In House Shipping:
Make: Colt
Model: 1903, Type III Pocket Hammerless
Serial Number: 434492
Year of Manufacture: 1923 (https://colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .32 ACP
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. The grips have minor handling wear with only a few small marks. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Fine Plus Condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original, matching slide.
Bore Condition: The bore is gray. The rifling is well defined where not interrupted by erosion. There is scattered erosion and pitting in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 5 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 90% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. There is light handling wear, most notable in the grip safety. There are some scattered freckles with a couple spots of light surface oxidation. There are a few minor nicks 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 one vintage original Colt “two tone” partially blued 8-round magazine stamped “CAL. 32 / COLT” on the bottom floorplate, an original manual, and an original hinge-lid maroon cardboard Colt box with model matching label. The serial number on the bottom of the box has mostly worn away, but does not appear to match the pistol. The box shows moderate scattered wrinkling, bending, and scuffing throughout, though remains in fair shape.
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 1923 and is in Very Good Condition. It features a 3.75” barrel, 90% of its original, elegant blued finish, strong mechanics, a gray bore with some erosion and pitting, an original vintage Colt “two tone” magazine, an original manual, and an original maroon cardboard Colt box, all of which should make for a nice display. This is a neat example of the Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless, perfect for any collection.