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Colt Model 1908 Pocket Hammerless .380
ACP "Concession Francaise Changhai" No. 612 - This
pistol was manufactured for the French Shanghai Police
order. It is equipped with a factory lanyard loop, thumb
safety block (screw hole present) and special Shanghai
Municipal Police magazine (with holes in front and rear).
Because of WWII, this order was cancelled and the right side
frame inscription was obliterated by over stamping it with
an upside down Colt .25 caliber slide roll die (from the top
line slide inscription on the left side of the .25 slide).
Colt factory letter indicates this pistol
was one of 100 guns that were shipped to the British
Purchasing Commission, 15 Broad Street, New York, NY on
January 14, 1942. Once they were redirected to the BPC,
these pistols were intended for use by the SOE.
Accompanying this pistol is a Dutch holster for an FN 1922.
The lack of the BNP British Proof marks indicates that this
gun was issued and was not later sold as surplus after the
war. The person from whom this pistol was acquired
indicated that it had been taken off of a German soldier
during WWII.
Colt factory roll mark on right side of the frame reads "CONCESSION
FRANCAISE CHANGHAI" over "No 612". Roll mark was
obliterated at Colt when the contract was cancelled. The
other known examples of this contract also have "73" on the
upper right flat of the trigger guard.
Colt 1908 Pocket Hammerless .380 serial number 134492 - left
side view with special two-tone .380 magazine. Magazine has
viewing holes in the front and the back for the inspection
of the bullets and the primers.
This pistol bears a "W" in a Crown
stamped on the upper left flat of the trigger guard.
Close-up of factory lanyard loop.
Left side profile of Model 1908 Colt Pocket Hammerless
serial number 134492
Original holster that accompanied pistol appears to be an FN
type, perhaps for a Model 1922.
Crown over "dV" Markings on front of holster under flap.
Also present is number 265490 that presumably matches the
serial number on an FN pistol.
Open holster. |
