Colt's · Pistol
Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless
Blowback (semi-automatic) · .32 ACP · introduced 1903
Also known as Colt M1903, Colt Pocket Hammerless, Colt .32 Pocket
About the Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless
The Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless is a slim, blowback-operated, single-action semi-automatic pistol designed by John Moses Browning and produced by Colt from 1903 to 1945. Despite its name, it does have a hammer - fully shrouded by the slide so the gun could be drawn and pocketed without snagging. Chambered in .32 ACP with an eight-round magazine, it became one of the most popular concealed-carry pistols of the early 20th century and was issued to US general officers as a badge-of-rank sidearm.
The Pocket Hammerless was the personal sidearm of choice for both bootleggers and the lawmen who chased them - Bonnie Parker reportedly carried one taped to her thigh, while it was also issued by the OSS to operatives parachuting into occupied Europe and remained the official badge-of-rank pistol for US general officers from 1942 until replaced by the Beretta M9 program.
Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless specifications
General
- Type
- Pistol
- Action
- Blowback (semi-automatic)
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer-fired
- Trigger
- Single action
- Calibres
- .32 ACP
- Magazine capacity
- 8 rounds
- Magazine
- Detachable box magazine
Dimensions
- Barrel length
- 95 mm (3.7 in)
- Overall length
- 171 mm (6.7 in)
- Height
- 140 mm (5.5 in)
- Width
- 30 mm (1.2 in)
- Weight (empty)
- 0.68 kg (1.50 lb)
- Weight (loaded)
- 0.77 kg (1.69 lb)
Barrel
- Rifling twist
- 1:16 in (406 mm)
- Rifling
- Left hand
- Grooves
- 6
Materials
- Barrel
- Steel
- Receiver / frame
- Steel
- Slide
- Steel
- Stock
- Wood
- Finish
- blued
Performance
- Muzzle velocity (typical)
- 270 m/s (886 fps)
- Muzzle energy (typical)
- 175 J (129 ft·lb)
- Effective range
- 25 m
History
- Introduced
- 1903
- Discontinued
- 1945
- Production status
- Out of production
- Country of origin
- US
- Designer
- John Moses Browning
Features
- Concealed hammer
- Fixed sights
- Drift adjustable rear sight
- Low profile slide
Safety
- Manual safety
- Grip safety
- Concealed hammer
Five major production types (I-V) were made over the gun's 42-year run. A scaled-up .380 ACP version was introduced in 1908 as the Model 1908 Pocket Hammerless.
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