Colt 1903 redux: some dead horses aren't

Guns Magazine, June, 2005 by Jeff John

Some guns are timeless in design and function. The Colt 1911 is the foremost example, yet I've always thought the Colt 1903 Pocket was too. It hasn't been made since WWII, but Colt did make 572,215 1903 .32s and 138,009 1908 .380s before shelving the design. Although many of these guns are highly desirable collector's items and should be left in their existing state, there are many more rusting away with little or no finish and pitted outer metal still able to perform yeoman duty as a defensive gun.

The Colt's benefits include a flat, concealable shape and very reliable single-action mechanism with an enclosed hammer. The small, flat shape and rounded slide allows for a smooth draw and is just as concealable and easier to shoot than many contemporary pocket pistols. Most examples I've shot have been quite accurate, too, if you take your time and align the sights. Its key drawback is puny sights almost unusable by anyone with moderately poor or aging eyes.

Retired LAPD sergeant Chris Biller has always thought highly if the 1903, too. He's long been enamored of the design and its handling qualities and has quite a few exceptional examples in his collection. As owner of Greta's Guns in Simi Valley, California, he also has the opportunity to pick up the occasional "beater." Biller decided he'd like to pack one of these little guns and, as guns with little or no collector interest accumulated, he decided to improve the shootability of one for himself.

In conjunction with gunsmith Dean Wilkerson, Biller added a diminutive set of Tru-Dot 3-dot tritium night sights (the front neatly dovetailed into the slide), forward cocking serrations matching the rear serrations and checkered the frontstrap. The gun was bead blasted around the top of the slide and bottom of the frame and the flats were given a nice, even polish before bluing. A good set of reproduction hard rubber grips rounds out the package. A nice retro touch is the top inch or so of the magazine was left in the white, as were the early Colt's. The resulting gun generated quite a bit of interest among Biller's customers and a cottage industry was born. This version is called the Mk I and the first Mk II featuring more snag-free Novak-style sights has been completed. Wilkerson had a tough time finding sights to fit on the slide, considering how the limited dovetail space is underneath.

Accurate Lil' Pipsqueak

I knew the .32 ACP was an accurate round and the 1903 could shoot, but what a surprise it was to see how well this little gun did with a decent set of sights. During a 100-round session at the Angeles Shooting Ranges in Tujunga, California (800/499-4486, www.angelesranges.com), Winchester 71-grain FMJ flatnose ammo delivered a five-shot group of 2" with four shots going into 1 1/2" at 25 yards from a rest. Winchester Silvertips were also tried, but delivered a larger group of 3 1/2". The 60-grain load shot a little closer to point-of-aim, though. The FMJs shot almost a foot high, but the windage was right on. Considering the gun is generally going to be used at seven yards or a little more, this is outstanding accuracy.

Characteristically, the little Colt ate the 100 rounds without a hiccup. Winchester has replaced the old roundnose FMJ with a flatnose bullet of the same shape. That should add a little better shock in time of need. Winchester touts this load as a having a new, "improved accuracy bullet." I'd say so. Many pooh-pooh the .32 ACP, but if you have arthritic hands or are recoil shy, it is certainly reasonably high in the better-than-fingernails class of cartridges. A good mixed-fruit-pudding of eight hollowpoints and FMJs can be unloaded very quickly and accurately. Biller doesn't feel undefended by the little gun and I don't think I'd feel undefended either, after seeing how well it delivers its pills. I certainly have the confidence I could deliver the goods with the upgraded features.

1903 Pocket

Maker: Colt Pt. Firearms, Hartford, CT
(no longer in production)
Customized by: Greta's Guns
1224 Los Angeles Avenue, Simi Valley, CA 93065
(805) 520-4867, www.gretasguns.com

CUSTOM WORK:      Night sights; checkered
                  frontstrap; forward slide
                  serrations; sandblast edges,
                  polish flats and blue
ACTION TYPE:      Blowback semiautomatic
CALIBER:          .32 ACP
CAPACITY:         8 1
BARREL LENGTH:    3 3/4"
OVERALL LENGTH:   6 5/8"
WEIGHT:           1 pound 7 1/2 ounces
WIDTH:            1" (through the grips)
HEIGHT:           4 1/2"
FINISH:           Blue
SIGHTS:           Fixed 3-dot tritium
                  night sights
GRIPS:            Repro black plastic
BASE PRICE:       Your gun plus $250;
                  $600 as shown