HISTORY
The revolver and the lever-action rifle may have tamed the West, but by 1903 they were being retired in favor of more modern designs. Especially in big Eastern cities, consumers, law enforcement, and lawbreakers wanted a more compact handgun. John Browning saw this coming and is known for designing the first reliable compact auto-loading pistol. His design was smaller than the competition while remaining safe to conceal. Colt bought the design and began marketing it that year. It was a radically simple design then and remains so today.
Popular from the start, 570,000 were made from 1903 to 1945. Law enforcement loved it for being concealable and reliable. So did gangsters and criminals: Bonnie Parker, Al Capone, and John Dillinger all carried the Colt hammerless when arrested or finished off in a final gunfight. Later, Parkerized versions were issued to generals such as Patton and Eisenhower.
Related: Colt 1903 – From Portland to Pascagoula in 111 Years
MY IMPRESSIONS
Obtained from the certified used vault of Guns.com, this gun is solid. It reminds me of a 1911 auto pistol but much smaller. The grip extends 3.5 inches below the frame, leaving my pinky finger exposed. This is not a disadvantage and keeps the gun small. This Colt feels a bit heavy toward the muzzle as I hold it, and the tiny sights are tough to see. It is not a target pistol but is highly pointable.
This is a newer production gun with a serial number over 500,000. Probably manufactured in the 1940s, it was meant for consumer use, not military. Metal-to-metal fit and external finish are excellent. I expect this from an early Colt-produced gun. Grips are checkered hardwood with the distinctive Rampant Colt logo medallion insert. That is classy!
FEATURES
John Browning’s design is meant to be safe. There are three safeties built into the pistol. First is the external lever on the left side frame that locks the trigger and slide at once. It also serves as a slide hold open and slide release. Next is the grip safety which must be squeezed to enable the trigger to fire a round. Thirdly, the pistol will not fire with the magazine removed even if there is a round in the chamber. What this all means is that the 1903 Colt could be carried in a pocket without being discharged accidentally.
Despite the safety features, this is a simple pistol to load and fire. Insert the steel magazine holding eight rounds of .32 ACP ammo, rack the slide, and squeeze the trigger. Serrations on the rear of the slide aid in my grip.
The sights are minimal and difficult to see. The rear sight is a simple notch dovetailed into the slide and windage adjustable. The front is a low-profile rounded blade. Both are snag-free. Notice the external extractor and generous ejection port. This gun should be reliable.
In production for over 40 years, I have seen the condition and pricing vary greatly. This pistol is a late model in excellent condition, making it a Type V. With over half a million of these guns produced, pricing can vary from $600 to $3,500. This one has seen very little use, despite being at least 70 years old!
SPECIFICATIONS
- Weight: 1.5 pounds
- Overall Length: 6.75 inches
- Width: .875 inches
- Barrel: 3.75 inches
- Magazine: Steel eight-round capacity
- Trigger: 4 pounds, 12 ounces
- Sight radius: 5 inches
- Safeties: Manual lever, grip safety, and magazine disconnect safety
- Caliber: .32 ACP
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Used Price: Varies with condition – $600 to $3,500
SHOOTING TIME!
Area 51 is sunny and warm today with a steel target and a few root beer jugs waiting to be deflated. This is a close-range defensive pistol, so targets are set at about 10 yards. Reliability is good as I place eight rounds on the steel plate. All hit center and empties are ejected smartly. Time to reload. I notice that the all-steel magazine has a stiff spring that resists each round placed in it. That is quality! The 1903 Colt is collectible, famous, and was built to last. I am shooting 73-grain full metal jacket Fiocchi ammo today that has proven reliable in other guns I have tested.
The first 2-liter jug targeted surprised me by exploding violently! I would have expected a 9mm round to blow that bottle up, but not a .32 ACP. Who says this is not a self-defense gun? All three 2-liter bottles explode as if hit by a bigger round. Even headshots on the steel plate are possible, despite the minimal sights. Recoil is very light. I can fire quickly and accurately. Although small, its weight and checkered walnut grips help me control it. No jams or failures of any kind were encountered in today’s test.
PROS & CONS
