Make: Colt

Model: 1903, Type IV Pocket Hammerless

Serial Number: 505012

Year of Manufacture: 1931 (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 genuine bone panels with silver-colored Colt medallions. There’s some minor discoloration, and there’s verdigris around the medallions. Otherwise, the grips show only light handling marks. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Fine Condition as not original to the gun.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Refinished at time of engraving. The slide is serial-matching.

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is some scattered light erosion in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 7 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 96% of its current metal finish. The finish is generally strong throughout. There are a couple spots of finish wear on the right slide flat under the ejection port. The action shows light operational wear. The screw head is tool marked with a strong slot. The markings are generally clear, the Rampant Colt on the slide is shallow and incomplete. Overall, this pistol is in Fine Condition as refinished.

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 fully blued 8-round magazine stamped “CAL. 32 / COLT” on the bottom floorplate.

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 This allowed the weapon to be carried in and withdrawn from a pocket quickly and smoothly without snagging.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 IV Pocket Hammerless Semi-Auto Pistol was made in 1931 and is in Fine Condition as refinished. The pistol has been beautifully custom engraved with full coverage in a foliate scroll pattern, and equipped with a handsome set of checkered genuine bone grips with silver-colored Colt medallions (the grips were almost certainly installed at the time of refinishing and engraving). It features a 3.75” barrel, 96% of its crisp new blued finish, strong mechanics, and a semi-bright bore with sharp rifling (there’s some scattered light erosion). 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.