Gun of the
Month
Annual
Archive |
|
|
Coltautos.com Gun of the Month - June 2002
Colt Model 1908 Pocket Hammerless .380 ACP
Serial Number 134689
Western Australia Police Contract
|
Colt Model 1908 .380 ACP serial number 134689. One
of approximately 200 pistols in the 134000 serial number
range inscribed on the right side of the frame "W.A.P."
over "No 43". This pistol was shipped in a
100 gun shipment on January 14, 1942 to the British
Purchasing Commission, 15 Broad Street, New York, NY. These
pistols were presumably ordered for the Western Australia
Police but the order was cancelled and the pistols were
redirected to the British Purchasing Commission in January
1942.
The W.A.P. contract pistols also had the following
installed features:
- a staple shaped lanyard loop on the lower left
side of the frame. The grips were also notched to
accommodate the presence of the lanyard loop. (See
the Commercial
.380 with Lanyard Loop)
- a screw to block the thumb safety from being
engaged (the screw has been removed, leaving an
empty screw hole)
Unlike the SMP marked Colt Model M .380 pistols, this
W.A.P. example retains the original blue and original
grips The magazine safety disconnector is still functional.
Left side of W.A.P. Model M .380 ACP showing factory
lanyard loop and hole above thumb safety for the thumb
safety retaining screw.
This pistol bears a "W" in a Crown stamped on the
upper left flat of the trigger guard.
Close-up of factory lanyard loop. |
|
|
