Colt 1903 .32 US PROPERTY

[ap3572001]

According to Brunner in his book on these pistols, there were over 2,900 of them shipped to the OSS. They fall into the serial number range of 541103 - 569725. There were also several hundred shipped to the Military Intelligence Service. They fall into a similar serial number range. A letter from Colt is the only way to know for sure if the pistol was sent to the OSS and that does not always confirm where it went. For example, there are S&W Victory Model revolvers that were shipped to the U.S. Navy in Rosslyn, VA, some of which are believed to have been for the OSS.

What's the serial number of the pistol in question?

What is the difference in value between OSS guns and guns shipped for commanding officer ?

[Bruce McAskill]

The 1903 that went to a General was not shipped from Colt to the officer. It came from the supply system. Post war left over 1903 pistols were sold as surplus new in the box by ordnance. Not all OSS obtained pistols were used overseas. Many did not leave the US. A Colt letter will say where it went when purchased but remember if your pistol is Blued then it was not made in 1944. But it may have been issued by ordnance in 1944. The burden of proof of who what and where is on you. The value will increase if issued to a General or OSS use IF papered.

[ap3572001]

The 1903 that went to a General was not shipped from Colt to the officer. It came from the supply system. Post war left over 1903 pistols were sold as surplus new in the box by ordnance. Not all OSS obtained pistols were used overseas. Many did not leave the US. A Colt letter will say where it went when purchased but remember if your pistol is Blued then it was not made in 1944. But it may have been issued by ordnance in 1944. The burden of proof of who what and where is on you. The value will increase if issued to a General or OSS use IF papered.

Confusing...... Colt archive letter that states how the gun left the factory , when it was made and where it was shipped is sufficient to show what the gun is. If letter says the gun is blued , was made and shipped in 1944 and went to OSS, I dont see any further questions . Am I correct ?

[skip_c]

AP
You are correct. This is another case of if it's not my gun, it can't be correct.
Skip

[ap3572001]

AP
You are correct. This is another case of if it's not my gun, it can't be correct.
Skip

That's what I thought.

[painter777]

This is another case of if it's not my gun, it can't be correct.

Skip,
Do you know if they were made with a Blued finish applied in 1944?
I don't know myself, so I thought I'd ask if you know?

If the Colt letter states it was made and came blued in 1944, it may be something not yet documented in any of the books. Makes for very interesting reading and the OP could have came across something really special.

So Please.... Don't go negative on a member/s trying to help.



Thx
Charlie-Painter777

[Bruce McAskill]

You are not reading the information you have been told or your choosing not to believe it. If your gun is blued then it was made no later the 1942. (Colt records.) It could have been in Colt inventory for a few years before being shipped out. An order comes into Colt from the War Department for what ever division needs some 1903 pistols. ( Army, Navy or OSS.) Colt sends them and they go into that divisions inventory and are issued as required. This is how a blue 1903 made before 1942 was issued in 1944. Get a Colt letter. It will tell you the date it was made. And remember the pistols as shipped from Colt or when issued were not in sequence serial number wise. They went out the next one in line.

[rcathey]

Replying to no one in particular:
There is another possibility - this parkerized 1944 model was reblued by someone in the intervening 3/4 of a century.
But as Bruce states, a Colt letter would tell the real story. And if I had one of these (some day) even close to WWII era, I'd be getting a letter so quick it'd make your head spin.

[ap3572001]

Ok. Colt letter says : made in 1944 , shipped to OSS in 1944. Finish : Blue. Gun is BLUE What is it ?

[painter777]

Don't know if this helps or not, but I found this info on Sam Lisker's ColtAutos.com :


Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless .32 ACP serial number 571146 - Factory letter indicates this pistol was one of 1,000 shipped January 30, 1945 to the Transportation Officer, Springfield Armory, Springfield, Massachusetts for: Commanding Officer. It was manufactured on January 27, 1945 and processed on Colt Factory Order Number 4711. Most letters for these late military 1903 Pocket Hammerless pistols incorrectly indicate the finish as "blue" as in the case of this pistol as the change from blue to parkerized finish occurred at the Colt factory in the 561,000 serial number range.


The above found on this link:

http://www.coltautos.com/cagotm201612.htm

And this for production dates:

Colt Pistols and Revolvers for Firearms Collectors - Model 1903 .32 ACP Model 1908 .380 ACP Pocket Hammerless Production Dates

VR
Charlie-Painter777