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 Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless .32 ACP serial number
966061 - OSS / CIA issued military contract pistol outside the known and
established serial number range. The highest recorded production
number is 572215, with serial numbers 572216 through 572451 being
manufactured but never assembled, being scrapped in 1945.
Four serial numbers numbers higher than the highest known number on this
model have been observed. 831093, 831242, 966061 and
966071. Two of the pistols
that are identified by John Brunner in his book on the Colt Pocket
Hammerless Models (831093 and 831242). All four have had their
original serial numbers removed along with other government markings and
were marked with a serial number that could not be traced to the U.S.
Government. Colt Model M .32 serial number 966061 was issued
to Lt. Col. Alexander Sogolow (also spelled Sogolov), a Russian born
CIA agent stationed in Germany following WWII. Accompanying the gun is
a modified unmarked shoulder holster as well as documentation. This
pistol has all the military characteristics of a war time manufactured Model
M .32 pistol.
 Right side of Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless serial number
966061. Note lack of U.S. PROPERTY mark.
|
Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Sogolow |
| Born: 9 February 1912 |
Russia |
| 1947 |
Munich, Germany |
| 1968 |
U.S. Government Official
Headquarters, U.S. Army element, Joint OPS Group, R.1B 945, The Pentegon |
 Close up of serial number 966061. Style is different
that that of serial numbers applied at Colt.
 There is no ordnance mark present behind the thumb safety.
 Unmarked shoulder holster that accompanied Model M .32 sn
966061 (front view)
 Unmarked shoulder holster that accompanied Model M .32 sn
966061 (rear view)
 Alexander Sogolow's Gun Registration Application for
Colt
Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless .32 966061 dated December 30, 1968.
 Alexander Sogolow's Gun Registration Application for
Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless .32 966061 dated October 21, 1976,
but not approved until January 19, 1978.
Photos courtesy of J. Salopuro
Colt Model M .32 serial number
966071 - This is a very unusual Model M with late Type V
features (notice slide serrations and rear sight) that bears a serial
number outside of the normal range for this model. Serial number 966071
was used somewhere in Central America area as a German firearms dealer who
resold it indicated this was the source of the pistol. Frame is definitely
Colt and bears the "VP" verified proof mark on the upper left
flat of the trigger guard. Other examples of these pistols in the
800,000 serial number range have been identified as CIA weapons cache guns
and were discovered in former Eastern Bloc countries
.
Right side of 966071.
Close up of the serial number 966071. |
