Manufactured in 1941, the included factory letter confirms the pistol's current configuration with 3 3/4 inch barrel chambered for .32 caliber, blue finish, and grips not listed when sold the Chief of Manila Constabulary and included in a shipment of 18 pistols intended for delivery to the Philippine Trading Company of Manila, Philippine Islands, on December 1, 1941. This is a shipment that would likely not be completed, as just six days later the Imperial Japanese Navy launched a surprise attack on the U.S. pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and the day after elements of the Imperial Japanese Navy and Army began a combined attack and invasion of Luzon in the Philippines, the island on which Manila is located. Despite attempts to hold off the invaders, U.S. and local defenders lead by Gen. Douglas MacArthur were rapidly pushed back, with Manila being declared an open city by December 26, 1941. A remark at the bottom of the factory letter notes that this pistol was returned to the factory on May 26, 1942, and subsequently sold to the U.S. Government and included in a shipment of 12 pistols sent to the Base Police Officer, Naval Operating Base, Norfolk, Virginia, (to the attention of Lt. Col. J.M. Bain) on July 1, 1942, with The Norfolk Naval Shipyards being one of the most important mainland U.S. naval ports during the war. Features fixed blade front and notch rear sights, blued barrel marked "COLT 32 AUTO" on the left side with polished chamber, standard two-line address and patent dates on the left side of the slide with caliber marking on the right and matching serial number on the interior, with "X" and "triangle/VP" marked on the left of the trigger guard and "73" on the right side. Fitted with a pair of checkered walnut grips with silver Colt medallions and two-tone blued magazine with "CAL.32/COLT" marked on the underside of the floor plate. Includes the original Colt maroon box, with matching serial number written on the underside in pencil and matching end label.

Excellent, retaining 90% plus original blue finish with some minor edge wear, some minor freckling/spotting on the grip straps, and limited minor handling marks otherwise. The grips are excellent with original finish and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The box is very good with cracked edges. A very scarce example of a Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless with a traceable connection to the fall of the Philippines, and later duty at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, which would be very difficult to find.