Information on Colt .25 ACP

[Kreyzhorse]

Morning guys. My buddy has a offer on a Colt .25 ACP. Not sure of the model, but it looks like 1908 Vest or Junior model. I'm not expert on Colt so forgive me if those aren't the correct names. I'm at work so cant dig in to it too deep.

Anyway, the serial number is 0D103XXX. If any one has any information on value and production date, it would sure help me out.

Thanks.

[Felixf]

According to the "Colt's, Dates of Manufacture" booklet by R.L. Wilson. The 1908 Hammerless .25 shows the 1914 starting serial number at 102000, 1915 started with 119000.

I have a Vest Pocket 1908 Hammerless .25 (1916 vintage), that my Father passed to me. It is a fun little pistol. It shows wear from use and has some rust/peeling of the plating in the slide serrations. With this I was offered $325.00 trade credit at a LGS. I also saw a blued version at the Gun Show and the guy was asking $650.00.

[Bill DeShivs]

The Junior model has an exposed hammer.

[Winchester_73]

My buddy has a offer on a Colt .25 ACP. Anyway, the serial number is 0D103XXX. If any one has any information on value and production date, it would sure help me out.

I assumed based on that "0D" SN prefix, it was a Colt Junior pocket which was an Astra made gun made under license for Colt. I have no personal experience with them. Astra made the same gun with their name on it, the Cub. Based on SN given of 0D103XXX, using the chart below, the gun is 1973 production. These are still often found in high condition due to their more recent production. They're often found clean and boxed for $300 ish. Some people actually ask more, because the gun says "Colt" but they rarely sell for much more.

http://www.coltautos.com/Junior_pd.htm

According to the "Colt's, Dates of Manufacture" booklet by R.L. Wilson. The 1908 Hammerless .25 shows the 1914 starting serial number at 102000, 1915 started with 119000.

However, the OP gave a SN prefix. Any letter preceding or following an SN is part of the SN. In this case, the SN had a "0D" prefix so those SN numbers for the 1908 vest pocket are irrevelant to this gun.

[Kreyzhorse]

Awesome, thank you guys very much.

I knew someone smarter than I was lurking around here. This should really help my buddy out with his decision.

[FloridaVeteran]

Admit I'm frustrated, due to my age - I can't remember how to make a new post. Perhaps the honchos of this thread can re-direct me.

I have a nickel-plated Colt .25ACP Pocket Auto. My father gave it to me in the early 1960s and said he had carried it to and from work while an artillery battery commander in Panama 1939-40. I don't remember if he got it from my grandfather or from his brother, a fellow Army officer at the time, or someone else. Anyway, it has been in the family since about 1940.

The plastic/bakelite grips are worn, as they would be from pocket carry. The nickel finish is excellent-to-near-perfect, so my assumption is that it was re-nickeled before 1955 or so, when I first saw it (one of my gun dealers says it must have been re-nickeled relative to the wear on the grips). The serial number is 9674x. The lettering is crisp and deep as can be, including the prancing horse at the rear of the slide on the manual-safety side. However, as they say with a Capital H, the slide shows patent dates through July 31, 1917. This would seem to conflict with the coltautos.com website that identifies the serial number as a 1913 build.

Anyway, the nickel is superb, other than a small bit of clouding that probably is my fault due to careless storage. The magazine, also nickel, says CAL. 25 over COLT and seems in nearly unused condition. Action and bore seem perfect, relative to age.

The question: is this gun worth more than $400-500, in which case I'd sell it? If less than that, I probably will give it to one of our sons, as part of the family lore.

If I should post this elsewhere, direction will be appreciated. Thanks.

[cecILL]

Hello,
Have one of these also. Could anybody comment?
Patent number ends Jan 25 1910. Serial 2529xx.
Also interested in value, just for curiosity's sake.

[James K]

FlaVet and CeCILL,

To make any serious evaluation, we need some good pictures, both sides, top and markings. Thanks.

Jim

[cecILL]

Here is a try on the pics.
Mr. DeShivs, would you polish?

[Bill DeShivs]

cecILL
Your gun appears to have the original nickel finish. I do not advise trying to polish it. It appears to be flaking near the muzzle in the ejection-side pic.
It's expensive, but guns in this condition can be stripped of the nickel plating and the flaked areas (only) polished to original specs. Then the gun can be replated in nickel. If done properly, the result is undetectable as a refinish.

[cecILL]

Thank you Mr. DeShivs.
Yes, the pistol has the original finish. Belonged to a grandfather born in 1897.
Mostly kept in a shoebox. The finish actually looks a lot better than the pictures, and so the question about the polish. Original condition is fine with me.
Would quess value at $350-450?

[rob i]

That vest pocket looks great. I would NOT refinish it. I would also think that in its current condition it would be worth a bit more than what you are quoting. Very very nice.

[PetahW]

The only thing I'd give that pistol, besides some love, would be a gentle hand-polishing with a very soft cloth, "maybe" after applying a very tiny bit of clear paste wax, like Johnson's.


.

[G.T. Smith]

I like this little gun, 90 years old and still shoots great. Just don't like Blazer ammo.
GT

[cecILL]

Here's another one found in a pawn shop 20 yrs ago.

[spacecoast]

CecILL -

That engraved one is a beauty!

My 1913 rendition of the Vest Pocket .25 is shown below, I recently used it in a Bullseye competition and it's quite accurate at 25 yards.