Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless 32 manufactured in 1911 according to Colt’s serial number database. This pistol does show pitting and wear under the nickel finish. Comes as shown with a partial box of .32 ammunition.
Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless 32 manufactured in 1911 according to Colt’s serial number database. This pistol does show pitting and wear under the nickel finish. Comes as shown with a partial box of .32 ammunition.
The Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless in .32 ACP is a sleek, semi-automatic pistol designed by John Browning that was produced from 1903 to 1945. Widely popular among both civilians and law enforcement, the gun is noted for its concealed hammer, which prevents snagging on clothing for quick, smooth draws.
Design and features
Designer: John Moses Browning designed both the pistol and the .32 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) cartridge.
Action: The pistol operates on a simple, reliable blowback principle with a single-action, hammer-fired mechanism. The “hammerless” name is a misnomer, as the hammer is merely hidden within the frame.
Capacity: It has an 8-round magazine capacity and feeds from a detachable box magazine.
Safety features: For its time, the 1903 Pocket Hammerless was considered very safe to carry due to multiple safety mechanisms.
Grip safety: A spring-loaded safety on the backstrap prevents firing unless the pistol is held with a firm grip.
Manual safety: A thumb-operated lever on the frame locks the slide and trigger.
Magazine disconnect: Later variants included a magazine safety that prevents the pistol from firing when the magazine is removed, even if a round is in the chamber.
Finish and grips: The standard finish was a brushed blue, though some were nickel-plated. Grip panels were typically checkered hard rubber or walnut with the distinctive Rampant Colt logo
Variants
Colt manufactured approximately 570,000 of these pistols, and several types with minor changes were introduced.
Type I (1903–1908): This variant featured a 4-inch barrel and no magazine safety.
Type II (1908–1910): Barrel length was reduced to 3.75 inches.
Type III (1910–1926): The separate barrel bushing was replaced with an integrated lug.
Type IV (1926–1933): The magazine disconnect safety was added.
Type V (1933–1945): This type included improved military sights and was issued to U.S. officers.
History and legacy
Civilian market: The Model 1903 was popular with civilians for concealed carry.
Criminals and law enforcement: During the Prohibition era, the pistol was favored by gangsters like Al Capone and John Dillinger, as well as police officers.
U.S. military: A number of the pistols, often marked “U.S. PROPERTY,” were issued to U.S. general officers during World War II, including Dwight D. Eisenhower and George S. Patton. It was also a sidearm for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), a precursor to the CIA.
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