Colt 1903 Type III Pocket Hammerless .32 Auto Semi-Automatic Pistol & Box, MFD 1925 C&R

SOLD FOR: $1,123.00
LSB#: 181009SH01

Make: Colt

Model: Model 1903 Type III Pocket Hammerless

Serial Number: 458689

Year of Manufacture: 1925 (https://colt.com/serial-lookup)

Caliber: .32 A.C.P. (7.65mm Browning)

Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto Pistol with Removable Magazine

Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A. / PATENTED APR. 20, 1897. DEC. 22, 1903”, and at the rear with a Rampant Colt logo. The left side of the frame is marked “458689”. The right side of the slide is marked “COLT AUTOMATIC / CALIBRE 32 RIMLESS SMOKELESS”. The left front of the trigger guard is marked with a “VP” in a triangle and “R”, and the right front is marked “51”. The bottom of the slide is marked “H 458689”. The magazine floorplate is marked “CAL. 32 / COLT”.

Barrel Length: 3 3/4”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a short rounded bladed fixed to the top of the slide. The rear sight is a round-top “U” notch dovetailed into the rear of the slide.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered black hard rubber with “COLT” in a banner near the tops and a Rampant Colt logo in the bottom half of the grips. The grips have no notable wear or damage, only light handling marks. The checkering, lettering and colt are well defined. There are no chips or cracks. The grips are in about Excellent overall condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 96% of its metal finish. The slide has a few light marks on the left above the slide legend, a spot of wear at the top-front corner of the left flat. The rounded top of the slide has a couple of light nicks and a few very light freckles. The right of the slide has a few scattered light marks as does the bottom of the slide forward of the dust cover. The frame has a few scattered light marks and infrequent, very light freckling on the frontstrap. The grip safety has similar very light freckling. The trigger shows light operational wear as does the barrel. The screw head is sharp. The pin heads are undamaged. The markings are clear. Overall, this handgun rates in about Fine-plus condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. There is a tiny amount of play between the slide and the frame. This pistol has a grip safety and a manual safety but does not have a magazine disconnect. The safety can be used to lock the slide back. We did not fire this handgun. As with all firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes in a now two-piece cardboard Colt box with model matching label and serial number written in pencil on the bottom, an assortment of factory paperwork including manual and a .32 Colt Auto Cartridge hang-tag and with one blued 8 round magazine. The top 1” of the magazine is “In The White”. The lid of the box has separated from the tray, there is wear and fraying at edges and corners and the lid has tears at three of its corners. Overall, the box is in about Fair-Good condition. The magazine body shows very light operational wear with a few spots of discoloration in the unfinished top portion. The floorplate has a light mark from the latch and infrequent very light freckles. The magazine is in about Very Good-Fine condition.

Our Assessment: The Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless is a semi-automatic pistol designed by John Browning, and was the 1st of the Colt concealed hammer models, followed by the M1908 in .380 ACP. Despite the title ‘Hammerless’, the M1903 and M1908 pistols do have a hammer, which is covered and hidden from view under the rear of the slide. This allowed the weapon to be carried in and withdrawn from a pocket quickly and smoothly without snagging. These pistols were popular civilian firearms for much of their life, and also served as United States General Officer pistols from the 1940s until their replacement by the M15 General Officers pistol in the 1970s. The Office of Strategic Services issued the Model 1903 to its officers during World War II and it was a popular back-up/off-duty model with police officers in the United States. Gangsters also favored this pistol, including Bonnie Parker and John Dillinger. This is a Colt 1903 Type III Pocket Hammerless semi-auto made in 1925. It is in about Fine-plus condition with about 96% of its original finish remaining. The bore is bright with sharp rifling and no erosion. All of the Colt M1903 andM1908 pistols are collectable, and this one isn’t going to be any different. The M1903 is divided by age into five different types, making it somewhat of a challenge to collect one each of the different types. This one, in its high condition and with its original box and hang-tag, should make a collector very happy. Please see our photos and good luck!

CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This C&R eligible pistol CAN be transferred as a dealer sale in California and CAN be sold as a Private Party Transfer (PPT) at our Simi Valley shop. All cartridge firing handguns (even C&R’s and antiques) sold to a California resident must be DROS’d. This does not apply to out of state residents.