Colt Vest Pocket 25 Auto

superbikeracer

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Well after a 2 month wait I finally got all the paperwork in order and took posession of my grandfathers Colt 25 auto (this was a 12.7 transfer... no 12.6 here unfortunately)

I'm trying to decide what to do with it... obviously a good cleaning is in order to start but I am wondering what the general consensus is on getting the finish redone? There is some surface rust and it looks like it spent a lot of time in a drawer because the one side is scratched quite a bit.

I don't think it's in good enough shape to be worried about original condition but what do you think?

The gold writing was done by the police... amazingly this gun was actually stolen in a break in then recovered about 15 years ago. I haven't attempted to remove it yet... not sure even what type of pen it is or what would take it off.

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Can't help you on the clean-up options but very nice. These small calibre guns are fun short range plinkers. I'd be picking up some 25 ammo and taking her out for a test drive ASAP.
 
Take it apart, drop parts in the bucket of oil. Let them soak for a while. After get a copper brush and scrub the rusted spots off. dunk it in oil periodically and brush it untill no active rust left. Reassemble and plink away. If you decide to refinish it, then you may lose some value, however these prohibs are worthless anyway. With sentimental value high for you, I'd keep it as close to the condition your relative used it at.
 
Unsure what model it was, but a guy at the range showed me his 25auto pistol, I was unsure how you comfortably shot it as it was so small. Don't really understand the ergonomics on these super tiny pistols as I sold my CZ75 because the grip was too small for me.
 
I love my Baby Browning .25 ACP. It is so small that when my wife first saw it she thought it was a toy!

TBS I find .25 ACP expensive (and at least a third of the empties can't be found????).

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I bought an Astra Cub/2000 in .22 Short as a shooter since the ammo is so cheap.

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The Baby is still smaller though.
 
I say re-blue it. As it's a 12-7 you have the ability to pass it down the generation line (if they licence). If left as is, your grandkids will be left with a really nasty looking pocket shooter. You won't hurt the value, and may even increase it if the bluing job is nicely done...start polishing. :)
 
I agree that re-bluing it will not harm it's Canadian value. It is a US made Colt so it is possible that it might be exportable to the US in which case the re-blue would decrease it's potential value.
 
Thanks guys. I'm not really too worried about value, just didn't want to do anything that wouldn't be advisable.

Was thinking about sending pics out to Armco and see what he thinks as far as refinishing. I think it would look good with a clean up and reblue.

Haven't gotten my hands on any ammo yet... going to try and get some so I can do some plinking next summer. My wife has really small hands so she might enjoy shooting it more than me.
 
^Try to find those slightly extended magazines that have a finger rest on these tiny autos. Improved a friend's 25 handling/shooting grip 110%.

Myself I would just leave the police writing. Good way to further ID this piece, in case God forbid it falls into the wrong hands ever again.

my 2 bits........
 
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