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Colt 1908 Vest Pocket serial number 408652 -
Pre-Post/War example with two line slide marking on left
side of the slide. Gun has a tank blued post-war finish and
a visible hardening line on the front of the slide.Pistol
was one of five shipped to Baker & Hamilton, 700 7th Street,
San Francisco, California on October 21, 1946.
These guns were assembled from available parts. 408652 has
a steel grip screw escutcheon on the right grip. These
escutcheons were used on the checkered walnut grips on WWII
vintage Model M pistols.Until recently, most collectors
have associated the single line slide marking on the Model N
with the 705 post-war pistols produced in the 420000 serial
number range. A few of these pistols above the terminal
pre-War serial number 409061 have been encountered with a
409000 range serial number and the single line slide
marking.
Serial Number 409349 (above), is fitted with checkered
walnut grips and 409177 (below) is fitted with surplus Type
II Hard Rubber grips. Both of these pistols have their
original post-war boxes, with post-war instruction sheets.
Colt Model N serial number 420132. Most serial number
references indicate that the highest production serial
number for the Model N is 409061. After WWII, Colt's
produced 705 guns in the 420000 serial number range from
420001 - 420705. These guns are readily identifiable by the
single line slide marking on the left side of the slide and
are often encountered with black hard rubber grips. They are
classified as "pre/post war" variations since they were
constructed from left-over pre-war parts, but were shipped
after 1945.
Model N sn 420172 features machine checkered walnut grips
with flush medallions. A unique feature of this pistol is
the omission of the Rampant Colt logo on the left rear of
the slide behind the serrations.
Colt Model N serial number 420574. Of the 705 guns produced
in the 420000 serial number range, this is one of four guns
recorded in the factory production book as having been
scrapped. It has some unusual features which may indicate
that assembly of this gun occurred sometime after this model
was out of production. (see photos below). The brown grip is
indicative of long exposure to light. The grip on the right
side is black. Additionally, the front sight on this example
and the last 200 or so pistols was ramped.
This five-pointed hollow star appears on the lower right
trigger guard of serial number 420574. The mark in the
center of the star appears to be an initial misstrike of the
marking die. The significance of this mark is unknown.
Additionally, the assembler's number "88" appears on the
upper right flat of the trigger guard. Every other known
example of the pre/post-war Model N has the number "53" on
the upper right flat of the trigger guard.
Also, the upper left flat of the trigger guard of 420574
contains a very unusual variation of the verified proof or
"VP" mark.
Model N 420598 has Type II hard rubber grips and an unusual
ramped front sight which appears on this model after sn
420450.
This pistol, serial number 420662, is just 43 numbers away
from the last pistols produced. Distinguishing
characteristics of this pistol include a tank blued finish,
Type II black hard rubber grips, and an unusual ramped front
sight that has been observed on these pistols from 420519 to
the end of production. Perhaps the most distinguishing
characteristic is that the slide serrations were cut in
reverse! Also see serial number 420669 below that's in the
same configuration, (including the reverse cut slide
serrations.)
420662 reverse cut slide serrations.
Right side of 420662
Ramped sight on 420662.
This pistol, sn 420669, is just 36 numbers away from the
last pistols produced. It was shipped on December 30, 1946
in a two gun shipment to Clapp & Treat, Hartford,
Connecticut. It is in near mint condition with it's original
box (numbered to the gun with the additional notation
"Rubber" to indicate the type of grips) and post-war
instruction sheet. Distinguishing characteristics of this
pistol include a tank blued finish, Type II black hard
rubber grips, and an unusual ramped front sight that has
been observed on these pistols from 420519 to the end of
production. Perhaps the most distinguishing characteristic
is that the slide serrations were cut in reverse!
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