Colt - The Firearms Forum

merc · 01-24-2004, 03:35 PM

Hi guys
I was up at the trading post today and saw this little .25 cal Colt.
The tag on it said Colt 1903.
I thought the 1903 was bigger and although I think I know a lot about guns I do not claim to know everything and certainly am no expert. I figured It must have come in 2 models (a .32 and a .25)
After I get home with it all the books I have, and serial number references, and web sites, etc confirm my thoughts.
I think this is a model 1908, made in 1919.
Does anyone know if the model 1903was made small in the .25 cal. and looks like a model 1908?
Or would you guess I have a model 1908?
That brings me to the next question.
If they sold it as a Colt, model 1903 and I bought it as a Colt, model 1903, what do I put in my bound book? model 1908?

gamachinist · 01-24-2004, 08:46 PM

I'm 99.9 % certain it's a model 1908,but I was wrong a week or so ago about something and my confidence in knowing it all is severely shaken

Now as for this:
"If they sold it as a Colt, model 1903 and I bought it as a Colt, model 1903, what do I put in my bound book? model 1908?"
That's is one of those many shades of gray areas the ATF is well known for.
My guess would be to correctly ID it in your book with a footnote about the previous mismarked model number.The serial number being correct is a bigger deal to most fed's anyway.
This isn't as big a nightmare as the new gun a dealer got with the wrong serial number recorded from the box,not the gun.I don't recall what Wally had to do about that,but I'm sure it had to sit in the safe until it was straightened out.

Hope this helps,Robert.

merc · 01-25-2004, 05:47 AM

Thanks G
that is pretty much what I figured.
I also got a reply on another post that the 1908 model N was only made in .25cal while the 1903 model M was only made in .32 and a 1908, model M (looks like the 1903) was .380

Ilisted it as a 1908, because that it what it is.
I also made a note that the sales receipt (which I also keep) is written as a 1903
Like you said the ser. number on the gun matches the receipt, and that tells the story.

njretcop · 04-27-2004, 07:40 PM

I am a collector of the Colt Model 1903 pocket hammerless guns.

I own several in each caliber, 32; 380; and 38acp.

The little 25 is indeed a model 1908.

One of the greatest pistols ever made. Some of them are 90 years old and still fire every time.

01-24-2004, 03:35 PM	#1
merc V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Pelham, NH Posts: 309	Colt Hi guys I was up at the trading post today and saw this little .25 cal Colt. The tag on it said Colt 1903. I thought the 1903 was bigger and although I think I know a lot about guns I do not claim to know everything and certainly am no expert. I figured It must have come in 2 models (a .32 and a .25) After I get home with it all the books I have, and serial number references, and web sites, etc confirm my thoughts. I think this is a model 1908, made in 1919. Does anyone know if the model 1903was made small in the .25 cal. and looks like a model 1908? Or would you guess I have a model 1908? That brings me to the next question. If they sold it as a Colt, model 1903 and I bought it as a Colt, model 1903, what do I put in my bound book? model 1908? __________________ Merc Living without Liberty is not Living -->

01-24-2004, 08:46 PM	#2
gamachinist V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Locust Grove GA Posts: 213	I'm 99.9 % certain it's a model 1908,but I was wrong a week or so ago about something and my confidence in knowing it all is severely shaken Now as for this: "If they sold it as a Colt, model 1903 and I bought it as a Colt, model 1903, what do I put in my bound book? model 1908?" That's is one of those many shades of gray areas the ATF is well known for. My guess would be to correctly ID it in your book with a footnote about the previous mismarked model number.The serial number being correct is a bigger deal to most fed's anyway. This isn't as big a nightmare as the new gun a dealer got with the wrong serial number recorded from the box,not the gun.I don't recall what Wally had to do about that,but I'm sure it had to sit in the safe until it was straightened out. Hope this helps,Robert. Last edited by gamachinist; 01-24-2004 at 08:46 PM..

01-25-2004, 05:47 AM	#3
merc V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Pelham, NH Posts: 309	Thanks G that is pretty much what I figured. I also got a reply on another post that the 1908 model N was only made in .25cal while the 1903 model M was only made in .32 and a 1908, model M (looks like the 1903) was .380 Ilisted it as a 1908, because that it what it is. I also made a note that the sales receipt (which I also keep) is written as a 1903 Like you said the ser. number on the gun matches the receipt, and that tells the story. __________________ Merc Living without Liberty is not Living

04-27-2004, 07:40 PM	#4
njretcop Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 1,537	I am a collector of the Colt Model 1903 pocket hammerless guns. I own several in each caliber, 32; 380; and 38acp. The little 25 is indeed a model 1908. One of the greatest pistols ever made. Some of them are 90 years old and still fire every time. __________________ Charlie