Restricted Colt 1903?

Robert22

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Howdy,

I was searching around the forum, and I could not find any information pertaining to a Colt 1903, Canadian Restricted model (barrel and caliber). I was wondering if any such thing has ever been made? If so, does anyone have pictures, of a post-C68 restricted model?

Thanks for your time!
 
Good call on the FN 1907, a barrel in .380 would have to be made, as that
9x20 mm cartridge has disappeared. Maybe the nice folks at Norinco... or Dominion Arms could make a Canada legal, FN 1907/Colt 1903... I don't mind dreaming...
 
Colt made two models for 1903.

The 1903 Hammerless in .32ACP and the 1903 Hammer in .38ACP. The Hammer variant has a 4.5" barrel and looks like a short version of the earlier 1902 Sporting and Military models (both of which were chambered for .38ACP) while the .32ACP Hammerless variant looks almost identical to the later model 1908 (chambered in .380ACP).

Both the 1903 (.32ACP) and 1908 (.380ACP) Hammerless models have approximately 3.75" barrels and fall into the 12.6 prohibited class in Canada while the 1903 Hammer (.38ACP) is just a standard restricted due to the longer barrel and larger caliber.

The FN/Browning 1903 (and Swedish Husqvarna 1907) is a slightly larger version of the Colt 1903 (and 1908) Hammerless models and has a longer barrel and is chambered typically for the 9mm Browning Long (9x20mm) and is in the standard resticted class.

Just a note, too, .38ACP has the same measurements exactly as a .38Super but at a lower pressure. Using .38Super in the early Colt guns will likely result in the destruction of the gun. And just to point out, .380ACP is not the same as .38ACP: the .380ACP is somewhat shorter. The 9mm Browning Long cartridge (9x20mm) can occasionally be found here in Canada as surplus ammunition, but it can also be made by cutting .38Super brass down 0.100" and loading suitable low-pressure rounds (load data is the the difficult thing to find).

As a little bit of trivia, all of these guns were designed by John Browning.
 
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If you lived a good and virtuous life the last time around, God will have ensured that you have a relative with 12.6 status. This person could purchase the '03 of your choice (manufactured before 1946) and bequeath it to you, making you a 12.7 guy.

The gun need not have been in the family for years. Your relative need not die. Your relative does not surrender his 12.6 status when bequeathing prohibs to you. These are common misperceptions held by the lovelies at Miramachie. If they are confused about this, ask to speak to a supervisor for clarification.

Ask me how I know how this works. :D

Failing good past-life behaviour, I have to wonder how hard it would be to manufacture and fit a barrel in .380 ACP that's half an inch longer. One could thread the extra for the full OSS look... betcha Gunnar at Armco could make that happen.

For those who haven't shot an '03, you might want to before you invest time and energy in a project like this. When the grip safety is compressed, a gap opens between the top of the safety and a sharp bit on the underside of the frame. When one releases the grip safety, it closes and occasionally nibbles on the web of the shooting hand. Not a deal breaker for a little pistol as sweet as this, but certainly a bad habit I'd like to see a fix for.
 
here is an FN browning .380 1903 M07 . is this the same gun? its restricted and comeing up for auction at the end of march.

 
here is an FN browning .380 1903 M07 . is this the same gun? its restricted and comeing up for auction at the end of march.


Oh beautiful. Do you know how much is it starting at?At auction where? As discussed earlier in the thread that's a adequate replacement for a 1903 :D
 
That appears to be either a FN/Browning 1903 or a Husqvarna 1907. The Husqvarna 1907 pistols are virtually identical to the FN 1903 pistols as they were licenced by FN for production in Sweden. Have a close look at the gun before buying, though, as it may or may not be chambered in .380 ACP.
Many of the Swedish Husqvarna 1907 pistols made their way to the USA where a lot of them were re-barrelled for .380ACP. Some information on the net suggests that they are problematic in this caliber, some information says they work fine.

Have a look here:

h t t p://w w w.gotavapen.se/gota/m07/pist07_1.htm
 
Why not just buy a restricted 1903 Pocket Hammer in .38 ACP?

If it wasn't for the Colt 1900 & 1902 [sporting & military models] and 1903 [pocket hammer model] in .38 "Rimless Smokeless" [aka .38 ACP], there may have never been a Colt Model 1905 [the first .45ACP] which later spawned the venerable Colt 1911.

I present my "new to me" 1909 mfg Colt 1903 Pocket Hammer model:

As seen with my 1914 mfg Colt Government model [top] and 1920 mfg Colt M1908 Pocket Hammerless .380 ACP:

DSCN4793.jpg


The 1903 on it's own [you can still see hints of the Colt "fire blue"]:

DSCN4795a.jpg


DSCN4804a.jpg


DSCN4815.jpg


DSCN4806.jpg


DSCN4808.jpg


DSCN4809.jpg


DSCN4807.jpg


:canadaFlag:
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NAA.
 
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