Bartholmew McGraw's Colt 1908 Pocket Hammerless

[whitecoyote]

Sometimes gun registration ain't so bad....:big_boss:
I recently aquired this Colt 1908 Pocket Hammerless .380 acp. It's just an oridinary Colt Pocket Hammerless. The Colt was manufactured in 1916. Nothing special about it, except it once belonged to Bartholmew McGraw. Now you ask, who is Bartholmew McGraw? I haven't a clue, but I have his Colt Pocket Hammerless.
Handgun registration in Michigan started in the early 1920's. This particular Colt, if not for gun registration would be just another Colt. But what makes this Colt Pocket Hammerless special is Bartholmew McGraw registered it on December 7th 192? (exact year is unknown)
Bartholmew McGraw was born on October 20th, 1867. He was a white male with grey hair, and blue eyes. At the time of registration Bartholmew McGraw was "retired", and lived at 1066 W. Baltimore Ave., Detroit, Michigan (48202, no zips in the 1920's).
The Colt was registered by Lt. Jas Lynch 1st Precinct, Detroit Police Department.
It's amazing the the "Safety Inspection Certificate" (gun registration) survived all these years with the Colt Pocket Hammerless.
Maybe when the weather warms, I'll check out some cemeteries. I'm sure Bartholmew McGraw didn't go far.
Without further ado, may I present Bartholmew McGraws Colt 1908 Pocket Hammerless.
A quote from DCWilson (Colt forum}
"In 1900 Bartholmew lived with his wife Annie at 876 Brooklyn Ave. They had three sons, James, William and Bartholmew Jr., aged 9, 7, and 2. Bartholmew was born in Michigan, but his parents were both born in Ireland. His wife was born in Ireland. She was four years younger. His profession is Chief Sewer Inspector (abbreviated Inspt.) Everybody in the house can read and write."
http://i52.tinypic.com/166wupk.jpg
http://i56.tinypic.com/2isw77k.jpg
http://i52.tinypic.com/66m1s5.jpg
http://i56.tinypic.com/2n14yhk.jpg
http://i55.tinypic.com/bhin8j.jpg
http://i55.tinypic.com/9r1rhd.jpg
http://i53.tinypic.com/1zqx3kw.jpg
This is where Bartholmew McGraw would have lived at the time of registration, 1066 W. Baltimore, Detroit Michigan. It looks like the residence is long gone.
http://i52.tinypic.com/mss2w.jpg
http://i56.tinypic.com/1zgdh68.jpg
http://i55.tinypic.com/25fn709.jpg
http://i51.tinypic.com/ri6dcl.jpg

[DocH]

Nice history on a very popular pistol of the period. It appears immaculate in the photos. Makes me yearn for simpler times. Congratulations on the great find.

I still have my great grandmothers nickeled 32 hand ejector with the 4 1/4 in. barrel. I've used it to train my yellow labs.Manufacture date was 1917,and the first gun I ever fired when I was 8 years old.
Thanks for the interesting post.

[DrMark]

Cool thread... very interesting.

[Zhurdan]

Nice. I wish the one I have was in half as good of shape, but being I got it for free... I probably can't complain.

[RGoose]

Every once in a while bureaucracy does something that's not a complete waste of time. Nice history on that!

[spdldr]

A beautiful pistol! These were made by skilled craftsmen who polished and fitted parts closely by hand when necessary. This will likely never be done again on a mass production scale.

Each part was made by several machine tool operators who usually did one particular cut then passed it on to the next machinist. It probably took over a hundred individuals to make that gun.

These days, guns and other manufactured items are made with a minimum of labor and extensive use of computerized equipment. Hand fitting and polishing is avoided as much as possible for economy of production. This is the story of our times: fewer employees, more machines.

[Beat Trash]

Nice, I always liked the looks of the Colt hammerless 380's. That your has a history to go along with it makes it that much more interesting.

[Oscar 319]

Very cool! Thanks for sharing.

[TOrrock]

Beautiful old piece, very nice.

[SmokeJumper]

That is very cool!! Thanks for sharing

[Rinspeed]

Great story.

[whitecoyote]

Some more information on Bartholmew McGraw.

Stonecove; (S&W forum)
Bartholmew was born in Michigan in 1867, but both his parents were born in Ireland. in 1900 his occupation was listed "Chief Server Inspect." He married his wife Annie in 1890 and had 3 children: James born 1890, William 1892, & Bartholmew born 1898. All were born in Michigan. They lived at 876 Brooklyn Ave., Detroit.

By 1910, Bartholemew & Anna added a daughter Anna, born 1901 to the family. His occupation was a "keeper" .

In 1920 they lived 262 Baltamore St. Detroit. His occupation is listed as Owner Hotel, but their home is rented not owned.

In 1930 Bartholemew was 62 and listed as retired. He and Anna lived at 1066 Hamilton Ave. Detroit. In his household lives his single son James age 39 and is a county auditor.

Bartholemew was born to James McGraw & Anna Bolton. In 1870 the family lived in the 8th ward of Detroit. He had a sister Mary born 1862 and a brother Michael born 1857. His father was a laborer in 1870.

He died July 26, 1956 in Detroit. Here is a picture of him. Hope this adds to your pistols history.

Stonecove
http://i55.tinypic.com/15d7881.jpg

[Naxet1959]

Very interesting thread, great Colt too...