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

COLT MODELS

Coltautos.com Gun of the Month - January 2022
Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless .380 ACP (Model M)
Carried by American Airlines Air Mail Pilot

Colt Pocket Hammerless 1908 .380 ACP serial number 100046 (ca. 1928) - Nickel plated Model M .380  with original S.D. Myres holster carried by pilot Russel Arden, an airline pilot in 1930 when he flew for what became American Airlines. He was required to carry a pistol when transporting the mail and also when he was with a civilian pilot for the Air Transport Command during WWII. There are no specific markings on the gun (aside from the owner's own identification number: V713669), however, the leather S.D. Myres holster has an AA stamp (for American Airways), AM33 (which means Airmail Route 33).

 

Colt Pocket Hammerless 1908 .380 ACP serial number 100046 (ca. 1928) - right side.

Colt Pocket Hammerless 1908 .380 ACP serial number 100046 (ca. 1928) - pictured with original holster, air mail wings and two original letter covers commemorating the First Flight of Air Mail Route 33.

Colt Pocket Hammerless 1908 .380 ACP serial number 100046 (ca. 1928) - original S.D. Myres holster (rear view) that US Air Mail pilot Russel Arden carried when transporting the mail.

Russel Norman Arden

Name: Russel Norman Arden
Birthplace: Assaria, Kansas
Date of Birth: May 10, 1910
Married: Yes
Children: None
Rank: First Pilot
Trained at: Universal Aviation School, Minneapolis, Minn
Date of Employment with American Airlines, inc. June 1, 1930
Hours: 5,696:07 (as of 11-1-37)
Route: Ft. Worth-Memphis, AM 33


 

Gun of the Month


January 2022


Contact Us


 



Home | Wants | Gun of the Month | Historical Info | Instruction Sheets
Site Search| Online Bookstore | Colt Care | Links

Questions / Comments? Contact Us!
 

The Rampant Horse and Colt logos are registered
trademarks of Colt's Manufacturing Company, Inc. Hartford, CT

Copyright © 1996 - 2024 by Coltautos.com. All rights reserved.
Please read our online Privacy Statement
The Coltautos.com logos and all proprietary artwork and photos are the property of Coltautos.com and may not be reproduced or distributed without expressed written permission.