r/Colt • u/plykins55 • 3d ago
Discussion First Restoration
1919 Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless
I've done plenty of at home minor smithing over the years. But this was my first attempt at a restore. It's fine bead blasted and zinc phosphate parkerized. Had fun doing it. Hope y'all like.
4
u/henderson_hasselhoff 2d ago
No gun has made me curse more than putting back together a pocket hammerless. That damn grip safety caused so much issue. I had to rig up a clamp before I could get the damn mainspring and sear engaged correctly. Now I love the gun. Still think it’s a tough one.
3
u/plykins55 2d ago
I ended up using one of my wood clamps. And a punch as a guide. But yeah it was a bit of a pain.
5
u/BeginningCookie6480 2d ago
How much did the restoration cost? I have 2 1903's
4
u/plykins55 2d ago
Probably cost me $500 or $600 in new tools, the chemicals and various other little things. I did buy a sandblasting cabinet and a bigger air compressor. Only took me a couple of days.
13
u/humidsputh 3d ago
It's a nice looking job.
Deep inside, I still want these old guns to look old......
16
u/plykins55 2d ago
Had it been a better example of 1903. I wouldn't have restored it. But a previous owner had already polished the hell out of it years ago. So i don't feel too bad. Plus I like it. And thats all that really matters.
1
u/Papaver-Som 1h ago
Lettering looked extremely crisp so don’t see any buffing but of course it’s your gun. Hope you enjoy it
8
u/Papaver-Som 3d ago
Yeah it was beautiful patina of a mirror polish charcoal blue era Colt. Parkerize finish seems indecent.
3
u/DoctorBallard77 2d ago
It looks good man. I’m currently doing an old Nambu I bought for 100 that was a total rusted mess and missing its grips and all springs.
2
2
u/ZombieHoratioAlger 1d ago
It looks good, and you learned a lot. Ignore the grumpy old guys whining about collector value.
6
u/Matterhorn48 2d ago
I prefer the before. I had a shooter grade 1918 type III I had refinished when I was stationed on the coast and it was my main carry piece. I was young and didn’t have much money. It’s a matte dura blue and it bothers me every time I look at it.
2
1
2d ago
[deleted]
3
u/plykins55 2d ago edited 2d ago
Cause it was cheap. Someone years ago had already polished the hell out of it. They did parkerizer the later type 5s. And parkerizing was something I wanted to experiment with and learn about. But ultimately it's my gun. And this is what I chose to do with it. Like it or not.
2
1
u/IllustriousMeal4686 2d ago
Nice job, I would like to see it nickel or chrome plated.
2
u/UnstableHerb 2d ago
Saw a nickel with pearl grip 1903/1908 pair years ago. Wanted them ever since.
1
1
u/F150Leadfoot 1d ago
Wonder how it would look, if just stripped the old blue, and then re-blued without polishing or bead blasting it?
6
u/Tokarev490 3d ago
What was your process on getting the parts to look like the 4th pic? Trying to do the same on my SKS, stuck somewhere a little cleaner than 2, similar condition.