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

COLT MODELS

Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless .32 ACP & Model 1908 Pocket Hammerless .380 ACP - Police Department Marked Factory Inscribed Pistols

P.D.N.Y. - New York Police Department

 

Model M .380 serial number 15398 with factory roll mark "P.D.N.Y. No. 171" on right side of frame above grip. Pistol has original finish.  Over 800 of these pistols were ordered by the New York City Police Department from 1913 - 1914 for issue to detectives.  Prior to ordering these Colt pistols, the New York Police Department issued to its officers Colt New Police .32 revolvers that were factory engraved with the inscription "New York Police" on the back strap.

Known Colt 1908 .380 ACP PDNY Inscribed Pistols by Issue Number

17, 71, 78, 82, 85, 86, 94, 111, 135, 167, 171, 177, 184, 194, 203, 208, 213, 214, 224, 295, 309, 333, 345, 353,
 393, 417, 420, 423, 430, 436, 439, 475, 563, 575, 576, 629, 644, 652, 679, 703, 757, 763, 767, 796, 800, 811

 

The man in the photograph who is not in uniform is Alfred P. Lane, Olympic shooter and gold medalist.  Lane was hired by the New York City Police Department (NYPD) in 1914 to train police officers how to shoot with the new semi-auto Colt 1908 Pocket Hammerless .380 caliber pistols. Photo is dated March 16, 1914.  Source: George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress).
 

Model M .380 serial number 15398 factory rollmarked "P.D.N.Y. No. 171" right side.

Model M .380 with factory rollmark "P.D.N.Y. No. 353" on right side of frame above grip. Over 800 of these pistols were ordered by the New York City Police Department from 1913 - 1914 for issue to detectives.

Model M .380 serial number 15217 factory rollmarked "P.D.N.Y. No. 353" on right side of frame above grip.

Model M .380 serial number 15212 factory rollmarked "P.D.N.Y. No. 353" right side.

Model M .380 serial number 16422 factory rollmarked "P.D.N.Y. No. 417" left side.

Model M .380 serial number 16422 factory rollmarked "P.D.N.Y. No. 417" right side.

Close-up of P.D.N.Y. No. 417 Rollmark

Model M .380 serial number 16760 factory rollmarked "P.D.N.Y. No. 345" on right side of frame above grip.

Model M .380 serial number 16760 factory rollmarked "P.D.N.Y. No. 345" on right side of frame above grip.

 

 

 

 

Model M .380 serial number 16595 factory rollmarked "P.D.N.Y. No. 111" on right side of frame above grip. Replacement plastic grips.

Model M .380 serial number 16595 factory rollmarked "P.D.N.Y. No. 111" on right side of frame above grip. Replacement plastic grips. 

Model M .380 serial number 16595 factory rollmarked "P.D.N.Y. No. 111" on right side of frame above grip. Replacement plastic grips.

Model M .380 serial number 17655 factory rollmarked "P.D.N.Y. No. 811" on right side of frame above stock. Left stock is a later style Type III.

Colt 1908 Pocket Hammerless .380 ACP serial number 17655 Factory Letter - Date of manufacture April 9, 1914, Factory Engraved "PDNY No. 811" on the right side of the frame. Shipped to Police Department, City of New York, April 11, 1914, 40 guns in shipment.

Model M .380 serial number 17655 factory rollmarked "P.D.N.Y. No. 811" on right side of frame above stock.

Model M .380 serial number 17655 factory rollmarked "P.D.N.Y. No. 811" on right side of frame above right stock. Someone drilled holes into the right stock (small pony early style Type III), presumably an attempt by a left handed shooter to improve the grip on the pistol.

 

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