Almost a Colt?

[A.J. Holst]

I just acquired a FI Industries Model D .380

Doing some research, I read the following from experts on the web:

This was the predecessor of the pony.

Introduced as a joint venture with multi companies (including Star) to assemble.

Colt needed a partner as they were then emerging from bankruptcy.

Some were great, other horrendous, regardless of who put it together.

My particular specimen is roll marked FI IND WASH DC / FI MOD D CAL .380

I don't see any import marks so I really hope it was assembled and sold from DC. It might have been the last one to escape.

S/N begins with CPA, which supposedly denotes Colt Patented or Pony Automatic.

No firing pin block with very positive thumb safety

Full length guide rod and barrel bushing set up which is kind of cool.

For size comparison, is it virtually identical to the Kimber Micro .380

Slightly heavier.

The sights are usable thought the adjustable rear sight was cute sales gimmick.

If anyone know more about this little pistol, please post!

[MP5_Rizzo]

Found this on Blue Book of gun values.

F.I.C. sold less than 100 Pony .380 ACPs, which were marked Colt before the Mustang was introduced - these are rare. While some models are relatively rare, collectability to date has been minimal and most models sell in the $150-$295 range, depending on overall desirability and condition. I've found 2 online and one has medallion in grip and the other does not.  Does yours?

Edited August 14, 2017 by MP5_Rizzo

[KahrMan]

If you want to know more check out this thread from the Colt forum last year.   You might want to take the slide off and see if there is a hand engraved number on the inside of the slide.  That might indicate it was one of the 100 prototypes.  There were a lot more than 100 sold of the Model D's with the CPA prefix.

There is a lot of info here:

http://www.coltforum.com/forums/colt-semiauto-pistols/123897-colt-380-prototype.html

[A.J. Holst]

My SN is 030xxx, not even as low as the one Riz posted.

KM, thanks for the link, where I found the CPA SNs start at 001000 and end around 039xxx.

[A.J. Holst]

Test fired today.

Glad my potential buyer passed.

Fun little pistol, though I won't be carrying it.

100ish rounds of assorted HP and ball. 

No issues with any of the ball ammo.

A few FTExtract with the JHP and not one specific brand.

Trigger is light, 3 or less. Comparing to my two CZs. The reset is short, perhaps too short for a self defense, adrenaline infused situation.

I was surprised how accurate I was at 7 yards.

It's definitely a keeper!