Colt 1903 Type IV 32 ACP Semi-Auto Pistol 1926 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,555.00
LSB#: 190621JR03
Make: Colt
Model: Model 1903 Type IV Pocket Hammerless
Serial Number: 467222
Year of Manufacture: 1926 (https://colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .32 A.C.P. (7.65mm )
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 right side of the slide is marked “COLT AUTOMATIC / CALIBRE 32 RIMLESS SMOKELESS”, the bottom of hte slide is marked “467222”. The left side of the frame is marked “467222”. The left front of the trigger guard is marked with a “VP” in a triangle and “R”, the right front is marked “48”.
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 rounded-top “U” notch dovetailed into the rear of the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two piece checkered walnut panels with silver-colored Colt medallions at their tops. The left panel has only minor handling wear with a few scattered light marks. The right panel has more notable wear, heaviest at the bottom-rear. Outside of this worn area on the right panel, the checkering is generally well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: The finish is original.
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 90% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges, more on the slide than the frame. The slide has some scattered light scratches and scuffs, more on the left flat than the right and a mark through the finish on the top forward of the ejection port. The frame has light wear at the front of the dust cover on each side and on the bottom-front of the trigger guard. The grip safety has light finish wear and some scattered light scratches with a very faint patina forming in the worn areas. The trigger has light operational wear and there is minor handling wear on the safety’s checkering. The screw head is tool marked with a strong slot. The pin heads have some finish loss but are unmarred. The markings are clear. Overall, this handgun rates in about Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The safety does not lock the slide back at its forward notch and the slide will fall forward when the safety lever is released. Otherwise, the action functions correctly. The slide is tight to the frame. It has a grip safety, a manual safety and a magazine disconnect. 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 maroon cardboard Colt box with manual and a total of two blued 7 round magazines with the top ¾” unfinished. The box has a different serial number than the pistol written on the bottom but does have a model-matching label. The box has scattered light wear, most notable at edges and corners, in about Very Good condition. The magazines are each marked “CAL. 32 / COLT” on their floorplates but have different feed lip designs (please see photos). The magazines have minor operational wear with intact feed lips and strong springs, 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 IV Pocket Hammerless semi-auto made in 1926. This pistol is in about Very Good condition with 90% of its original finish remaining, a fantastic bore and has strong mechanics other than that the safety cannot be used to lock the slide to the rear, falling as soon as the lever is released. It should appeal to collectors and shooters alike. If the collectors don’t pay enough attention, the shooters will certainly be interested in it as a carry gun. It may be a little larger than some of the .32 ACP pistols being made today, but the extra barrel length just gives you a better sight radius and the light crisp single action trigger pull will make it easy to stay on target. 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 but CANNOT 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 sectiondoes not apply to out of state residents.