Colt Automatic Pistol and Revolver Information - 25 years of Service to Colt Firearms Collectors

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Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless .32 ACP - Dutch Contract

Dutch Contract Model M .32 ACP serial number 545266 - Processed on Colt factory order number 9467 and shipped on January 20, 1941 in a 100 gun shipment to the Royal Netherland Indies Ordnance, New York, NY.  This pistol was originally shipped with a blue finish but has been painted black and has British proof marks.

During the 1940s, the Dutch government ordered 8,371 of these pistols in 80 shipments for use in the Netherlands East Indies, presumably by police or military officers.  Approximately 64 shipments totaling 6,800 pistols were sent to the Royal Netherlands Indies Ordnance Commission or to the Netherlands Purchasing Commission, both in New York City for use in Asia.  Another 1,571 Model M .32 caliber pistols in 16 shipments were sent to the Nederlandse Handel Maatschappij and the Ingeneren (or Ingenegeren) Vriejburg or other commercial importers in Java as well as top the New Netherlands Company in New York City.  About half of the pistols from 537000 to 552000 were sent to Java.

Dutch Contract Model M .32 ACP serial number 545266 - right side.

Dutch Contract Model M .32 ACP serial number 545266 - British proof marks on right side of frame.

Dutch Contract Model M .32 ACP serial number 545266 - British proof marks on top of slide and barrel (through ejection port).

Dutch Contract Model M .32 ACP serial number 545266 - pictured with original Dutch contract holster.

Political prisoner in Batavia, Java, jailed under Dutch colonial rule, awaits his release by the Japanese. (From the Time-Life Books "The Rising Sun")

Japanese officer in the photo is wearing a Dutch East Indies holster and Colt.

Dutch Contract Model M .32 ACP serial number 545266 - pictured in original Dutch contract holster with cleaning rod.

Dutch Contract Model M .32 ACP Holster - front

Dutch Contract Model M .32 ACP Holster - back


 
From the Carvel Webb Collection

Dutch Contract Model M .32 ACP serial number 545xxx (1941 manufacture) - mint condition with original box, pamphlet, two full blued spare mags, and box is numbered to the gun. Accompanying the pistol is a holster of typical Dutch pattern with brass loop type buckle, matching magazine pouch, an "invasion type" plastic waterproof carrier, and a Army service type handbook (illustrated), written in Dutch for the 1903 Colt .32, dated 1941.

 

From the Carvel Webb Collection

Dutch Contract Model M .32 ACP serial number 545xxx (1941 manufacture)

From the Carvel Webb Collection

Dutch holster with magazine pouch and two spare full blued magazines. (magazine is missing strap)

 

From the Carvel Webb Collection

Typical Dutch pattern holster with brass loop type buckle, matching magazine pouch, an "invasion type" plastic waterproof carrier.

From the Carvel Webb Collection

Photo of the cover of the accompanying 1941 dated Dutch handbook.  The title (loosely translated) reads "Instructions for Colt Pistol .32 , and associated shooting exercises"

From the Carvel Webb Collection

Color illustration of the Colt Model 1903 .32 ACP in the handbook with the parts described in Dutch.

From the Carvel Webb Collection

This Dutch instruction manual for the Colt .32 is a numbered copy.

From the Carvel Webb Collection

 
Section 1 (1e Afdeling)
1. Description of the pistol , ammunition and accessories.
2. Operation
3. Disassembly
4. Cleaning and maintenance
5. Handling and misfires
Section 2 (Shooting instruction)
6. Material needed
7. Range Safety
8. Preparation of the weapon
9. Shooting exercises
10. Scoring
Model letter A ; Results report
Model letter B : Shooting register .

From the Carvel Webb Collection


From the John van Donselaar Collection, Colt box from F.D. Collection

Dutch Contract Model M .32 ACP serial number 548373 (1941 manufacture) - with Colt box, pamphlet and ammunition.  Also accompanying the pistol are two period ammunition boxes, two holster (one is a pre-war Dutch Indies made holster with CW stamps and the other one is the war-time variant) and a Army service type handbook (illustrated), written in Dutch for the 1903 Colt .32, dated 1941.

From the John van Donselaar Collection

From the John van Donselaar Collection

From the John van Donselaar Collection

The stamp "says" CW (which means "Constructie Winkel" for construction department), N (means "Nieuw" for newly made), 1 (which stands for "January" the month of production), 42 (which stands for "1942" the year of production) and W Z (which are controllers markings). Please note that the Dutch Indies where captured by the Japanese army, early March 1942!

From the John van Donselaar Collection

From the John van Donselaar Collection

From the John van Donselaar Collection

50 Patronen scherpe nr.8. Merk A3-41 - The Dutch Indies army authorities gave all the types of ammunition, that were in use, number. "Patronen scherpe nr. 8" was ammunition for .32 of 7,65mm pistols (Colt .32 and the Pistol
H&R in .32). All ammunition boxes where bought abroad (USA) and, when they arrived in the Dutch Indies, where wrapped in wax paper and then where labeled.

From the John van Donselaar Collection

25 Patronen scherpe nr.8. Merk A2-40 - The Dutch Indies army authorities gave all the types of ammunition, that were in use, number. "Patronen scherpe nr. 8" was ammunition for .32 of 7,65mm pistols (Colt .32 and the Pistol
H&R in .32). All ammunition boxes where bought abroad (USA) and, when they arrived in the Dutch Indies, where wrapped in wax paper and then where labeled.

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