In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Question on an old Colt 32 rimless auto
bagsjr
Member Posts: 42 ✭✭
Can someone tell me anything about this gun?
Serial #562819
Left side of slide reads - "Colt's PT.F.A.MFG.CO. HARTFORD,CT.USA
PATENTED APR.20,1897. DEC. 22, 1903
Right side reads - COLT AUTOMATIC CALIBRE 32 RIMLESS SMOKELESS
U.S. Property (on frame)
little "35" stamped on trigger guard
The original aluminum packaging (2 bags 1 for gun 1 for slides cleaner) says AUG 1960 MM B 1910 CLASS 1 and 2 LOT NO 302
I have original shipping box it came in also. Someone wrote in pencil on one of the bags " Colt 56.7/93 "
Beautiful unfired condition still has reminents of original packing grease.
I'd just like to know a bit about it and its approximate value. Not interested in selling it as it was my father's gun.
Thanks,
Bob.
Serial #562819
Left side of slide reads - "Colt's PT.F.A.MFG.CO. HARTFORD,CT.USA
PATENTED APR.20,1897. DEC. 22, 1903
Right side reads - COLT AUTOMATIC CALIBRE 32 RIMLESS SMOKELESS
U.S. Property (on frame)
little "35" stamped on trigger guard
The original aluminum packaging (2 bags 1 for gun 1 for slides cleaner) says AUG 1960 MM B 1910 CLASS 1 and 2 LOT NO 302
I have original shipping box it came in also. Someone wrote in pencil on one of the bags " Colt 56.7/93 "
Beautiful unfired condition still has reminents of original packing grease.
I'd just like to know a bit about it and its approximate value. Not interested in selling it as it was my father's gun.
Thanks,
Bob.
Comments
Colt 1903. Nice little pistols
Being a collectible you should save all the wrappers.
I had a memorable experience with one. In the field overseas,our General sent one to me in parts to assemble and check out. After struggling to understand the parts, the mainspring was found to be broken. As I had small arms parts up to the 105mm recoilless rifle and 4.2 mortar, there was a lot of resource material to draw from. The spring was made from either a flat 50BMG or BAR spring, bent and rehardened with gasoline blow torches. After many hours of mistakes and sweat and with the General impatiently calling for his gun, it was together and working. When I sent for some ammo to test it, he asked what for.
When he found out, he said "I dont want any homemade springs in my gun." and sent down another one which was intact and not screwed with.
What a letdown after all that struggle.
Since then, I've never desired to own a 1903 Colt automatic.
I remember my dad saying something about Officer or General when referring to this gun.
When you say "It should be parkerized" do you mean this should be done now or it was parkerized when manufactured?
Thanks
Yes, the homemade spring worked and the gun cycled. Where it went is a good question. Neither came out of the 7th Div Ord Major Items unit or I might have snagged it. They did have a Colt Detective Special which I wasn't able to talk them out of and a case of Springfield 03A4s which I was.
Horse trading took place at all levels and with the nearby British Commonwealth Brigade.
One mobile unit had a captured Russian 2 1/2 ton truck on the books.
I remember my late father told me that in roughly 1960 he traded a skill saw and 11 dollars for this gun. He did say it belonged to a General. I think the son of the General traded it to my father if I remember his story correctly. Would be neat to trace its history.