Make: Charles Clement

Model: 1903 Type II

Serial Number: 10317

Year of Manufacture: 1906-1907

Caliber: .25 ACP (6.35mm Browning)

Action Type: Striker-Fired Blowback Semi-Automatic Pistol fed by Detachable Magazine

Barrel Length: 2 3/4"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade integral to the upper receiver housing. The rear sight is a "V"-notch integral to the top-rear of the upper receiver housing.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered black hard rubber with a "CC" monogram at their tops. 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 about Fine condition.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original, numbered parts match.

Bore Condition: The bore is light gray with sharp rifling. There is even minor erosion throughout the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 6-7/10.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 90% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. There are some light nicks, scuffs and small scratches. There is some minor oxidation, mostly on the bolt. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a single 8-round magazine. A leather holster is included.

Our Assessment: Charles Philibert Joseph Clement was a Belgian inventor, legislator, and even a knight. He got into gunmaking in the late 19th century, producing typical pinfire and rimfire revolvers common in Belgium at the time. It was not until toward the end of his career that he began to make autoloading pistols. In 1902, he purchased rights to a patent from Julien Warnant and began producing pistols. The earliest pistols were .32 caliber, followed soon by a model chambered for his own 5mm cartridge. Very shortly after the introduction of the .25 ACP, his 1903 model was adapted to this new cartridge. The design would be further altered in 1907 to make the pistol even smaller.

This Model 1903 Type II is quite scarce, with an estimated 2,300 produced in total before changing over to the Model 1907. It has an interesting magazine catch which is in the backstrap, with a small knob on the magazine floorplate for removal. The pistol is in good condition, quite good for its age of nearly 120 years. For collectors of early autoloading pistols, this is a scarce find and will display nicely in a collection. Please see our photos and good luck!