US Armament Corporation  has licensed the Colt logo in order to produce a high quality 1903 Pocket Hammerless Pistol in .32 Auto as an exact copy of the original. It was a little over a month ago I received a test sample and went straight to work testing the gun, and using it in a .32 Auto ballistic test.

Initial Impressions 

The little .32 Auto ships in a Colt cardboard box, wrapped in brown wax paper, reminiscent of the military issue Colt pistols.

As you can see the US Armament Corps take on the 1903 is a well built copy of the original, down to the Colt rollmarks.

The lines are clean, with the steel short GI style trigger breaking at six pounds with minimal take up and some over travel. The small GI style sights were adequate.

Here you will notice the European style heal magazine release, in which I am not a fan, and the grip safety that forms the smooth backstrap. The wooden stocks are gorgeous with the gold Colt medallion.

Compared to an original Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless you will notice, other than just a little differences in the hue of the finish, they are the same.

This is about average grouping shot offhand at thirty feet with ball and defensive loads. Considering the size of the pistol, sight radius, sight style, and my 43 year old eyes, I consider this plenty acceptable.

Range Time 

Conclusions 

The US Armament Corp’s reintroduction of the 1903 Colt Pocket Hammerless Pistol fits right in with so many other manufactures reintroducing retro firearms, and I see this as a good thing.  The little pistol is an exact copy in every way I can see, other than some differences in the finish colors. It was reliable through some 250 rounds including many various defensive rounds. Accuracy was more than acceptable, especially considering the minimal sights. Being in .32 Auto and an all steel pistol the little Pocket Pistol was a dream to shoot. I appreciate the quality and attention to detail put into this pistol but that sort of quality does not come cheap, MSRP is $1295. Though this pistol may be a little large for deep concealment it would work very well as a concealed carry pistol, being reliable with the defensive ammunition used. You can read the ballistic test by following this link. The original Colts have become collectors pieces and the going prices reflect that, so for someone looking to have the old 1903 Pocket Hammerless but not wanting to carry and wear on an original, this pistol is by far your best option. I remember seeing the old Pocket Hammerless for the first time in Key Largo when Humphry Bogart uses one to save the day, close to the end of the movie and I have been a fan ever since. There is a lot of romance and nostalgia associated with the old guns of decades past and I can understand wanting to have one that does not have to be a safe queen.

Specifications 

Caliber: .32 ACP

Barrel: 3.75 inches

OA Length: 6.5 inches

Weight: 24 ounces (empty)

Stocks: Checkered walnut

Sights: Fixed front, adjustable rear

Action: SA

Finish: Blued

Capacity: 8+1

MSRP: $1,295


Acknowledgments 

US Armament Corp. 

Hornady 

Ammo For Sale.com

Bull City Armory 

By Hunter Elliott

I spent much of my youth involved with firearms and felt the call early on to the United States Marine Corps, following in my father's and his brother's footsteps. Just after high school I enlisted and felt most at home on the rifle range, where I qualified expert with several firearms and spent some time as a rifle coach to my fellow Marines. After being honorably discharged I continued teaching firearm safety, rifle and pistol marksmanship, and began teaching metallic cartridge reloading. In the late 1990s I became a life member to the National Rifle Association and worked with the Friends of the NRA. Around that time my father and I became involved with IDPA and competed together up until he passed away. I began reviewing firearms for publications in the mid 2000s and have been fortunate to make many friends in the industry. Continuing to improve my firearms skills and knowledge is a never ending journey in which we should all be committed. I am also credited as weapons master on a few independent films.

9 thoughts on “Colt1903 Pocket Hammerless, by US Armament Corp.”
  1. When I saw your .32 ballistic tests, then your statement that gun reviews would be forthcoming, I started licking my chops!

    This pistol looks beautiful, obviously works A-1, and, well, retro is me. I was testing out the new springs and various ammo in my FN 1922 .32 yesterday, and had similarly highly satisfactory results–just a pleasure to shoot, and stays on target for fast follow-ups with ease.

    If left arms were negotiable currency, I’d give up mine for one of these Colts (although it would make operating the slide and magazine release a bit sticky, wouldn’t it?)

    Where is this pistol available for purchase?

    Thanks again for the review, along with the splendid ballistics tests.

    1. Thank you very much sir.
      The new 1903 Pocket Hammerless is a damn fine little retro pistol. I have gained a new respect for the .32 Auto after the ballistic test and the 1903 review. I am about halfway through the Kel-Tec P-32 review and that pistol is running 100% as well.
      From what I have seen, the 1903 is available for order from a few distributors. Your FFL should not have much of an issue finding you one.

  2. Hunter, I really enjoyed this review, very detailed and alot of good information. Video was good. Enjoyed shooting this one. Thank you for letting me be a part of this review.

    Barbara Elliott

  3. I had an OLD original 32 colt. It hardly any finfish left and rattled like a kid with a stick in a garbage can. BUT it hit EVERYTHING I pointed it at, even the move. Back then the ammo got very hard to find so, I sold it. BIG REGRET. Looking seriously at another. Been drooling ever since they came out again, I’m still flabbergasted by its accuracy. I think this little gem was how I learned to point shoot.

  4. A very fine review of this pistol. I’ve waited quite a while for these things actually to go into distribution and I recently snapped up one in Bright Blue from Able Arms. Unlike every review of this model, my initial results provided regular malfunctions with the 71-73 grain ball loads nosediving into the feed ramp and stopping short. This went on for quite a while and stopped altogether when applied a moderate crimp. I have noticed some interference from the Semi-rim of the ejecting case impacting the uncrimped case mouth. Exactly No other person seems to have experienced this and nobody knows what I’m talking about but the crimp works for me and after considerable trouble free shooting, it is at 100 percent – with or without crimp.
    My favorite load is the 71 grain patch roundnose loaded to 1036 fps by S&B. The trigger lets off at 5 lbs 12 oz. With a “step” occurring before release I like to shoot it one-handed as was common when these were In regular use and have found that it is fairly easy to shoot 5” groups at 15 yards and to keep most shots inside the 9 ring of a b27 target at 25.

  5. Well nice report of the 03 colt!
    This is by far one of Mr. Browning’s best designs IMO
    There is and has been draw back to the design from day and that is the heal mounted mag catch.

    Well I fixed issue and improved on me. Browning’s design by installing a 1911 style mag catch into my 1903. This has changed the whole dynamic of the gun .
    Contact me for pictures !!!

  6. This review, in addition to your excellent ballistics test, provided me with the perfect solution for personal protection as a concealed carry. The U.S. Armament 1903 Colt + Fiocchi JHP is a great combination. 10.5″ penetration with .457 expansion in gel and 19″ penetration with .642″ expansion through three layers of denim, can’t think of anything else I would need. In addition, the ergonomics of the firearm is amazing, easy to rack. I also read that U.S. Armament did drop tests on the original and found a tweak that ensured that it would never fire in their “new” version. It feels substantial and safe as an all steel gun. Can’t believe such a good design was created so long ago and without the use of computer design. Thank you very much.

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