heeresgeschichtliches Museum A-1030 Wien, Arsenal, Objekt

The actual pistol which was used to kill the Archduke and his wife, is on display at the Museum of Military History in Vienna, so I think Thomas Ilming would know.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...65206/Found-the-gun-that-shook-the-world.html