the wife inherited some neat older pocket pistols

[Gunsnrovers]

When my wifes grandfather died in 2000, I went up North to Half Moon Bay to help clean out the house and move her grandmother to a home. We found two neat small caliber semi-autos in his safe. My wifes family is pretty anti gun and folks were a bit upset to find these pistols. My mother in law stuffed them in a crawl space beneath their house where I knew humidity and rust would have their way with them.

In 2002, my wifes grandmother died and we again went North. This time, I was able to convince my mother-in-law to at least let me clean the pistols and coat them with some oil.

Last weekend, my wife went to visit her mom and surprisingly was able to convince her mom that I could safely and securely store the pistols in a humidity free safe before they rusted away and/or were forgotten (except by me!).

The first was his service Colt 1908 Hammerless in .380 and we even have the letter from the Army allowing him to take it home when he mustered out. It's serial # 688XX. Anyone know the manufacture date on this? I was unable to find much on line.

The Colt had been visited by the rust monster. Tore it all the way down and gave it a CLP bath and played with some 000 steel wool. Lots of scratches and blue finish turning to brown, but the rust is gone and the pistol seems to function well. However, the thumb safety works, but is loose. It does not want to stay locked and will fall down from safe very easily. Grip safety is 100%. Is that a common problem? Going to try to hit the range this week with it.

The second pistol was a early Beretta Model 70 Puma in .32ACP. Evidently, he carried this one when he went to make his bank deposits (he owned a small business). This one has the box and a target dated 1959. I am pretty sure the Puma was introduced in 1958 so this one is pretty early in production. The Beretta is in great shape and I test fired it. Doesn't like Hydrashok, but with the ball ammo I had, it shots great. Neat little gun.

All in all, a neat inheritance for my wife. Getting the service pistol was awesome. He was in the Signal Corps and served in the Italian theatre.

 

[kokapelli]

The 1903 Colt is one of my favorite pistols. I have one in 32 caliber (picture below).

I'm not sure, but I think the 380 version was first produced in 1908. Someone here will probably confirm that.

 

[Gunsnrovers]

Thanks. Mine isn't nearly as clean as yours. Hope to have pictures soon.

Anyone have thoughts on the safety being loose? I can get a replacement from Numrich arms. Just wondering about fitting, etc.

Got a date from another board. Appears ours is a 1923 manufactured pistol.

 

[Dr.Rob]

According to RL Wilson, 1924.

Neat finds.

With the Gov't papers it's likely worth a good chunk of change.

 

[FPrice]

"According to RL Wilson, 1924."

Actually I think 1923 is correct. Looking at my copy of RL Wilson's book, it appears that the serial number listed after the date is the beginning number for that year. Wilson lists them as follows:

1923 61000
1924 69500

So late 1923 is the best guess without getting an exact date from Colt.

 

[Onmilo]

John Brunner has a book out about the 1903-1908 hammerless Colt pistols and there is a list in the back of the book that shows every documented issue by name and serial number of these pistols in service.
You may do well to find a copy of this book and look to see if your grandfather is the documented recipient of the pistol you now have in your possession.
If the documentation is there, the value of your pistol will double or even triple. HTH Milo

 

[Nick96]

What strikes me about this story is how fear of, or prejudice against inamimate objects will cause persons (wife's anti-gun family) to discard personal possessions that were obviously of value to a loved one. A firearm (for most men anyway) is not a convenience item - like a cheap wrist watch or wallet. If he cared enough to bring it back from a war he was involved in - or used it for protection in his personal life - it was something he considered to be of value (regardless of monitary cost).

I wonder if they would use Grandma's fine china to feed the dogs from - or her dining room table as a work bench in the garage?

At any rate, hopefully you can get these firearms back into good shape. I inherited a few myself from my Grandfather. Nothing special - just old guns. But he used, enjoyed and valued them - therefore I think they are worthy of reasonable care.

 

[isp2605]

Go to this website:
http://www.coltautos.com/default.asp
Click the drop down box for 1908 Pocket .380
It will give you manufacture dates, some history, and pix of others.
I love my 1908, so much that I will sometimes even carry it off duty.
Great story. The safety is usually a drop in replacement and not difficult.

 

[Gunsnrovers]

Being rational and being anti-gun usually don't go together. My wifes mother wanted to dispose of the ammo that was with the gun (5 neat old style boxes of .32ACP for the Beretta) by tossing the ammo in the ocean. They live less then 200 yards from the water. Later, she declared she wanted to use the Beretta for personal defense. I suggested she get some training. She got a bit huffy and told me she knew what she was doing. Later, she had to have her daughter call me to tell her how to put the slide back one (I had disassembled it) and how to load the magazine. I declined and suggested she find someone locally to help her. She never did and the pistols went back under the house.

The Beretta, having a alloy frame and only being used as a carry piece, is in great shape. Some odd nicks and dings (may have been dropped), but over all very nice for a used 45 year old pistol. It is fun to shoot, though I think a .38 J frame would make me a little happier for defense. The magazine has a large baseplate to rest your finger on. That would be a problem for CCW.

As for the Colt, its finish is gone. Nowhere near as nice as the beautiful one pictured above. However, it was a war time carry piece and has the scratches and wear of holster use and time. There was skosh of rust on the slide and barrel at the muzzel and some just at the very rear of the slide. There was a lot of surface rust on the interior, beneath the grips, etc. As I said, it's all gone and with a little Tetra Gun Grease, it's smooth, slick, and feels solid. As soon as I get the safety corrected, all will be right.

I know a few guys carry them CCW and saw a few really neat ones hardchromed with the rear sight notch opened up. Great idea. This pistol would disappear in a coat pocket or IWB.

Thanks for everyones comments.

 

[kokapelli]

Jeff, in my opinion, that 1903 Colt is well worth getting professionally cleaned up and re-blued or chromed.

 

[Gunsnrovers]

I think so too, but my wife is against it and it is from her grandfather.

Maybe after she see's the blueing on the 1911 I'm having worked on by Ted Yost she'll change her tune. His work is pretty awesome.

Jeff

 

[kokapelli]

Well Jeff, I wonder if your wife realizes just how much gilt you will have to live with for the rest of your life if you allow something that belonged to her grandfather to just deteriorate into a pile of rust?

If that doesn't work, try a hunger strike.