Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have a Colt copycat by…Colt. This is the Colt Junior Pocket Pistol. It was a smashing success when Colt introduced their Colt 1908 Vest Pocket, a “hammerless” 25 ACP pocket pistol. Despite its success and roughly 400,000 production numbers, the Colt Vest Pocket was discontinued in 1941 (most likely to do their art in the war effort during World War II). Colt felt the repercussions of this discontinuation during the mid-1940s and decided to bring back their Vest Pocket pistol in 1946. When it came back the reception was lukewarm due to the dozens of cheaper and unlicensed copies popping up from foreign manufacturers. Apparently, Colt must have gone the “can’t beat them, join them” route since they contracted with Astra Unceta y Ca to produce their Astra Cub as the new and cool Colt Junior in 1954. Actual Colt-branded ones did not pop up until 1958. The Colt Junior never really lived up to the reputation of the Vest Pocket and was discontinued in 1968.
“Manufacturer: Colt
Model: Junior Pocket
Type: Pistol
Gauge: 25 ACP
Barrel: 2 1/4 inch round
Finish: blue
Grip: plasticManufactured in 1959. Includes factory box, extra magazine, papers, and a Audley holster.”
Lot 5276: Early Colt Junior Semi-Automatic Pistol with Accessories – Early Colt Junior Semi-Automatic Pistol with Box and Holster. (n.d.). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved February 27, 2023, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1032/5276/early-colt-junior-semiautomatic-pistol-with-accessories.
