What is a good Colt 1903 Reference book?

[Flamingo]

I am starting to become interested in getting a Colt Pocket Hammerless 1903. Is there a good reference book on them?

EDIT: Added clarification

[AmericanIcon]

I assume you mean the 1903 Pocket Hammerless?

I have a 1903 Pocket Hammer in .38 ACP, and it is essentially a smaller Colt 1902.

That model is much more rare and harder to find parts/info for. The 1903 Pocket Hammerless is a much easier beast to find info for. Hopefully someone else here is more of an expert on that model than I am.

[Cheap Shot]

https://www.amazon.com/Colt-Pocket-Hammerless-Automatic-Pistols/dp/B000AQS8EO

https://www.coltforum.com/threads/books-on-the-hammerless-pistol.393482/

Hope this helps

[Flamingo]

https://www.amazon.com/Colt-Pocket-Hammerless-Automatic-Pistols/dp/B000AQS8EO

https://www.coltforum.com/threads/books-on-the-hammerless-pistol.393482/

Hope this helps

Thanks! I will need to find a copy that isn't 600.00.

[Half Moon]

Thanks! I will need to find a copy that isn't 600.00.

$60 I would maybe consider. $600 not so much.

I haven't seen much in print. Think I might have somewhere a slender photostat type journal thing I found at a gunshow back in the 90's (sitting there at the table with all the repro army manuals and such. Every show has one...). There is a lot of good reference material online though. Anything in particular you're looking to learn or find?

[Malamute]

I am starting to become interested in getting a Colt Pocket Hammerless 1903. Is there a good reference book on them?

EDIT: Added clarification


I will make a suggestion if looking on gunbroker. Look under automatic pistols, then colt, then the caliber, 32 auto. I get more results that way than looking for the model. Try every variation on the caliber also, one showed 32 rimfire, which is incorrect, but could be the sort of thing that could slip through the cracks for many people.

[Flamingo]

$60 I would maybe consider. $600 not so much.

I haven't seen much in print. Think I might have somewhere a slender photostat type journal thing I found at a gunshow back in the 90's (sitting there at the table with all the repro army manuals and such. Every show has one...). There is a lot of good reference material online though. Anything in particular you're looking to learn or find?

I want to be able to distinguish between the different types. I THINK I want Type IV or Type V. I do know that I want a shooter grade vs a collector grade gun.

[Malamute]

I want to be able to distinguish between the different types. I THINK I want Type IV or Type V. I do know that I want a shooter grade vs a collector grade gun.


Im not familiar with the variations other than the earliest vs later. Ive had 2 in the distant past and regret trading them off.

Theres some info about variations by type here http://www.coltautos.com/ModelMci.htm

The Colt forum is also a good place to look or ask questions. Id like to get another one day, perhaps ignorance of the differences is bliss, I just look for decent mechanical shape and not too terribly bad finish, and reasonable price when I look on gunbroker.

[Half Moon]

I want to be able to distinguish between the different types. I THINK I want Type IV or Type V. I do know that I want a shooter grade vs a collector grade gun.

Here's an article with a decent summary of the types:

https://www.unblinkingeye.com/Guns/1903C/1903c.html

My personal preference is for the Type III without the magazine disconnect. As a practical matter Type III forward has better parts availability including new barrels being made and available.

[Robinson]

However you plan to use your 1903 when you get one, be aware that none of the originals are drop-safe. The more recent version made by US Armament Corp supposedly is.

[RevolverRob]

However you plan to use your 1903 when you get one, be aware that none of the originals are drop-safe. The more recent version made by US Armament Corp supposedly is.

Yes and no.

The late Type III and all Type IV models have a half-cock notch and inertia firing pin. All US Armament Corp has done is deepen the half-cock notch a bit and add a heavier firing pin spring. The latter is a simple call to Wolff. The former, I would bet you could fit the US Armament Co. hammer if you could get one. Otherwise, fitting a later Type IV hammer, firing pin, and firing pin spring is (supposedly) possible for all models.

[Robinson]

The late Type III and all Type IV models have a half-cock notch and inertia firing pin.

Thanks for clarifying that.

[Malamute]

Yes and no.

The late Type III and all Type IV models have a half-cock notch and inertia firing pin. All US Armament Corp has done is deepen the half-cock notch a bit and add a heavier firing pin spring. The latter is a simple call to Wolff. The former, I would bet you could fit the US Armament Co. hammer if you could get one. Otherwise, fitting a later Type IV hammer, firing pin, and firing pin spring is (supposedly) possible for all models.


Do you know if the later parts drop into earlier guns if one had the later parts in hand?

[RevolverRob]

Do you know if the later parts drop into earlier guns if one had the later parts in hand?

My understand is they may/may not drop-in but that not much fitting is required for the hammer at least. I haven't looked closely enough at the firing pins to know for sure, that looks drop in based on the schematics.

Numrich only lists later type hammers with the half-cock notch. And from what I've read it's a fairly minor job to retrofit.

[Joe in PNG]

I'll note that the reassembly of a 1903 frame can be an... interesting process.

[Half Moon]

I'll note that the reassembly of a 1903 frame can be an... interesting process.

Any particular gotchas to note? My wife bought a third one at a gun show recently. The trigger stirrup is slightly bent and creating issues with mag insertion. I could just bend it but was figuring on buying a replacement from Numrich and outright replacing it. Never needed to tear one down that far though.

[Joe in PNG]

Any particular gotchas to note? My wife bought a third one at a gun show recently. The trigger stirrup is slightly bent and creating issues with mag insertion. I could just bend it but was figuring on buying a replacement from Numrich and outright replacing it. Never needed to tear one down that far though.

Trying to get all the bits that connect to the hammer lined up proper may take a bit or a lot longer than one may think is logically possible. I've only done it once, and am in no hurry to do it again.