In House Shipping:
Make: Colt
Model: 1903, Type III Pocket Hammerless
Serial Number: 452164
Year of Manufacture: 1925 (https://colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .32 ACP (7.65mm Browning)
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto Pistol with Removable Magazine
Barrel Length: 3 3/4”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a short rounded blade fixed to the front of the slide. The rear sight is a “U” notch dovetailed into the rear of the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered hard rubber with “COLT” in a banner near the tops and a Rampant Colt logo in the bottom half of the grips. Originally black, the grips are going to a brown color, more notable on the right panel. The grips otherwise have only a few minor marks. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good Plus condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original, matching slide.
Bore Condition: The bore is gray with sharp rifling. There is light erosion scattered through the bore with infrequent minor pitting. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 6+ out of 10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 87% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is some light wear on the left slide and frame flats. There are scattered spots of minor surface oxidation. There are some light nicks, scuffs, and scratches. The action shows light operational wear. The screw head is lightly tool marked with a strong slot. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good Condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this handgun. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with two vintage original Colt 8-round magazines, one being an early “two tone” partially blued version, and the other being a slightly later fully blued version. Both are stamped “CAL. 32 / COLT” on the bottom floorplates.
Our Assessment: The Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless semi-automatic pistol was designed by legendary firearms inventor John Moses Browning, and was the first of the Colt concealed hammer models, followed by the M-1908 in .380 ACP. Despite the “hammerless” title, the M-1903 and M-1908 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 This allowed the weapon to be carried in and withdrawn from a pocket quickly and smoothly without snagging. A favorite among detectives, everyday civilians, policemen, and gangsters alike, including such famous outlaws as Bonnie Parker and John Dillinger, a total of 572,215 Colt Model 1903s were produced before manufacture ceased in 1945. It served as the US Army’s General Officer pistol from the 1940s until being replaced by the M15 in the 1970s, and was also issued to US Office of Strategic Services (OSS) operatives for their “cloak and dagger” missions in occupied Europe during WW2.
This Colt M-1903 Type III Pocket Hammerless Semi-Auto Pistol was made in 1925 and is in Very Good Condition. It features a 3.75” barrel, 87% of its original, elegant blued finish, classic “COLT” banner and Rampant Colt checkered hard rubber grips that have started to brown, strong mechanics, a gray bore with sharp rifling (there’s light erosion scattered and infrequent minor pitting), and two vintage original Colt 8-round magazines, one being an early “two tone” partially blued version, and the other being a slightly later fully blued version. Lastly, this pistol comes from the personal collection of inventor, founder, and President of Universal Firearms, Abe Seiderman, and should be of additional interest to collectors for that ownership lineage.