1920s Pocket pistol challenge

[Bottlefed]

What's the best early pocket pistol? I'm putting the 3 earliest I have tomorrow. 1907 savage, colt 1903 and a baby browning. Just add to argument is there a better one I'm missing and what do you think is the best?

 

[Glock10MM]

The Colt 1903 gets my vote.

 

[hopper68]

Do you count derringers as early pocket pistols?

 

[geronimojoe85]

I like the Colt 1908 in 380 best.

It's like a 1903, it's got all the right stuff but just a little more punch.

 

[Hit]

Those are three good choices ... I do particularly like the design Savage 1907 ... but I would say best 1920's pocket gun is the Remington Model 51 with the John Pederson designed "momentum block" lockup mechanism. The M51 is easily the most comfortable gun I have ever held in my hands. I have 2 of them both manufactured in 1920.

 

[Goodcat]

I like the Colt 1908 in 380 best.

It's like a 1903, it's got all the right stuff but just a little more punch.

I would agree on the 1908. Plus, hard to find good ammo for the 1903

 

[tacdriver]

i've carried my 1910 browning a few times, fun gun too you would be surprised what you can hit with just a site groove in a slide as your only sites

 

[Mgderf]

I have a Savage 1907 and a Colt 1903, both in .32acp. Both feel great in the hand, but my vote has to go to the Colt.
No experience with the Baby Browning.

 

[Bottlefed]

It's going to be interesting the savage Actually looks better built but I feel the colt is one if the best shooting pocket pistols still to this day. We are heading out now to shoot thanks for your comments

 

[SmileDocHill]

Great thread. Having only gotten into guns in the last 6 years I had to Google every model mentioned in this thread so far.

 

[warren5421]

I have 2 Colt 1903's in .32ACP. One is always in my pocket. Buffalo Bore 75 gr Hard cast FN (1150 fps/M.E. 220Ft Lbs) is the round I carry in it. Buffalo Bore has a good blog on the .32 ammo. https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=132
The 1903 was carried a lot by Wild Bill Donovan's boys during the 1940's-1950's. The .32 ACP was easy to get as it was the major cop round of that era. I read an article in the NRA magazine of a quest for a good round for one of the early information seekers going to east Germany after the war.

 

[Bottlefed]

Shot them all yesterday to the extent of 300rds and we even tossed in a derringer as someone earlier mentioned. The 1903 colt felt natural in the hand to the point of being the most comfortable gun to hold I own and as a family out collection is over 400. The colt also fit nicely in the pocket it's thin and smooth build made it easy to carry and was a pleasure to shoot. It was very accurate to compare to a modern pocket pistol we took out the ruger lcp, sw380 bodyguard and a sw shield. It out shot them all (I believe because of there long pull triggers). With that said the savage was smooth best groups out of all 3, carried more ammo and felt like a pistol that was made to be the best. The baby browning is a great carry and we felt it was more like today's pocket pistols all about concealment less about function. If I wanted a small reliable accurate pistol the savage would be it. I was was looking for a smooth sleek pocket pistol that I was going to carry all the time colt would be my choice. The browning was a fine gun but just got out performed. I hope this didn't offend anyone its just what I did to settle a card table argument.

 

[jmil]

Remington had a pocket model in 380 1920s shot very well

 

[darend505]

Shot them all yesterday to the extent of 300rds and we even tossed in a derringer as someone earlier mentioned. The 1903 colt felt natural in the hand to the point of being the most comfortable gun to hold I own and as a family out collection is over 400. The colt also fit nicely in the pocket it's thin and smooth build made it easy to carry and was a pleasure to shoot. It was very accurate to compare to a modern pocket pistol we took out the ruger lcp, sw380 bodyguard and a sw shield. It out shot them all (I believe because of there long pull triggers). With that said the savage was smooth best groups out of all 3, carried more ammo and felt like a pistol that was made to be the best. The baby browning is a great carry and we felt it was more like today's pocket pistols all about concealment less about function. If I wanted a small reliable accurate pistol the savage would be it. I was was looking for a smooth sleek pocket pistol that I was going to carry all the time colt would be my choice. The browning was a fine gun but just got out performed. I hope this didn't offend anyone its just what I did to settle a card table argument.

Please count me in for the family reunion!

 

[Bottlefed]

It's funny you say that our family thanks givings are 35-50 of us having a turkey shoot to raise money for local needy family or Masonic charity's

 

[boozoo]

I have an Ortgies I enjoy but it seems to always have trouble. Had a Beholla once that was a real piece of crap LOL

My favorite so far is an Astra 300.

 

[indiucky]

Remington had a pocket model in 380 1920s shot very well

Patton carried one...When you look at one of those it looks like a modern gun...Very compact and it doesn't follow the lines of the "Art Deco" style that even bled into the gun designs of that era....They are flat and reliable and plain beautiful in a spartan kind of way...

I always thought the "Colt Bankers Special" and "Pocket Positive" were decent pocket guns of the "Roaring Twenties" as well...IMHO lest my bringing up a revolver design be misconstrued as "testy" or "Religous" in nature.

 

[traderdan]

Enjoyed the thread...Old weapons are my hobby. I have owned all of these weapons at one time or the other,and I would have to agree with your conclusions, those Savages point very naturally,and the ones that I have owned printed very nicely.The small Browning had occasional feed issues. The early Colt? Well I think to understand,you just need to own one.One of the local shops has a 1903 Pocket in .38 ACP that I am coveting in a manner that is almost sinful!

 

[walt o]

I think that many of the hammer -less revolvers of that period are great guns
S&W , Iver johnson ,and many others .Fact is that S&W still makes one and revolvers of that period were reliable and small.They came in 22cal ,32 cal and 38cal

 

[Bottlefed]

We are already talking about what to do next. Suggestions are always welcome.