Back during WWII Dad was a major in the old Army Air Corps and a B-29 pilot. He carried a 1903 Colt .32 Auto in a leather holster across his chest. This is what was in the cigar box. I knew I'd inherrit it some day but he told me he wanted me to have it while he was still on the green side of the grass (his words). He knew I was a gunaholic and he knew what I wanted to do with this pistol. I'd said that I wanted to shadow box it and his pilots wings with an American flag in the back ground. He said he wanted to see it before he passed.
I may take it to the range and run a few magazines through it first. I haven't decided on that just yet.
It is the Colt 1903 .32 Auto, w/2-singlestack 7 rnd magazines. The patent dates stamped on the slide are April 20th, 1897 and December 22nd, 1903. It was made in Hartford Connecticut probably around 1943 or 44. He got it in early '44 I think. It has had a total of 4 rounds fired through it.
I asked him how he managed to keep it when he resigned his commision and was surprised at his answer. I just figured he'd bought it. But he actually LEASED...for 99 years. So, sometime around 2044 I suppose I'll have to give it back or maybe I can just renew the lease? :>)
All the stuff in the pics is 61 to 63 years old and the box is the origingal box it came in and has the serial number written on it.
Went to the range today with this little sweetie and ran 30 rounds through it. It's a shooter!!! I fired 15 rounds from 7 yards and 15rounds from 15 yards. Had a two inch hole center-mass in a full size sillhouette target. It shoots so fine I hate to put it up but I'm committed to the plan stated above. It has 2 mags and one of them has been loaded for all these years. It fed perfectly. The gun cycled perfectly and other than me not being used to that trigger it was perfection all the way.
I let my friend who works there and is a gunsmith look it over and the news is good. He looked it up in his "blue book" and found that it ranges in value from 600 bux to 1400 bux (or more depending on the buyer and how badly he wants it) Some of the factors which determine the value are: condition, appearance, finish, and what all you have with it.
Fortunately it is in excellent condition and there isn't a mark on it. Maybe just a small amount of holster rash which he told me would not effect it's value. Also the roll mark "US PROPERTY" is on the right side of the frame. I tried to get it to show up in a pic but had no luck. I also have the original box it came in and both original magazines. According to the book having that box makes a difference of about 200 bux.
What I have on the negative side is that I don't have the original owners manuel and mine has the wrong finish. Mine is Parkerized whereas it would have more value if it had been blued. Still I"m lookin' at 1200 bux and maybe more. Not that I'd sell it for any amount but it's good to know what I have. Now I just need to tighten up on my finances just a tad and then make a trip to Seguine Texas where the guy lives that makes the shadow boxes. I have several others for him too and I'm going to take them all at one time and "supervise" the arrangements of the items in each box. If I can't get it done sooner I'm hopin' that Santa Clause will pull my slack and I can get it done after the holidays. It will be some $$$$ but well worth it in my view.
