1908 25 Auto dependablity?

1188 Views 10 Replies 8 Participants Last post by blanchman, Jan 24, 2014

olman25

Discussion Starter · Jan 23, 2014

Hi all,
I'm new here, but I'm not new to guns. But, with that said, what kind of wear and tear are 1908 Hammerless 25 Autos take. I have 2 and one seems a little sloppy as far as the slide is concerned. Yes, this is a tough question to answer with out hands on the pistol, but how tough are these little 1911's? I have to think, even though my little gun shows sign of age and loss of bluing, but being a 25 auto, it would seem it would have to be shot a million times to wear this little guy out???
Thanks

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tedm

· #2 · Jan 23, 2014

I own more than a handful of these 1908 25's, many for over 25 years. Although I purchased them all in good shape internally and externally, and have put many rounds through most of them; I have never had one badly malfunction or break. Just the occasional failure to feed. Use to carry one in my tackle box at all times, but never caught a fish mean enough to use it on.

Fish Fishing Fish Recreation Recreational fishing

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1KPerDay

· #3 · Jan 23, 2014

FWIW This FN 1905/6 has never jammed, ever. Even when the magazine cracked at the feed lips. And as you can see it's not a safe queen. We've only shot factory ball through it though.

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Colt-SL

· #4 · Jan 23, 2014

Welcome to the Colt Forum! They are tough little guns with a well deserved good reputation for reliability and function.

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spacecoast1

· #5 · Jan 23, 2014

I have one that's 101 years old. A few years ago it had some stovepiping issues but I got a new firing pin spring and that cleaned it right up. It's very reliable.

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1KPerDay

· #6 · Jan 23, 2014 (Edited)

Spacecoast brings up a good point of which you may not be aware... on these pistols the tip of the striker/firing pin actually acts as the ejector, protruding from the breech face upon retraction of the slide and helping to pivot the empty case out to the right (assisted by the extractor of course). For this reason, 1. the spring needs to be in good condition or you may get the stovepipes spacecoast mentioned; and 2. you don't want to rapidly eject a live round from the chamber, as it might receive a sufficient blow to the primer to set it off out of battery. So be gentle if you are clearing the pistol.

You might already know that but just in case you weren't. I wasn't for many years. Luckily I never really had the need to remove a live round from the chamber, as I don't carry this pistol.

Also, a little nitpicking: it would be a mistake to consider these or call them "little 1911s"... the design, lockup, and cycle of operations is very different.

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blanchman

· #7 · Jan 23, 2014

Mine is 97 years old and never had any issues ....

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olman25

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jan 24, 2014

Thanks

Thanks for all the help Guys. I have wanted one of these 1908's for long time and was lucky enough to tear one down to clean it. Boy, was that interesting, the best part was putting it back together. I was so impressed by the workmanship! Yes, they really aren't 1911's at all. All is ok, I stand corrected. Old school cool!

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Obiefox

· #9 · Jan 24, 2014

I consider mine reliable enough that I often use them as my warm weather carry gun.

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Cocked & Locked

· #10 · Jan 24, 2014

fun to shoot & no problems

I don't think this one was shot or carried much. Fellow I got it from said it stayed in his aunt's nightstand drawer for 30 plus years that he knew of. I don't know if that was a true story or not. I bought the gun, not the story. "Auntie" had two original magazines with it.

Shoot it some...carry it seldom