With the reproduction Thompson guns and "retro" 1911's popping up for sale it makes me wonder why some bright boy doesn't turn a 1903 over to a Filipino gun factory and make some reproductions for those of us who aren't collectors but would like to own a historical design but aren't made of money.
I don't know how you keep running across these little jewels Tam. My only semi recent find was a Colt pre-Python, i.e. 4" Blued Colt 357 Model, circa 1955 or so. Yes, it has the famous DA/SA trigger pull from that time frame.
I have a local guy who sells used carpet samples, they're like 1' and 2' squares used by the Empire Carpet guys. Awesome gun cleaning/gun photography "mats". And when they get soaked with Hoppes I just toss 'em out. I bet you can find a local carpet store that does the same. I love them for the range, and often leave extras there for others to use.
"Is it just me, or does the barrel on the 1903 look longer than normal?"
It's not just you. Notice how the slide serrations look odd, too? That's a very early, or "Type I" 1903, made in the first part of 1904.
The slide serrations were plunge-milled up the middle of 1905, and all Type I's, through the latter part of 1908, had 4" barrels instead of the 3.75" barrels on the newer Type II-III-IV-V guns.
Both mine are Type I's: a 1904-dated one, and the pretty one was made in 1905.
Odysseus: I have often thought the same thing. I go one further with it though. I think some enterprising soul should update the design a bit so that more modern materials and production equiptment can be used. Then, bump the thing up to a 9mm. Frankly, I'm not an engineer so I have no idea if it's even possible or not, but it sure would be sweet.
It seems to me that new firearms these days, while perfectly serviceable (most of them anyway), seem to lack a certian feeling of craftmanship that you find in these old guns.
I wish we had found my dads .25 auto after he passed away. Never did. I suspect it was lifted by one of his *friends* at the American Legion post where he had his heart attack, and they knew he carried it.
@mikee: I think you are right, the 1908 version of the 1903 was in .380 ACP, but I don't think the vest pocket model was ever made in that caliber by Colt. That being said, I'm no expert.
@Tam: I didn't notice the extra length or the slide serrations on the 1903, but I did notice the pin underneath the muzzle end of the barrel. What is up with that?
Stuart, they'd probably have to redesign to a tilting-lock barrel to get it to handle 9mm; it being a straight blowback you could probably make it work with 9mm, but you'd have to use a ungodly-strong recoil spring.
Hmmm... Shorten the barrel a touch, better sights, a click on & off safety, that'd still be a very sweet pocket pistol. Could use a aluminum frame for lighter weight... Oooh! that pistol in .22lr!
Clay: They show up at gunshows, but if you're really interested in accuracy, that barrel is thick enough that a good gunsmith can silver solder in a button-rifled liner. Will probably cost more than a new barrel.
The 03 was never intended to be a long distance shooter.
Nice. My first gun is a 1908 Pocket Hammerless in .380ACP. Mine was made around 1915, according to the serial number.The guy I bought it from re-blued it, so it's a shooter :)
Since I still haven't gotten around to finishing that Arms Room post, here's another photo I took for it.
Funny thing is, they all look alike to me. ; )
ReplyDeleteShame on me, I only own one of the three. Sad.
ReplyDeleteI'm shocked you put them on concrete. All my gun porn is on beige carpet.
ReplyDeleteBram,
ReplyDeleteEven though there wasn't much finish left to hurt on two of 'em, I still laid them down very gently. :)
I'm looking forward to that Arms Room post now.
ReplyDeleteI just wrote about the Spanish-built and French-issued "Ruby" pistol and was interested to find out the connection between it and the Browning 1903.
Awwwww...they're cute. Like pistols, only smaller. What are they going to be when they grow up?
ReplyDelete;-)
With the reproduction Thompson guns and "retro" 1911's popping up for sale it makes me wonder why some bright boy doesn't turn a 1903 over to a Filipino gun factory and make some reproductions for those of us who aren't collectors but would like to own a historical design but aren't made of money.
ReplyDeleteOld pistols make me happy.
ReplyDeleteA recent Tom Clancy novel had a Russian KGB agent (hot redhead female) carry a 1908 in her garter. The 1908 was in .380ACP, which I found odd.
