In this period of COVID-19, I have plenty of time to visit my safe...
Here is a pretty interesting Colt 1908 specimen
According to serial number 114290, it was shipped to China on 14 Feb 1932
This is one of only 4,185 Colt .380 pistols delivered to the Shanghai police between 1925-1938
Rollmarked on the right side of frame SHANGHAI MUNICIPAL POLICE along with arsenal weapon number # 3468
This number is also stamped on the slide and the barrel - Barrel length: 107mm
Subject pistols have unique features that were designed by Colonel Fairbairn
(who became assistant commissioner of the Shanghai Municipal Police prior to World War II,
before serving as an instructor for various American and Allied commando units,
including the Office of Strategic Services, the precursor of the CIA.)
Characteristics:
- Checkered grips and lanyard loop
- Special Police magazine (with 2 x 8 viewing holes for cartridge counting)
- A (removable) little screw blocking the safety lever
- A «barrel tensioning device» that was cut in the right side of slide and used to keep the barrel stable during firing
Main reference: http://www.coltautos.com/mmsmp1.htm
Complementary Information:
The Shanghai Municipal Police (SMP) was the law enforcement agency responsible for policing the mainly British-run International Settlement. In 1863 Great Britain and the United States merged their Concessions into an International Settlement governed by an elected board made up of the various governments with Concessions in the Settlement. France chose to keep their Concession separate.
SMP contract magazines had six viewing holes in the front and six on the back, as opposed to the sides as on standard commercial magazines. Others have side viewing holes as well as viewing holes in the back. There are varying opinions as to why the location of the viewing holes was changed. One story is that the police officers would trade the bullets from their guns and replace the live rounds with spent brass casing, dummies or dudes. In a Colt magazine with standard viewing holes, the magazine would appear loaded. In any case, viewing through holes made inspection easier.
The original walnut grips held the humidity well and the metal under them corroded. Those grips were soon replaced with Shanghai made hard rubber grips.
For your appreciation, fellow collectors - Comments are most welcome
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