sweet looking pistola you have there. the nickle finish does look to be in good shape.
Picked up a .380 today.
Not my favorite finish and sadly the original pearls are destroyed but it looks like factory nickel and is very tight. I think it will clean up nicely. Pics aren't great, but they're what I could do.
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It's a shame that the pearls were damaged. The ones I have on a later M1903 have a backing, secured with screws, that sits in the "cutout" of the grip and these prove sturdier than the panels without the backing (both factory). I won't fire the pistol with old pearls to ensure against damage so I have factory black grips for that occasion. Could you show the Rampant Pony in the circle? The VP stamping, while small, should still exhibit the initials "VP" (serified) and I believe that year (1908) the top of the V to the right side of the P should be one straight line with a connecting line at the bottom as well. In 1917 the proofmark changed and some were very small. Reference is from Brunners book "The Colt Pocket Hammerless Automatic Pistols II". Sam Lisker has seen many more nickeled specimens than I but that one looks exceptionally well preserved for a 106 year old M1903. Not intimating it might be a refinish, but that VP marking isn't as crisp as it should be. Some old refinished pistols had remarkably crisp rollmarks/stampings but the VP always suffered. Nice pistol in any event. See if you can find some period correct hard rubber grips.
EDITED: I had .32 M1903 on the brain and not the M1908. Disregard my rambling
EDITED: I had .32 M1903 on the brain and not the M1908. Disregard my rambling
Better pic of the proof mark.
Yeah, bad pics. The VP is crisp as are all of the markings and edges. Looks original to me, if not I have some work for the guy who did it. Either way it will look a lot better after a good polishing. The aftermarket grips will look better after I take some laquer thinner to them and change out those awful medallions.
Yeah, bad pics. The VP is crisp as are all of the markings and edges. Looks original to me, if not I have some work for the guy who did it. Either way it will look a lot better after a good polishing. The aftermarket grips will look better after I take some laquer thinner to them and change out those awful medallions.
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My broken grips didn't. I wonder if that's partly to blame for their demise.
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I missed your request the first read. Here you go. Remember though she is a .380 and the colt is not done in the earlier style.
A bit of good news, the left panel is not damaged! There is a chip near the thumb safety but it is a natural occurrence of the pearl and is filled with decades of gunk. Any suggestions on cleaning the grip will be greatly appreciated. Also if anyone has a right side stock that doesn't have a mate I would be interested in purchasing it.
Thanks to all for your comments. Pics suck, I know. Nickel is difficult to photograph.
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You are so very correct, I had .32 on my brain, apologies
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