Description
Item Description
Bryant Ridge Auction Company is pleased to present this amazing semi-automatic pistol today for a penny start auction, this is the Colt 1908 Pocket Hammerless (Type IV)!
This police-issued pistol was one of the most in-demand pistols in one of the most dangerous cities in the 1930s. Since only 4,185 of these pistols were shipped from the Colt factory under contract to the Shanghai Municipal Police, this pistol is a rare find for the Colt auto collector.
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This police-issued pistol was one of the most in-demand pistols in one of the most dangerous cities in the 1930s. Since only 4,185 of these pistols were shipped from the Colt factory under contract to the Shanghai Municipal Police, this pistol is a rare find for the Colt auto collector.
Click here to view our other Live Auctions!
SPECIFICATIONS:
Manufacturer: Colt
Model: 1908 Pocket Hammerless (Type IV)
Serial: 109545
Date of Manufacture: 1932
Caliber: .380 ACP
Finish: Blue
Barrel Length: 3 3/4"
Optics/Sights: Blade front with Square notch rear
Stock/Grips: Checkered walnut with Colt medallions inlaid
Action: Semi-Auto
Markings: Standard / Right side frame stamped "SHANGHAI MUNICIPAL POLICE No 2432", Right side slide and ejector port stamped "2432".
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
The Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless is a .32 ACP caliber, self-loading, semi-automatic pistol designed by John Browning and built by Colt Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut. Despite the title "hammerless", the Model 1903 does have a hammer. The hammer is covered and hidden from view under the rear of the slide, this allows the pistol to be carried in and withdrawn from a pocket quickly and smoothly without snagging.
Approximately 570,000 Colt Pocket Hammerless pistols were produced from 1903 to 1945, in five different types. Some were issued to US Army and US Air Force general officers from World War II through the 1970s; these were replaced in 1972 with the RIA Colt M15 general officer's model, a compact version of the M1911A1. The Shanghai Municipal Police issued the M1908 to its officers in the 1920s and 1930s and it was a popular model with police in the United States such as the Boston Police Department.
In addition to lawful owners, many gangsters of the pre-World War II era favored the Model 1903 and Model 1908 because they were relatively small and easily concealed. It is said that Al Capone kept one in his coat pocket and Bonnie Parker used one to break Clyde Barrow out of jail after smuggling it into the jail by taping it to her thigh. Bank robber John Dillinger was carrying this model of pistol when he was shot by FBI agents outside the Biograph theater on July 22, 1934, and another famous bank robber, Willie Sutton, had one when he was captured by police in Brooklyn on February 18, 1952.
Between 1928 and 1938, Colt sent a total of 4185 pistols to the Shanghai Municipal Police (SMP), which were modified from the standard commercial M1908 in various ways. The grips were modified to access a staple-shaped lanyard ring at the left bottom rear of the grip. A screw was added on the left side of the frame to prevent the safety from being engaged accidentally. Also, the magazine disconnect was removed, and a key-shaped leaf spring was added on the left side of the slide. The safety block was installed, and the magazine disconnect was removed at the request of William Fairbairn, who was the head of the SMPD at the time.
Fairbairn had a lot of combat experience and thought that the factory safety was too small and difficult to operate under stress, so his officers carried their pistols with the chamber empty and would operate the slide if they needed to fire. There are several reasons for the spring-tab, from preventing jams to increasing accuracy. Similarly, there are multiple explanations for the unique witness holes on the magazine, perhaps the most plausible being that officers had been known to trade ammunition, replacing it in their magazines with fired cases so that they appeared loaded when turned in at the end of their shift. The witness holes on this magazine allow inspection of the primer and bullet for each round in the magazine.
This police-issued pistol was one of the most in-demand pistols in one of the most dangerous cities in the 1930s. Since only 4,185 of these pistols were shipped from the Colt factory under contract to the SMP, this pistol is a rare find for the Colt auto collector.
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Model: 1908 Pocket Hammerless (Type IV)
Serial: 109545
Date of Manufacture: 1932
Caliber: .380 ACP
Finish: Blue
Barrel Length: 3 3/4"
Optics/Sights: Blade front with Square notch rear
Stock/Grips: Checkered walnut with Colt medallions inlaid
Action: Semi-Auto
Markings: Standard / Right side frame stamped "SHANGHAI MUNICIPAL POLICE No 2432", Right side slide and ejector port stamped "2432".
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
The Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless is a .32 ACP caliber, self-loading, semi-automatic pistol designed by John Browning and built by Colt Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut. Despite the title "hammerless", the Model 1903 does have a hammer. The hammer is covered and hidden from view under the rear of the slide, this allows the pistol to be carried in and withdrawn from a pocket quickly and smoothly without snagging.
Approximately 570,000 Colt Pocket Hammerless pistols were produced from 1903 to 1945, in five different types. Some were issued to US Army and US Air Force general officers from World War II through the 1970s; these were replaced in 1972 with the RIA Colt M15 general officer's model, a compact version of the M1911A1. The Shanghai Municipal Police issued the M1908 to its officers in the 1920s and 1930s and it was a popular model with police in the United States such as the Boston Police Department.
In addition to lawful owners, many gangsters of the pre-World War II era favored the Model 1903 and Model 1908 because they were relatively small and easily concealed. It is said that Al Capone kept one in his coat pocket and Bonnie Parker used one to break Clyde Barrow out of jail after smuggling it into the jail by taping it to her thigh. Bank robber John Dillinger was carrying this model of pistol when he was shot by FBI agents outside the Biograph theater on July 22, 1934, and another famous bank robber, Willie Sutton, had one when he was captured by police in Brooklyn on February 18, 1952.
Between 1928 and 1938, Colt sent a total of 4185 pistols to the Shanghai Municipal Police (SMP), which were modified from the standard commercial M1908 in various ways. The grips were modified to access a staple-shaped lanyard ring at the left bottom rear of the grip. A screw was added on the left side of the frame to prevent the safety from being engaged accidentally. Also, the magazine disconnect was removed, and a key-shaped leaf spring was added on the left side of the slide. The safety block was installed, and the magazine disconnect was removed at the request of William Fairbairn, who was the head of the SMPD at the time.
Fairbairn had a lot of combat experience and thought that the factory safety was too small and difficult to operate under stress, so his officers carried their pistols with the chamber empty and would operate the slide if they needed to fire. There are several reasons for the spring-tab, from preventing jams to increasing accuracy. Similarly, there are multiple explanations for the unique witness holes on the magazine, perhaps the most plausible being that officers had been known to trade ammunition, replacing it in their magazines with fired cases so that they appeared loaded when turned in at the end of their shift. The witness holes on this magazine allow inspection of the primer and bullet for each round in the magazine.
This police-issued pistol was one of the most in-demand pistols in one of the most dangerous cities in the 1930s. Since only 4,185 of these pistols were shipped from the Colt factory under contract to the SMP, this pistol is a rare find for the Colt auto collector.
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Shipping Details
Handgun Standard Shipping $50.00
Long Gun Standard Shipping $65.00
We strive to ship orders within the close of the following business day after payment and documentation is received.
Payment Details
We accept all forms of Payment including Personal Check, Business Check, PO Money Orders, Certified Check, Etc.
Please note we place a 7 business day hold on shipment, for all non-certified payments.
Return Policy
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Additional Details
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