Proud of the state-of-the-art technology represented by this advance, Colt included a green brochure marking its inclusion with every Model 1908 sold for a year after its introduction. This additional safety device was added to production in 1916 or 1917 in the latter 139,000 serial number range, and patented by Colt in 1917. In 1916 Colt engineer George Tansley invented a third safety feature for the pistol, the magazine safety disconnector, which prevented accidental firing with the magazine removed. Colt's advertising and marketing literature of the time highly touted the advanced safety features of the Model 1908, including a standard slide-locking safety catch, as well as a grip safety. The pistol’s fixed open iron sights were rather small and rudimentary, but typical for small hideout automatics of its era and adequate for the short range at which it was intended to be used. Weighing a mere 13 ounces, it is fed by a six-round single column magazine. Known as the Model "N" internally within Colt, the 1908 Vest Pocket is a diminutive 4.5 inches long, and has a 2-inch barrel. 25 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) cartridge. Both pistols were chambered for the Browning-invented. Designed by John Moses Browning, the Model 1908 followed Browning’s earlier European version, introduced by Fabrique Nationale de Herstal as the FN Model 1906. Manufactured by the Colt's Manufacturing Company from 1908 to 1948, it was marketed as a small concealable firearm which could be easily tucked into a vest pocket for unobtrusive carry. Measuring only 638-inches long and weighing but 22 ounces, the gun was easily concealed and its rounded contours allowed it to be easily drawn from pocket, purse or holster.Īnd while it never achieved great popularity in the United States, due in part to the preeminence of the 1903 Colt, it was well thought of elsewhere.īluing is in the 98 percent range, and the piece is mechanically perfect.Īs such, it would probably bring a solid 650 on todays market.The Model 1908 Vest Pocket is a compact, hammerless, striker-fired, semi-automatic single-action pistol. It was immediately adopted by Belgium as its service sidearm and over the years saw employment by the militaries of many countries, including Greece, Austria-Hungary, Russia, France and Germany. Reflecting the esteem in which the pistol was held, many were also highly embellished with engraving and gold inlaya good example being an elaborate cased version of the pistol made for Belgiums King Albert. This device warned the shooter that the pistol was unloaded, as the guns slide did not remain open after the last shot. Grips were of checkered hard rubber and, depending upon when the gun was made, displayed the initials FN below a facsimile of the gun itself, or simply FN. The safety was a small lever sited on the left side of the frame where it could be flicked down to fire (FEU) and up for safe (SUR.).
0 kommentar(er)
