Colt M1908 .32 and .380 'First' Instruction Sheet

In Ogle's The Book of Colt Paper, the M1908 instruction sheet for the .380 caliber was only addressed in passing. but here we'll pick apart the information and see if this Colt instruction sheet below is the first set of instructions for the M1908 in caliber.380.

The M1908 .380 ACP caliber was first introduced at some unknown time in 1908, lets' assume early 1908.

Ogle shows an instruction sheet dated for 1908 with no Form number, but only with a .32 caliber cartridge.  This would be for early 1908, before the .380 was introduced that same year, enlarged below:

The next instruction sheet, which introduces the .380 caliber, now shows two cartridges, both the .32 and the .380, shown below:

Note: insert box showing

a single horizontal line

Above is the first instruction sheet to show both the .32 and .380, which has no Form or Date number, but shows both the .32 and .380 cartridge on the sheet.  Inside on page 3, the component parts page shows details at the top of the sheet with only a single horizontal line between the “Calibers .32 and .380 Hammerless’ header and the parts list underneath.

This would be the first of two sheets in a row, because the second sheet, with two horizontal lines has the following statement between the two lines:

"In ordering parts, please be sure to give number and caliber of Pistol, as improvements have been made since first issue."

Note: insert box showing

a single horizontal line

Conclusion: the M1908 instruction sheet with a single line is the First (1908) publication for the .380 caliber pistol and the double line was next.

1908 production numbers:

Serial Number Table