Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket .25 ACP

Description:
Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket .25 ACP – Serial Number 164082 (Manufactured in 1917)
 
Historical Overview
Introduced by Colt’s Manufacturing Company in 1908, the Model 1908 Vest Pocket is a legendary hammerless, strike-fired semi-automatic pistol designed by the world-renowned firearms inventor John Browning. This ultra-compact firearm was Colt's response to the popular European FN Model 1905. Revered for its sleek profile, exceptional reliability, and concealment capabilities, it became a massive commercial success among civilians, law enforcement officers as a backup weapon, and military personnel during the first half of the 20th century.
This specific piece, bearing serial number 164082, was manufactured in 1917 during the height of World War I. A total of 22,999 units were produced that year, making this pistol a genuine artifact from a transitional era for Colt. By 1917, Colt had integrated the George Tansley magazine safety disconnector into production (around serial number 139,000). This critical feature prevents the firearm from discharging when the magazine is removed, even if a round remains chambered.
 
Specifications

• Manufacturer: Colt's Manufacturing Company (Hartford, Connecticut)
• Model: 1908 Vest Pocket
• Serial Number: 164082
• Year of Manufacture: 1917
• Caliber: .25 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) / 6.35mm Browning
• Capacity: 6+1 Rounds
• Barrel Length: 2 inches
• Action: Striker-fired, Blowback operartion

 
Condition and Description
This firearm stands out as a highly collectible and cohesive specimen due to its remarkable preservation and factory-correct features:

• Finish: Features a classic brilliant factory-style nickel-plated finish. The safety levers, trigger, and grip safety retain their distinctive sharp contours, with crisp and deep factory roll marks on the slide, indicating the metal has not been heavily buffed or altered.
• Grips: Outfitted with its original factory-authentic Hard Rubber (vulcanized rubber) grips. The plates display the historically accurate post-1913 design, showcasing the "COLT" inscription in a distinct top arch and the rampant Colt pony standing alone in the center, completely free of the earlier stylized "C" background. The panels show a light, honest age-related matte patina but remain exceptionally sharp with absolutely no cracks, chips, or fractures around the grip screws—a rare feat for 100-year-old vulcanized materials.
• Magazine: Includes an incredibly rare, authentic "Two-Tone" magazine. The top half exhibits the exposed, heat-treated steel finish resulting from the period-correct cyanide/lead hardening dip, while the lower half retains its dark finish. The base plate is properly stamped with the factory marking: "CAL .25 / COLT".

This 1917 Colt Vest Pocket is an outstanding example of early 20th-century American craftsmanship, qualifying federally as a Curio & Relic (C&R) firearm and representing a premier investment piece for discerning Colt collectors.
 

Handgun Caliber: .25 ACP (6.35mm Browning, 6.35×16mmSR)

Price: $990.00
Shipping: $50.00
Buy Now