-=> Quoting Cloyce Osborn to Steve Gunhouse on 26 Jul 96  18:58 <=-
 Re: Pocket guns 
 SG> Personally, I opted for a single action - a Colt .380
 CO> Many years ago I apprentenced under an old time gunsmith.  Since I was
 CO> the "kid" (and would still be if he were alive), all of the grunt work
 CO> fell on me.  It was very common to have a Colt .25 automatic (a pocket
 CO> anvil) brought in for servicing, etc.  In case you aren't familiar
 CO> with them, the Colt .25s were basically the Browning .25 wearing Colt
 CO> markings.  They were single action and striker fired (ie: internal
 CO> mechanism).  When one came in, Cecil would hand it to me and say "fix
 CO> it".  I'd ask what was supposed to be wrong with it and he'd reply "I
 CO> don't know, they just said it ain't working.  You find out then fix
 CO> it."  Nearly all of these pistols were scarred up from being carried
 CO> in pants pockets along with pocket change, keys and pocket knives.  A
 CO> good cleaning usually cured their ailments. 
 CO> One in particular that I remember was brought in by an elderly lady
 CO> who told us "the Mister left this here for me when he went off to war.
 CO> He never came back.  Now I can't make it work.  Please see if you can
 CO> fix it."  I took the pistol and checked the safety.  It was on so I
 CO> tried to thumb it off so I could clear it.  No dice - that safety
 CO> wasn't about to move.  I scratched my head a minute then removed the
 CO> magazine (loaded) and the grip panels then clamped it into a padded
 CO> vise.  I took a brass punch and a small hammer and popped the safety
 CO> off then disassembled the little pistol.  Getting the chambered round
 CO> out of the barrel involved a brass rod and a hammer.  After I got the
 CO> thing back into reasonable shape she came to pick it up.  I asked her
 CO> "where was the Mister killed, the Pacific?"  She said "Oh, no
 CO> young'un.  We weren't fighting in the Pacific then.  He was killed
 CO> during World War One."  That gun had been loaded and cocked for nearly
 CO> 50 years! 
For the record, I have seen a couple of Colt's, "Baby" Brownings, and 
even a 1903. Never looked too seriously at any - I don't think much of 
the .25.
I'd have to presume there were other differences between either of those 
and even a 1911 (besides size and sometimes grip safety). A series 80 
ought to be even safer. As Paul said, nothing's perfect, but it ought to 
be pretty good.
Oh, of course the .25 was much smaller. I can't fit too much else in with 
either the GM .380 or my other one. So, no scars from other items in that 
pocket - they're all in my other pocket now.
Naturally, I'm not going to leave any gun just sit for 50 years. It may 
rust up (as it seems like the one in the story did), and presumably the 
springs would weaken. But also, a gun is little use if you don't 
practice! I take most of my guns to the range at least once a month. 
(Some not quite that often, there aren't that many days in a month.)
And honestly, I'd feel fairly safe carrying off-safe for myself, but for 
the sake of others I don't.
(Yesterday I was carrying my Firestar M-45 instead, just to see what it 
was like. Of course, that's another "cocked and locked" gun.)
Steve
... The greatest sports are said to have danger as a requisite.
--- GEcho 1.00
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