Two Colts

**cruzans** · September 22nd, 2012, 04:07 PM

Picked up two nice old Colts ( 1903 and 1908 ) that I've been wanting for a while from another great PAFOA member ! Both seem to be in great mechanical shape, with varying degrees of finish loss. Now the decision if I want to keep them as is, use some oxpho blue and touch them up, or send them out to be refinished. I always like the character of old used guns, just don't know which way to go at this point. Off to the range hopefully within the next few days to see how they shoot!

**sprrdhawk44** · September 22nd, 2012, 04:53 PM

Very nice. I would leave them the way they are.

**cruzans** · September 22nd, 2012, 08:13 PM

So after some time with them, my plans are :

1908. - the finish on the slide is almost totally gone, but frame is decent. So I used 0000 steel wool and got the few small blue spots on the slide removed, and slide now looks like a new ss slide. I then used oxpho on the frame lightly, and it looks pretty darn good.

1903 - cleaned gun, even the 'liquid' beneathe the grips ( was told gun had an dark past ) made sure I had gloves on. Overall guns in decent shape so just used some oxpho under the grips and on front and back straps and going to keep original

All in all, a good day. Great prices on guns, C&R so no transfer $, and fun afternoon messing with them!

Here's where they stand now - still going to work on them !

**lhowland.40** · September 22nd, 2012, 08:53 PM

They look great! I'm a big fan of the 1908's.
I wouldn't do anything else to either.

**cruzans** · September 22nd, 2012, 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by lhowland.40

They look great! I'm a big fan of the 1908's.
I wouldn't do anything else to either.

Thanks, I think I'm going to clean, tinker a bit, but nothing major - I like some age marks

**Grumpa72** · September 23rd, 2012, 07:49 AM

Very old pistols deserve to look their age - they earned their battle scars! I own both a Colt 1908 Pocket hammerless .380 and a 1908 Vest Pocket .25. Mine have all of their "bruises and warts" and will stay that way. I say leave them alone. If you want a beautifully blued show piece buy a new pistol.

**Snert** · September 23rd, 2012, 07:56 AM

1903 - cleaned gun, even the 'liquid' beneathe the grips ( was told gun had an dark past ) made sure I had gloves on. Overall guns in decent shape so just used some oxpho under the grips and on front and back straps and going to keep original

Care to tell us the story???

I would leave both as they are.

**cruzans** · September 23rd, 2012, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by Snert

1903 - cleaned gun, even the 'liquid' beneathe the grips ( was told gun had an dark past ) made sure I had gloves on. Overall guns in decent shape so just used some oxpho under the grips and on front and back straps and going to keep original

Care to tell us the story???

I would leave both as they are.

Yeah, think I'm taking all the advise and leaving them pretty much alone! Was told the 1903 was used in a murder/suicide and somehow was not sent to the scrap heap ! Based on the the patterns/type of finish loss, and what was under the grips - it seems credible! Gotta love gun history - it's like the time I was working on the stock of my M1 carbine - after using dna, 0000 steel wool, boiled linseed oil, etc - cartouche's/markings started to come out including hash marks at the tip of the stock - hmmmm, what could that officer in the South Pacific have been keeping track of