Got Hammerless?

And now, for something completely different.
4 or 5 days ago, my son alerted me as to the availability of a decent (according to him) 6" nickel Python in the display case of an appliance dealer/gun shop he does business with. We're talkin' cheap money, like real cheap by current trends; $1400. He lives up the road a fair piece, and it is a day trip to link up with him.
Naturally I got all excited and said' go get it or put something down on it, or give him one of yours to hold ', I'll buy it if it is what you say it is.' That was around Sunday or Monday. He said 'I can't get to see him til Thursday the earliest. I have to work'. OK. So we planned to meet Thursday. and of course, the revolver was long gone. Bummer.
So on the drive back down the road, I stopped in at the shop I have been using for most things since the trading post went OOB. He had a New 3" Python, an American Armament 1903 Hammerless, and a nice Pocket Hammerless built in 1918. So, not wanting to come away empty handed, I bought it for less than I had planned for the Python.
Check this out:



Not too shabby. I would put in the top 5 or 6 model M<s in the pile, maybe the top 2 or 3. I probably gave more than I normally like to, but it was less than the new American Armament.

The Shanghai Police could not be trusted.
Often bullets in the mag were swapped with a blank shell only.
The live bullets would be taken and sold.

To prevent this, the SMP mags had viewing holes
moved to show the bullet head and primer
so a complete live bullet could be seen.
A normal mag would not show this.

During inspections it was easy
to see a complete bullet in place.


SMP Mag Special Viewing Holes Show here.





ei8ht®

But wait, there's more, (again)

Here is one of four issued but the only one known in captivity
Property of the State Of Washington marked hammerless.

M1903 454169 1924



























ei8ht®
Junk Yard Colts
OGCA Life Member

Colt M1908 380 16707 PDNY No-439 1913








Well worn and well used.
Got it's look the old fashion way, It Earned It!
Proud to be in the Accumulation.

Interesting M1908 380 hammerless....

This pistol has a Colt Factory barrel pressure spring
that is shaped differently from the ones used on the SMP pistols.

The left slide inscription was also rolled higher up on the slide
to prevent the spring from cutting into it.

Records indicate that only 100 were made like this.

1908 380 132768 1939

Grail hammerless in the form of
380 bushing pistols are the the best ever.

8 of them survive in ei8htland,
4 are from the same police department, Boston.

Boston was the first Police agency to use the colt hammerless,
buying 214 beginning in Dec of 1908,
The Boston Metropolitan Parks Commission.

mentallapse has the most ever
in 380 bushing guns in his collection.
More than me, more than you....LOL!

M1908 380 1849 1908 MPC No-34
Boston Metropolitan Parks Commission.

Colt M1903 422707
with 6 inch Barrel
Du Mond Special Target Pistol 1922





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Life Time Member of OGCA

ei8ht