Colt 1908 Vest Pocket: It’s the One That Started it All

The Colt 1908 Vest Pocket was one of John Browning’s many groundbreaking designs. It was the first pocket pistol to be released in Europe, as the FN M1905. It was almost identical to the Colt 1908 Vest Pocket, which would soon be available on the American market. Whatever name you give it, this iconic mouse gun was Browning’s attempt to create the smallest centerfire pistol using his new.25 ACP cartridge. It was the turn of century, and automatic pistols were just starting to take off. Most designs were full-sized military duty pistols. Browning understood that modern men prefer to carry concealed and to be comfortable. Recognizing the inherent reliability problems with.22-rimfire cartridges, Browning set out to create the.25 ACP centrefire and a new pistol. His design was introduced first by FN as the M1905 on the European market. Colt followed suit in America shortly thereafter under the model N (also known as the Colt Model 1908, Colt Vest Pocket). These guns are not ideal for practical CCW, but their collectability makes them desirable. Photograph by Rock Island Auction Company. Design DetailsThe Colt 1908 Vest Pocket was not only the first automatic pocket pistol but also the first to use a striker-fired design. Browning was too small to include a hammer, shrouded, or not. He had to design a new firing mechanism to fit inside his pistol. There had been other guns that used striker mechanisms, but none as small or efficient as this one. Caribou Media Group could earn a commission on qualifying purchases. Thank you!Colt 1908 Vest Pocket back. The striker mechanism is located inside, in place of a hammer. Rock Island Auction Company. The low-pressure nature.25 ACP allowed the design to use a blowback mechanism. However, the Colt 1908 Vest Pocket, like all semi-auto pistols of the time, was a single-action. Two safety features were included in the original design: a thumb-safety and grip safety. This was similar to Browning’s 1911 pistol. These safety features were wise additions for a gun that was intended to be concealed close by the body and easily accessible for self-defense. The magazine contains 6 rounds of.25 ACP. It can be removed using a magazine heel release. The iron sights on the Colt 1908 Vest Pocket, like most pocket pistols are almost non-existent. This gun was clearly designed for point-shooting across a table rather than hitting bullseyes at a range. This pistol would be produced by Colt until 1948. It would continue to be the pocket pistol of choice for many people for decades. Although there have been many improvements to the pocket pistol design since its introduction, many people still hold on to Browning’s original design. A Colt 1908 Vest Pocket is kept in “The Maltese Falcon”, (1931). Photo: IMFDB Although ultra-small pocket pistols such as the Colt 1908 Vest Pocket are no longer common, some people still believe in the utility and usefulness of small guns that can be carried in a cup. A gun this small has only two caliber options,.22LR or.25 ACP. The greater reliability of the.25 makes it my favorite, especially because the two are so similar ballistically. Since Browning began it all, there have been many pocket pistols. Some are cheap imitations, but some are legitimate innovations. You should keep your Colt 1908 Vest Pocket safe. Its historical provenance and value may mean that you should not have it at home. However, this impressive target pack is from Storm Tactical and contains 62 printable targets. Target grids and bullseye sizes can be found in MOA. Perfect for long-range shooting! Get free targets