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Phoenix Arms Company Pocket Pistol

In 2015, Rock Island Auctions sold an interesting American pocket pistol. Made by the Phoenix Arms Company the pistol is marked serial number #1, and bears a striking resemblance to a number of turn of the century European pocket pistol designs. 

The Phoenix Arms Company, based in Lowell, Massachusetts, operated during the 1920s. They began by importing Belgian-made Melior/Jieffeco type pocket pistols made by Robar & Cie of Liege. Phoenix eponymous named these guns the ‘Phoenix’ marking them with the new name and their company markings. 

Phoenix pocket pistol imported from Belgium (source)

These pistols appear to have included .25 ACP and .32 ACP chamberings. It is believed that Phoenix imported the remaining parts left over from Belgian production of the Melior/Jieffeco pistols when Robar moved onto manufacturing a FN 1910-based design after World War One.

The early Melior/Jieffeco pistols and the later Phoenix lend heavily from John Browning’s FN 1900. They have a spring-over-barrel layout with a separate breechblock which attaches to the slide.  

Henri Rosier’s 1912 US patent (source)

The example pictured above differs significantly from the earlier imported examples. The frame and grip shape differ substantially with a less bulbous rear and a more ergonomic grip. The pistol still follows the original FN 1900 template, a blowback with its barrel below the recoil spring. Chambered in .32 ACP it has a frame mounted safety on the left side of the pistol and has a 3 ½ inch. The slide serrations near the muzzle, as on the Melior/Jieffeco pistols is to aid disassembly with the forward part of the slide pivoting up on an axis pin.

It is unclear if this pistol was a prototype, perhaps for manufacture once the majority of imported parts had been used up, or if this model of Phoenix went into production. I’ve been unable to find more information about the Phoenix Arms Company itself.

Sources:

Images Source

Robar Pistols, littlegun.be, (source)

The Melior Model 1911, UnblinkingEye.com, E. Buffaloe, (source)

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Stoeger Cougars - 9x19mm

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I want this

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Gimme!

Martz Custom Baby Luger - 9x19mm

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This is super cool.

Experimental Colt GX2501 - 1908 Pocket Hammerless

The early 1950s saw Colt experiment with a modernised version of their .380 1908 Pocket Hammerless (designated the Model M internally by Colt). The 1908 had been issued to US general officers during the Second World War as a lighter, more compact alternative to the .45 ACP M1911A1. 

The project began in 1951, with the alteration of an unused military contract Model M frame (see image #1). Although, John Brunner notes that technical drawings for the design were drawn up as early as 1946. A number of changes were made to the pistol, these included a dramatic change to the grip profile, the addition or a button rather than heel magazine release, and a redesigned slide and fanned more ergonomic safety catch.  

The first toolroom model, didn’t have sights fitted, wasn’t cut with barrel lug grooves and also lacked a barrel. The prototype remains ‘in the white’ unfinished and was probably used as a proof of concept model for the planed changes to the pistol’s profile.

Colt Model 1908 .380 Hammerless Pocket Automatic Pistol (source)

Official production of the 1903 and 1908 Pocket Hammerless models ended in 1945, although pistols continued to be assembled from existing parts until 1953. Following the construction of the first mock up, Colt assembled a several working models, the first of these was designated the GX-707. (GX meaning gun, experimental.)

The GX-707 (see image #2) was the first completed prototype with proper fit and finish. It had reshaped grip panels with vertical grooves, which lined up with the new style of slanted slide serrations. The pistol’s magazine was lengthened, whether this was to increase its capacity or fit the new grip profile is unclear.

The GX-707 was followed by a run of several more prototypes in 1953, Colt designated these the GX2501. These new prototypes are noteable for using a different grip safety set up and both the frame and slide being shortened for concealment. 

Another of the experimental pistols, the GX2501-2 (source)

The slide was shortened by 0.5 inches down to 6.25 inches, with a 3.25 inch barrel. The frame was also made from a lighter alloy. Two GX2501 pistols were made, the first GX2501-1 was assembled from a scrapped Model M while  GX2501-2 was newly machined. For reasons unknown Colt decided not to put the new pistol into production. It is certainly an elegant looking weapon and a seemingly impressive attempt to modernise one of John Browning’s most aesthetically pleasing pistol designs.

Sources: 

Images: 1 2 

The Colt Pocket Hammerless Automatic Pistols, J.W. Brunner (1996)

Colt Pistol Experimental Prototypes, Old Colt, (source)

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Finally got my own Wonder 9

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Pokemon games on Gameboy