US Army issue .32?
 

Trying to help a friend - story is husband's grandfather had a semi-auto pistol chambered in .32 ACP. He was apparently issued this gun by the US Army (apparently an officer's gun) - time could have been anywhere between immediately pre-world war 1, and the middle of the interwar period.


Any guesses as to what it might be? I thought of the Browning/FN 1910 immediately, but not sure if that would have been issued by the US Army. Various flavors of FN/Colts before that are possibilities too.


Pistol is currently unavailable for examination hence the question.

Colt 1903 was used by the US military. Not sure when they started issuing them though.

The Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless was procured by the
US Army for issue to General Officers. I believe a shipment of 300+ pistols was also received by the OSS (forerunner of the CIA)

Colts
 

I have a few Colt 1903's. One of which sports a parkerized finish and has US PROPERTY on the frame under ejection port.

Colt's
 

[QUOTE=k98mike;329159]I have a few Colt 1903's. One of which sports a parkerized finish and has US PROPERTY on the the frame under ejection port.

Zorba, you got some good responses above. The Colt 1903 hammerless in 32 acp was popular with officers and civilians alike. The military ones I understand were parked and stamped as such. The civilians ones had a gorgeous bluing and firing bluing of parts. I have a 1912 and a 1921 commercial 1903s. They are fun at the range and my favorite 32 acp to shoot. They have a grip safety (but not like the Ortgies ;) )

Early military issue 1903 pistols were blued. Mid to late war pistols were parked.

Any idea of when the military started using them?

Olle,

According to Meadows, the first documented shipment of the Model 3, designated Model M by the military, was on September 29, 1917 when 200 pieces were delivered to the US Government Navy Yard, Washington DC.

Nothing further is recorded until late 1941, with shipments extending to 1945. Pistols were blued until 1944 when the finish was changed to Parkerized.

Thanx guys!