Make: Colt

Model: 1903 Pocket Hammerless, Type III

Serial Number: 120299

Year of Manufacture: 1911 (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup/)

Caliber: .32 ACP (7.65mm Browning)

Action Type: Single Action Semi-Automatic 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 round-topped “U” notch dovetailed into the rear of the slide.

Stock Configuration and Condition: The grips are Type 2 checkered black hard rubber with “COLT” in a banner near the tops and a Rampant Colt logo over a stylized "C" 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, Fire-Blued Trigger, Safety & Extractor

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is some some minor erosion and stubborn copper fouling in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 8 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 90% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. There are scattered small nicks and scratches. There are infrequent spots of minor surface oxidation. The action shows light operational wear. The screw head is sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good-plus condition.

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

Box, Paperwork, and Accessories: This pistol comes with a single 8-round magazine and a Colt Archives letter which indicates that this pistol was made October 18 and shipped October 20, 1911 to Marshall Wells Hardware Company in Portland, Oregon as one of 30 guns of the same type in the shipment.

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 This allowed the weapon to be carried in and withdrawn from a pocket quickly and smoothly without snagging.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 fairly early Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless semi-auto made in 1911. It is a Type III which was updated with a bushing integral to the barrel. This pistol is in Very Good-plus condition with 90% of its original blued finish remaining, strong mechanics, and a good bore. This Type III Pocket Hammerless would make a nice addition to a collection of early Colt automatics. Good luck and happy bidding!