Does anyone collect Colt .32 autos?
 

Does anyone here collect Colt .32 autos? Seems like most Colt auto pistol interest is in the big .45.

Jim

Colt Pockets
 

Jim,

I have several Colt 1908's in .380. These are nice guns in either cailber!

Mike:D

Jim, I have a 1908 in .380 in poorer condition than I would like, though not bad in most people's eyes. I'm waiting for a better one to come along.

How do these old .32 and .380 pieces hold up as shooters? :confused:

Jim

These guns are real work horses. I have seen them in horrendous condition, but they never fail to function flawlessly.

I agree with Aaron. These pistols designed by John Browning are the best small auto pistols in the World and I don't believe their design has been improved by anyone since.
I shoot mine often and I cannot think of ever experiencing a jam in either caliber.
My Wife Ellie uses a Colt .380 as a personal carry weapon. Even though they were made in the first half of the Century the ones I have look and function like new. One of my favorite pistols of all time. Jerry Burney

Great info!
 

Thanks, Aaron and Jerry.

Sounds as though these old pieces would make for practical collectibles.:)

Jim

Prices?
 

BTW: what sort of price range are these little Colts commanding? :confused:

Jim

Typically, I've seen them in 98-99% original condition at around $900 or so. I'm not a collector of these (yet), but often run into a gentleman in Dallas that has a few originals he sells for this price. He will typically have the wood gripped ones or the bakelite guns. Really nice ones too. He'll have lesser grade ones for $650-$750.

I have a blue 32 with medallion wood and a nickel 380 with medallion pearl both in original boxes. Great shooting little guns.:cheers:

You guys are just pure EVIL

Now I have to go find a little Colt.
My wife will never understand.
Thanks a lot guys!

I two have a .32 & a .380 as new one in the box. + have a .32 shooter these are wonderful little guns. As Jerry said there function is flawless unbeatable little pistols.

Polyandry afoot?
 

Sounds as though we're all married to the same woman, Pipeman! :roflmao:

Jim

Just today received a new (to me) 1908 .380, Nickel with ivory grips. SN 821XX
Does anyone know if Colt ever used ivory grips that look like these? (Mount blocks are made of ivory also).

$1050... how'd I do?

Here's the other side...

David, How'd you do? When it comes to these Colt pocket Auto Pistols it's much like Lugers..All in the details. If the pistol is a genuine Nickle plate by Colt it is rare indeed. I don't believe these are original Colt grips( what the hell do I know ) but if they are genuine Ivory they have to be worth a bundle.
Colt made a million and a half .32 Cal. pistols but only a half million .380's. The .380 is much more desirable simply because there are fewer of them. I like them in either Caliber.
I think you did alright no matter what! Jerry Burney

Jerry,
They are real ivory, but not Colt made. Colt did make ivory grips without medallions up until 1909-10, I believe, but this pistol was made in 1926.
I don't know if the nickel is original, but it certainly looks like it and I do know that another .380 just 100 below this one was original nickel.
The ivory grips made by "who knows" are worth at least $200-300 by themselves. So I'm into the pistol about $800 without considering the grips. If it's a renickel I figure I'm screwed by about $400. If not, I think I got the brass ring on this deal. All the little dings and scratches you can't see in these pictures tell me this is probably the real deal. I just wish there was a way to tell for sure.

Ivory grips
 

Hi all,

For ivory's for 1903/08 Colts, try Mike Poulin at:

http://hometown.aol.com/mgpsrjr/myhomepage/index.html

Mike's uncle's were retired Colt supervisors, and he inherited all their stuff when they passed. I heard that he is making some of Colt's Custom Shop grips.

Mike:D

A real beautY!
 

I don't know about the going rate for prices, but I do know that is one beautiful little gun! :)

Jim

David
Will colt not offer a factory letter on this pistol,I bet they would just like they do on the SAAs. From what I can see it looks right but it can be hard to tell with nckel. Good Luck clint