Colt Automatic Pistol and Revolver Information - 25 years of Service to Colt Firearms Collectors

COLT MODELS

Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless .32 ACP & Model 1908 Pocket Hammerless .380 ACP - Factory Engraved Examples

Colt 1903 .32 ACP Serial Number 00 - Blued finish, master engraved and shipped February 6, 1908 to Col. C.F. Robinson, president of Colt.  This pistol featured a Wolf's head on the left side of the frame and various presidential portraits on the top of the slide, behind the front sight and on the right side of the frame.  This pistol is featured in the most recent edition of The Book of Colt Engraving, by R.L. Wilson.

 

Colt 1908 Pocket Hammerless .380 ACP serial number 8533 - An early factory engraved and factory inscribed Colt 1908 caliber .380 ACP blued finish with Type II mother-of-pearl grips. Note the presence of factory monogram below. Factory letter confirms all features of this one gun shipment on March 19, 1912 to J.R. Beno.

Colt Factory Ledger Entry with special order specifications documenting the blue finish, mother of pearl stocks, engraving coverage (1 1/4) and notation to engrave on rear end of slide, monogram of the letters J.R.B.

Colt 1908 Pocket Hammerless .380 ACP serial number 8533 - Factory letter confirms all features of this one gun shipment on March 19, 1912 to J.R. Beno.

 

Colt 1908 caliber .380 ACP serial number 8533 - Factory engraved and factory inscribed "JRB" monogram on rear of frame. This monogram was done by the Cuno Helfricht shop.

Colt 1908 Pocket Hammerless .380 ACP serial number 8533 - An early factory engraved and factory inscribed Colt 1908 caliber .380 ACP blued finish with Type II mother-of-pearl grips right side.

 

 

Private Collection

Factory engraved Colt 1903 caliber .32 ACP serial number 89769 Type II (with separate barrel bushing) - Shipped on Jan 1910 with blued finish and mother of pearl grips.  Gun also has original box with "ENGRAVED" end label.

Factory engraved Model M .32 serial number 89769 - right side

Factory engraved Model M .32 serial number 89769 - rear of frame and backstrap.

Box with "ENGRAVED" and "PEARL BLUE" labels for Model M .32 serial number 89769.

Inside of original box for Colt 1903 .32 ACP serial number 89769 with original hang tag.

Factory "A" engraved Colt 1903 .32 ACP serial number 97440 - pistol was shipped blued, engraved with hard rubber grips.  An unusual example as it contains all early Type III features even though it's in the Type II serial number range (approx. 72,000 - 105,000).  Pistols in this range typically have a 3 3/4" barrel with separate barrel bushing. Factory letter indicates factory engraving, shipped Norvell Shapleigh Hardware Co., St. Louis, MO, August 1, 1912, 50 guns in shipment.

 

Factory "A" engraved Colt 1903 .32 ACP caliber serial number 97440 right side.

Factory "A" engraved Colt 1903 .32 ACP serial number 118197 - pistol was shipped in 1913, blued, factory engraved with factory mother of pearl grips.  This is an early Type III variation with integrated barrel bushing.

Factory "A" engraved Colt 1903 .32 ACP serial number 118197 (right side)

Factory "A" engraved Colt 1903 .32 ACP serial number 118197 - top of slide (note no engraving around the front sight)

Factory "A" engraved Colt 1903 .32 ACP serial number 118197 - engraving on rear of slide and frame.

Factory "A" engraved Colt 1903 .32 ACP serial number 118197 - engraving on front grip strap.

Factory "A" engraved Colt 1903 .32 ACP serial number 118197 - engraving on trigger guard.

Factory "A" engraved Colt 1903 .32 ACP serial number 118197 - muzzle (note fire blue recoil spring plug.)


Private Collection

Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless .32 ACP serial number 296951 - Master engraved by William H. Gough, originally factory gold plated.

Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless .32 serial number 491314 – Factory engraved "A", and factory inscribed "K-C" on left side of frame, blued finish, mother of pearl grips.  Produced February 23, 1927 (see letter below).

Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless .32 serial number 491314 (right side)

Factory "A" engraved Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless .32 ACP serial number 492737 - A well traveled pistol which was a factory display piece shipped on "Loan Account" to the following destinations:  Wolf & Klar, Fort Worth, TX (6/5/28), Colt's Patent Fire Arms Mfg. Co., Camp Perry, Camp Perry, OH (8/14/29), Shreve & Barber, San Francisco, CA (3/11/31), Murta-Appleton & Co., Philadelphia, PA (2/19/32), Edwards & Walker Co., Portland, ME (3/10/32), Von Lengerke & Antoine, Chicago, IL (4/14/32) and sold to Von Lengerke & Antoine (8/15/34)

Factory "A" engraved Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless .32 ACP serial number 492737 (right side)

 

Factory Engraved Colt 1903 .32 ACP serial number 503095 - The factory letter confirms the engraving as Class "A" but does not list the mother of pearl grips.  This pistol was shipped on January 18, 1930 to Mr. Fred Moore at the Colt Armory in a single gun shipment and was processed on Colt Factory Order Number 17702/1.  The letter includes a remark:  "It is of interest to note that Mr. Fred Moore was employed by the Colt Company serving as Assistant Superintendent and later Superintendent of Machine Gun production.";

Model M .380 Factory Engraved and Silver Plated

Colt 1908 .380 ACP Factory "A" Engraved, Factory Silver Plated with Factory Colt mother-of-pearl grips serial number 68223 - Only a handful of .380s were silver plated, even fewer were silver plated and engraved.

- A very unique example with an unusual engraving pattern.  This work is believed to have been done by Colt factory master engraver Wilbur Glahn. This pistol has factory "B" coverage, but what makes it most unusual is the engraving treatment on seven areas of the finish. on these areas, the engraving is cut through the blue in order to give the gun the appearance of having engraved silver or platinum inlays.  This pistol is also fitted with beautiful period plain ivory grips.

The factory letter describes this pistol as having a blue finish, stocks not listed, factory engraved and shipped to Abercrombie & Fitch, May 11, 1933, New York, NY as a single gun shipment on Colt factory order number 12226. (see letter below)::

Colt 1908 .380 ACP Factory "A" engraved with Factory Colt mother-of-pearl grips shipped to Abercrombie & Fitch, NY, NY in 1941 - This was the second to the last factory engraved Model M .380 produced by Colt's.

 

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