ReplyDeleteWas Clancy right, or did he get sloppy here? Was there a baby Browning or a Colt 1908 vest pocket in .380ACP?
And yes, the gun was a Vest Pocket type, not the Colt Model 1908 Hammerless in .380ACP.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how you keep running across these little jewels Tam. My only semi recent find was a Colt pre-Python, i.e. 4" Blued Colt 357 Model, circa 1955 or so. Yes, it has the famous DA/SA trigger pull from that time frame.
ReplyDeleteI have a local guy who sells used carpet samples, they're like 1' and 2' squares used by the Empire Carpet guys. Awesome gun cleaning/gun photography "mats". And when they get soaked with Hoppes I just toss 'em out. I bet you can find a local carpet store that does the same. I love them for the range, and often leave extras there for others to use.
ReplyDeleteIs it just me, or does the barrel on the 1903 look longer than normal?
ReplyDeleteWe are still hoping for Tam to kick the Arms Room into publishable shape, perhaps supplemented with some photographs by Oleg Volk.
ReplyDeleteLarge format coffee table book for your wookie room.
What? you don't have a wookie room?
I like the carpet mats too. I put Hoppe's on them during high 'air pollution' days in Lo California. Beats the heck out of air freshener.
ReplyDeletegunningtx,
ReplyDelete"Is it just me, or does the barrel on the 1903 look longer than normal?"
It's not just you. Notice how the slide serrations look odd, too? That's a very early, or "Type I" 1903, made in the first part of 1904.
The slide serrations were plunge-milled up the middle of 1905, and all Type I's, through the latter part of 1908, had 4" barrels instead of the 3.75" barrels on the newer Type II-III-IV-V guns.
Both mine are Type I's: a 1904-dated one, and the pretty one was made in 1905.
Odysseus: I have often thought the same thing. I go one further with it though. I think some enterprising soul should update the design a bit so that more modern materials and production equiptment can be used. Then, bump the thing up to a 9mm. Frankly, I'm not an engineer so I have no idea if it's even possible or not, but it sure would be sweet.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that new firearms these days, while perfectly serviceable (most of them anyway), seem to lack a certian feeling of craftmanship that you find in these old guns.
s
I wish we had found my dads .25 auto after he passed away. Never did. I suspect it was lifted by one of his *friends* at the American Legion post where he had his heart attack, and they knew he carried it.
ReplyDelete@mikee: I think you are right, the 1908 version of the 1903 was in .380 ACP, but I don't think the vest pocket model was ever made in that caliber by Colt. That being said, I'm no expert.
ReplyDelete@Tam: I didn't notice the extra length or the slide serrations on the 1903, but I did notice the pin underneath the muzzle end of the barrel. What is up with that?
Stuart, they'd probably have to redesign to a tilting-lock barrel to get it to handle 9mm; it being a straight blowback you could probably make it work with 9mm, but you'd have to use a ungodly-strong recoil spring.
ReplyDeleteHmmm... Shorten the barrel a touch, better sights, a click on & off safety, that'd still be a very sweet pocket pistol. Could use a aluminum frame for lighter weight... Oooh! that pistol in .22lr!
Old Windways,
ReplyDeleteThat's the pin that retains the plunger for the barrel bushing.
Any ideas on getting a barrel for a 1903 .32ACP? I have one but the barrel is really bad.
ReplyDeleteClay: They show up at gunshows, but if you're really interested in accuracy, that barrel is thick enough that a good gunsmith can silver solder in a button-rifled liner. Will probably cost more than a new barrel.
ReplyDeleteThe 03 was never intended to be a long distance shooter.
Wedding dresses? I tuned into Tam's place and got AoS with all the robot spam?
ReplyDeletePlus, no Frommer Stop. This can't be the right place. :)
Oh d*mn you Bubblehead, I wanted to say that! But the timezones got me.
ReplyDeleteWV = fress. The stress of trying to be first.
Anon 2:50,
ReplyDeleteSorry, I have to sleep sometimes, and so the poor drones in the Shanghai spam sweatshops manage to sneak one through.
Nice. My first gun is a 1908 Pocket Hammerless in .380ACP. Mine was made around 1915, according to the serial number.The guy I bought it from re-blued it, so it's a shooter :)
ReplyDelete