Found an old Colt treasure
Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 12:57 pm
The old Colt Model M, or the 1903 and 1908 pocket pistols hold an allure for me; can't explain it, they just do. Anything designed by John Browning just HAS to be good, right? These little gems are like a scaled down 1911, and are like sculped steel masterpieces of Old World craftsmanship chambered only in .32ACP and .380ACP from 1903 until 1945. Having an excellent example of one made in 1920 in .380ACP given to me by a very dear friend, I had longed for one in .32 in good condition also, but could never find one that I could afford.......until I blundered onto this one last week:
Parkerized and made in mid 1944 during WWII, marked "US Property", so was a general officers pistol, and near the end of production. This is in the best conditon of any I"ve seen in quite a while, so I was a happy guy having found it for a mere pittance from a fellow eager for a new shotgun. The thing is almost new inside and out, and shows almost no use whatever.
While out with my Cooper 20VT working up new loads, I tested the little gun on a deer skull out in the desert at 7 yards with 73gr FMJ ammo that came with the pistol to test function and accuracy.......again I was not disappointed:
If you've seen any Humphry Bogert movies, you've most likely seen him with one of these little beauties, as as Phillip Marlowe, he always carried one, and usually had one in most of his other movies too. They were the most favored pocket pistol of the era, and even John Dillinger had one on him when he was shot outside the Biograph theater in Chigaco in 1933.
The fact that this one also seems function also with WW Silvertips and shoot them just as well as my .380 Model M is icing on the cake. When cleaning it at home, I noticed the barrel looked like it was brand new with no signs of use. Unbelievable for a pistol made 69 years ago. Anyway, no big deal, just wanted to share the 'new gun' thing with the crew.
Parkerized and made in mid 1944 during WWII, marked "US Property", so was a general officers pistol, and near the end of production. This is in the best conditon of any I"ve seen in quite a while, so I was a happy guy having found it for a mere pittance from a fellow eager for a new shotgun. The thing is almost new inside and out, and shows almost no use whatever.
While out with my Cooper 20VT working up new loads, I tested the little gun on a deer skull out in the desert at 7 yards with 73gr FMJ ammo that came with the pistol to test function and accuracy.......again I was not disappointed:
If you've seen any Humphry Bogert movies, you've most likely seen him with one of these little beauties, as as Phillip Marlowe, he always carried one, and usually had one in most of his other movies too. They were the most favored pocket pistol of the era, and even John Dillinger had one on him when he was shot outside the Biograph theater in Chigaco in 1933.
The fact that this one also seems function also with WW Silvertips and shoot them just as well as my .380 Model M is icing on the cake. When cleaning it at home, I noticed the barrel looked like it was brand new with no signs of use. Unbelievable for a pistol made 69 years ago. Anyway, no big deal, just wanted to share the 'new gun' thing with the crew.
Holy Cow Rick! What a score!!!! Can't wait to see it in person. Gary
