.32 Colt Pocket Hammerless

Murrdock · March 22, 2011, 06:13 PM

My grandfather, in his travels, picked up a .32 Rimless Smokeless Colt Pocket Hammerless from one of his associates.

I basically know nothing about the gun, and he knows even less.

I have figured out that it fires a .32ACP round (rimless = Rim is no wider than cartridge and smokeless is obvious) and that is about it.

Can anyone else provide some insight onto this? It hasn't been fired in a long time because the owner didn't think they made ammunition for them anymore.

spacecoast · March 22, 2011, 06:15 PM

You can find much info about this pistol at www.coltautos.com. I have the .380 version, it's a fine gun, very accurate and fun to shoot. Not to mention it feeds a lot more reliably than my LCP.

Slopemeno · March 22, 2011, 08:28 PM

Fun little gun. Heavy for what it is. Accurate, even with a dark bore. Don't try to disassemble it beyond removing the upper end unless you know exactly what you're doing. Finding good mags can be an issue. Most ammo I've shot out of mine seems underpowered, IMHO.

Winchester_73 · March 22, 2011, 10:29 PM

The 32 acp is more accurately semi rimmed and the gun will shoot any 32 acp or 7.65 mm ammo. However, I do not recommend anything in the high velocity or +P realm.

Here is a table of the SNs with production dates:

http://proofhouse.com/colt/index.html

For each year, the SN there is the first one of that year.

RJay · March 22, 2011, 11:00 PM

The 1903 .32 ACP and the 1908 .380 ACP were two of the finest small automatics made. Produced up till ( and into ) WWII. They are called hammerless but they are really concealed hammer firearms. As Winchester_73 posted it uses the .32 ACP which is very common. If you wish to use defensive ammo I would recommend Winchester Silver tips.

Murrdock · March 23, 2011, 08:07 AM

Thanks for the information guys. Very helpful. Hopefully taking it out to the pit this weekend and see if it will fire. If not, will have to tear er down and clean it and/or see whats malfunctioning.

Sid · March 23, 2011, 12:42 PM

These pistols are built like a tank and will last a long time. The low noise and only slight recoil make them a lot of fun to shoot and they are accurate at short distances. These were produced in a number of different models and mine is the first model. I have shot endless thousands of my handloads through it without any problem. Although over 500,000 of these were made they have gone up considerably in price in the last few years. Finding magazines will be a problem.

magnumPi · March 23, 2011, 03:27 PM

Hopefully your colt has the original mag. The aftermarket ones are horrible

Murrdock · April 2, 2011, 08:07 AM

Finally got out to the pit before the nor'easter to fire it.

Put 3 rounds through so quick it made your head spin all on target, little to no recoil.

Has the original magazine, serial number 466xxx so it was made in 1927, and has almost no pit marks what so ever. Looks in almost perfect condition besides the normal wear items. Wish I had a pic to post, maybe later.

Hard to believe this gun is almost 90 years old and it's in this good of shape.

Now I heard somewhere online that the spring can explode and cause catastrophic failure if it's worn out, and all the disassembly instructions suggest you don't tear it down to that point.

Think it should be brought to a gunsmith for inspection?

Bill DeShivs · April 2, 2011, 08:24 AM

The springs will probably be fine for another 90 years.

Slopemeno · April 2, 2011, 10:35 AM

My 90 year old springs are doing just fine...

NOW, if someone would do a run of barrels for these things I'd grab one.

hhb · April 2, 2011, 02:53 PM

Wolff springs!

LarryFlew · April 2, 2011, 04:13 PM

Have had 3 and all shot great with any brand ammo but fiocchii was a bit more powerful and accurate in mine so that was used the most. Long before my reloading days.

They finally got to be worth too much for me to want to shoot them and all sold for more than $800 each. All in near mint condition.

March 22, 2011, 06:15 PM	#2
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	You can find much info about this pistol at www.coltautos.com. I have the .380 version, it's a fine gun, very accurate and fun to shoot. Not to mention it feeds a lot more reliably than my LCP. Last edited by spacecoast; March 23, 2011 at 08:11 AM.

March 22, 2011, 10:29 PM	#4
Winchester_73 Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 2,863	The 32 acp is more accurately semi rimmed and the gun will shoot any 32 acp or 7.65 mm ammo. However, I do not recommend anything in the high velocity or +P realm. Here is a table of the SNs with production dates: http://proofhouse.com/colt/index.html For each year, the SN there is the first one of that year. __________________ Winchester 73, the TFL user that won the west

April 2, 2011, 08:24 AM	#10
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,979	The springs will probably be fine for another 90 years. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

April 2, 2011, 02:53 PM	#12
hhb Senior Member Join Date: May 24, 2007 Location: Foothills of the Ozarks Posts: 316	Springs Wolff springs!

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March 22, 2011, 08:28 PM	#3
Slopemeno Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2007 Posts: 2,663	Fun little gun. Heavy for what it is. Accurate, even with a dark bore. Don't try to disassemble it beyond removing the upper end unless you know exactly what you're doing. Finding good mags can be an issue. Most ammo I've shot out of mine seems underpowered, IMHO.

March 22, 2011, 11:00 PM	#5
RJay Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,936	The 1903 .32 ACP and the 1908 .380 ACP were two of the finest small automatics made. Produced up till ( and into ) WWII. They are called hammerless but they are really concealed hammer firearms. As Winchester_73 posted it uses the .32 ACP which is very common. If you wish to use defensive ammo I would recommend Winchester Silver tips.

March 23, 2011, 12:42 PM	#7
Sid Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2009 Posts: 362	These pistols are built like a tank and will last a long time. The low noise and only slight recoil make them a lot of fun to shoot and they are accurate at short distances. These were produced in a number of different models and mine is the first model. I have shot endless thousands of my handloads through it without any problem. Although over 500,000 of these were made they have gone up considerably in price in the last few years. Finding magazines will be a problem.

March 23, 2011, 03:27 PM	#8
magnumPi Member Join Date: July 26, 2010 Posts: 66	Hopefully your colt has the original mag. The aftermarket ones are horrible

April 2, 2011, 10:35 AM	#11
Slopemeno Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2007 Posts: 2,663	My 90 year old springs are doing just fine... NOW, if someone would do a run of barrels for these things I'd grab one.

April 2, 2011, 04:13 PM	#13
LarryFlew Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2009 Location: Minnesota CZ fan Posts: 902	Have had 3 and all shot great with any brand ammo but fiocchii was a bit more powerful and accurate in mine so that was used the most. Long before my reloading days. They finally got to be worth too much for me to want to shoot them and all sold for more than $800 each. All in near mint condition.