Does anyone collect Colt .32 autos?

Jim McArthur · 03-23-2007, 06:03 PM

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

Jim

BogeyB · 03-23-2007, 07:14 PM

Jim,

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

Mike

davidkachel · 03-24-2007, 12:02 AM

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.

Jim McArthur · 03-24-2007, 08:43 AM

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

Jim

Aaron · 03-24-2007, 03:35 PM

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

lugerholsterrepair · 03-24-2007, 10:02 PM

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

Jim McArthur · 03-24-2007, 10:17 PM

Thanks, Aaron and Jerry.

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

Jim

Jim McArthur · 03-24-2007, 11:30 PM

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

Jim

minigun · 03-24-2007, 11:34 PM

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.

Hugh · 03-24-2007, 11:41 PM

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

pipeman45 · 03-25-2007, 06:58 PM

You guys are just pure EVIL

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

the gunman · 03-26-2007, 08:29 AM

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.

Jim McArthur · 03-26-2007, 09:51 AM

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

Jim

davidkachel · 03-30-2007, 03:54 PM

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?

davidkachel · 03-30-2007, 03:55 PM

Here's the other side...

lugerholsterrepair · 03-30-2007, 05:52 PM

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

davidkachel · 03-30-2007, 06:48 PM

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.

BogeyB · 03-30-2007, 09:01 PM

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

Jim McArthur · 03-30-2007, 09:29 PM

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

Jim

c3006 · 03-31-2007, 05:04 AM

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

03-23-2007, 06:03 PM	#1
Jim McArthur User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New Orleans LA Posts: 62 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	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

03-23-2007, 07:14 PM	#2
BogeyB Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Mc Donough, GA. Posts: 422 Thanks: 0 Thanked 227 Times in 99 Posts	Colt Pockets Jim, I have several Colt 1908's in .380. These are nice guns in either cailber! Mike __________________ MAGA Always!! NRA Benifactor, GCA

03-24-2007, 12:02 AM	#3
davidkachel User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 784 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	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. __________________ A heroin habit would be cheaper.

03-24-2007, 10:02 PM	#6
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,775 Thanks: 4,995 Thanked 3,133 Times in 1,439 Posts	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 __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

03-24-2007, 10:17 PM	#7
Jim McArthur User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New Orleans LA Posts: 62 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Great info! Thanks, Aaron and Jerry. Sounds as though these old pieces would make for practical collectibles. Jim

03-24-2007, 08:43 AM	#4
Jim McArthur User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New Orleans LA Posts: 62 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	How do these old .32 and .380 pieces hold up as shooters? Jim

03-24-2007, 03:35 PM	#5
Aaron Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vista, CA Posts: 1,008 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts	These guns are real work horses. I have seen them in horrendous condition, but they never fail to function flawlessly.

03-24-2007, 11:30 PM	#8
Jim McArthur User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New Orleans LA Posts: 62 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Prices? BTW: what sort of price range are these little Colts commanding? Jim

03-24-2007, 11:34 PM	#9
minigun User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 424 Thanks: 16 Thanked 20 Times in 15 Posts	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.

03-24-2007, 11:41 PM	#10
Hugh RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Swamp Posts: 2,460 Thanks: 2 Thanked 166 Times in 65 Posts	I have a blue 32 with medallion wood and a nickel 380 with medallion pearl both in original boxes. Great shooting little guns. __________________ *TRUMP FOR PREZ IN '20!*

03-25-2007, 06:58 PM	#11
pipeman45 User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kentucky Posts: 539 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	You guys are just pure EVIL Now I have to go find a little Colt. My wife will never understand. Thanks a lot guys! __________________ Dave

03-26-2007, 08:29 AM	#12
the gunman User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Leland NC 28451 Posts: 1,017 Thanks: 1 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	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.

03-26-2007, 09:51 AM	#13
Jim McArthur User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New Orleans LA Posts: 62 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Polyandry afoot? Sounds as though we're all married to the same woman, Pipeman! Jim

03-30-2007, 03:54 PM	#14
davidkachel User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 784 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	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? Attached Thumbnails __________________ A heroin habit would be cheaper.

03-30-2007, 03:55 PM	#15
davidkachel User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 784 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Here's the other side... Attached Thumbnails __________________ A heroin habit would be cheaper.

03-30-2007, 05:52 PM	#16
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,775 Thanks: 4,995 Thanked 3,133 Times in 1,439 Posts	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 Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

03-30-2007, 06:48 PM	#17
davidkachel User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 784 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	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. __________________ A heroin habit would be cheaper.

03-30-2007, 09:01 PM	#18
BogeyB Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Mc Donough, GA. Posts: 422 Thanks: 0 Thanked 227 Times in 99 Posts	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 __________________ MAGA Always!! NRA Benifactor, GCA

03-30-2007, 09:29 PM	#19
Jim McArthur User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New Orleans LA Posts: 62 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	A real beautY! I don't know about the going rate for prices, but I do know that is one beautiful little gun! Jim

03-31-2007, 05:04 AM	#20
c3006 User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: east tn Posts: 526 Thanks: 5 Thanked 12 Times in 5 Posts	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 __________________ Men Accustomed unto thier arms and their liberties will never endure the yoke. James Harrington 1776