1903 Colt Hammerless .32 ACP Restoration

[BigPimping]

Leave it alone.

If you want to experience the full effect of paying a bunch of money to azz it up without actually ruining the gun , just burn 3 $100 bills, and then slam your dick in the door a couple times

WORD......don't alter it.

[Cokebottle]

Here's Grandpa's, made in 1917

[morrcarr67]

That's a nice one

Here's Grandpa's, made in 1917

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[Cokebottle]

One thing to watch on these is it is very common for the guide rod to be installed backwards.
Mine was like that when mom gave it to me. It forces an arch into the recoil spring, and I read online that it is a common mistake.



Goes together like a 1911, but a lot of people flip the guide rod and put it into the slide.

[Lead Waster]

Wait so if te a $500-1000 gun and you are afraid of damaging the resell value, what might that mean? Like a $1000 gun is now $500?

Seriously if it was mine and I felt that I’d like it better revlued, I would just do it. As someone said they are not ultra rare anyway. And if it loses a couple of hundred bucks,l when some day you nights sell it ... is that really that big of a concern? I mean looking at the big picture of you want to save a few hundred bucks then don’t even buy he gun in the first place. If wanted it as an investment then you should have bought mutual funds or gold, not an old gun. If you bought it to enjoy it .... then enjoy it, even if it means rebluing it and risking a couple hundred bucks maybe.

I mean it’s not like it’s sgt York’s 1911 or al Capone’s tommy gun.

[bill1745]

Looks pretty nice to me. I'd keep it clean - shoot it and enjoy it. Love the grips.

Thanks very much.

[bill1745]

I also think it looks in great condition for its age and wouldn't refinish it.
And that would be my opinion even if it wouldn't lower its value, which it probably will.

If you're looking for a change/upgrade you can always shop around for exotic grip panels.

Stag (my favorite), imitation Ivory ( that's sometimes made from Ivory dust ), fossilized mammoth tusk for a intricate design or even an endless amounts of variations of wood grips.

Personally I think I would be buying lots of extra mags, ammo and maybe a complete spring replacement kit from someone reputable like Wolff springs before I spend money on anything else.

Thanks very much. The seller was a gunsmith that I know and did a complete spring job on it. I bought the checkered walnut grips. I am not going to refinish it after all.

[bill1745]

True. I really did not buy it for investment purposes. I just wanted to add one to my collection. Pretty much everyone has recommended against refinishing it, so I think I will just keep it like it is. Thanks for the advice.

[bill1745]

Thank you to everyone who commented. I have decided not to refinish it and just keep it in my collection as is.

[bill1745]

One thing to watch on these is it is very common for the guide rod to be installed backwards.
Mine was like that when mom gave it to me. It forces an arch into the recoil spring, and I read online that it is a common mistake.



Goes together like a 1911, but a lot of people flip the guide rod and put it into the slide.

Thanks. Mine was installed correctly but I wasn't aware this is a common error.

[bill1745]

That's a nice one

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Thank you. I think so.