Colt 1903 Pistol
British Military Contract For Use in Ireland Circa 1921
Calibre .32
Serial No: 380858
Price: £850

In Very Good Condition

The Colt Model 1903 Hammerless is a .32 ACP caliber, self-loading, semi-automatic pistol designed by John Browning and built by Colt Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company
of Hartford, Connecticut.

British 1921 Purchase of 1903 Colts

All the Colts bear commercial London proof house marks. Also, an Enfield inspectors mark and the government ownership mark of a broad arrow. Its interesting that even though these pistols were destined for the military they were still prooved commercially.

One of 3,300 Colt 1903 pistols purchased by the War Office in 1921 from the commercial trade, for service in Ireland.

These would have been issued to the likes of the the Black and Tans who were constables recruited into the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) as reinforcements during the Irish War of Independence. Recruitment began in Great Britain in January 1920 and about 10,000 men enlisted during the conflict. The majority were unemployed former British soldiers from England who had fought in the First World War.

During the Second World War, many of these were passed to the Royal Air Force, the Special Operations Executive and issued to High Ranking officers.

The Right hand grip has been repaired as some point

Enfield Inspection Mark, Broad Arrow Mark & Issue Date of April 1921

Suitable: Section 5 / Section 7.3