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A nice pair of M1908 .25 w/ box

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1908 colt 1908 .25 auto pocket pistol
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3.4K views 17 replies 9 participants last post by  Rogerwnuss  
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#1 ·
I just picked up a couple of Colt 1908 pistols that were in a collection for a number of years. I don't know much about the collector who passed away, but he had a "healthy" Colt collection.
Since these two were together for so many years...I figured I needed to keep them together and purchased both of them.
I had a couple of questions maybe the forum can help with...see below :)
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Gun #1 -
S/N dates this 1908 to 1913
High polish finish with early Colt grips that have the "C" behind the Rampant Horse.
The internals are very clean and I can not see any carbon build up. Has original two tone magazine in great condition.
Appears to have the original box with paperwork and the Colt label on the inside of the box lid and Colt label on the outside of the box.

Question 1 - What is the story with these early grips? I love them and dont think I have seen (or noticed them on other guns) before.

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Gun #2
S/N dates this gun to 1920
Blued finish with gorgeous case color
The condition is in better condition than Gun #1 with less wear showing.
Same as the first gun, this has very little internal wear and I do not see any carbon buildup or evidence of being fired much.
Has original two tone magazine
No paperwork in the box, nor the paper typically glued to the inside of the lid.
Is that normal for the early boxes of 1908s? Or is this just a really old re-production box with the "Colt Automatic Pistol .25" label on the outside of the box?

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#3 ·
That IS a nice pair :)

The high-polish finish on your earlier pistol is really nice! So are the grips.
That was a good "snag" and a good call to get them both !
Colt used the same "stylized C" grips on the Model M (.32/.380) too.
They weren't used for long though so you don't see them that often, which is a shame because they are a slick design.

Check Sam's site for all sorts of info, here's grips and mags for the Model N Vest Pocket:
Colt 1908 Vest Pocket Hammerless .25 ACP Pistol Standard Grips - Coltautos.com

Colt 1908 Vest Pocket Hammerless .25 ACP Pistol Magazines - Coltautos.com

The two-tone, crimped base mag is a little later than your c. 1913 pistol but in stellar shape so I wouldn't worry about it.
The correct one would be the all-blue, pinned base with no markings on the bottom, if you felt compelled to find one.
Personally I don't think it detracts from it.

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#6 ·
Thank you!
Thats some great info. I always thought the 2 tone mags were the early ones, and the complete blued magazines were the later. Thats good info to know! Those links are great for reference
Im with ya on the "C" grips, I think theyre a really great design

Thanks

somd_mustangs said:
That IS a nice pair :)

The high-polish finish on your earlier pistol is really nice! So are the grips.
That was a good "snag" and a good call to get them both !
Colt used the same "stylized C" grips on the Model M (.32/.380) too.
They weren't used for long though so you don't see them that often, which is a shame because they are a slick design.

Check Sam's site for all sorts of info, here's grips and mags for the Model N Vest Pocket:
Colt 1908 Vest Pocket Hammerless .25 ACP Pistol Standard Grips - Coltautos.com

Colt 1908 Vest Pocket Hammerless .25 ACP Pistol Magazines - Coltautos.com

The two-tone, crimped base mag is a little later than your c. 1913 pistol but in stellar shape so I wouldn't worry about it.
The correct one would be the all-blue, pinned base with no markings on the bottom, if you felt compelled to find one.
Personally I don't think it detracts from it.

View attachment 737556
Click to expand...
 
#9 ·
No worries. As crazy as it seems, that's the way it's "supposed to be".
Now if it STAYS protruding when the slide closes that's problematic :)

Thats some great info. I always thought the 2 tone mags were the early ones, and the complete blued magazines were the later.
Click to expand...
You're right too, the last magazines were all blued, but with a crimped base. (both the M and the N).
 
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#7 ·
I believe youre correct. There is no visible writing on the bottom of the boxes. I know they used to use oil pencils (or something like that), which could easily be rubbed off. But after further inspection, it does appear to have the digits "50" on the left hand side where a S/N would be written. So its leaving me to believe that the box is not "original" to that specific gun and acquired later...or heck...maybe someone just put the wrong gun in the wrong box when putting their collection away and never caught it haha
 
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