Seeking help in IDing an old revolver

[yhtomit]

This gun belonged to my great uncle; I found it in the house of my elderly 1st cousin once removed, and my father (his closest living relative) has it now; somewhere I have a few better pics, but this is the only one I could dig up right now, and I wonder if it's sufficient to lead to an ID of the gun.

No serial number I could find, and no caliber marking either -- but the surface is pretty mottled, and I bet at least the caliber marking is somewhere.

But from the shape of the hammer, type of grip, etc, can anyone speculate as to what model of gun this is? Ideally, I'd like to put it into a display case one day, and I'd also like to know more about it, but other than that it belonged to my cousin's father, we know no more about its provenance, such as whether it could have belonged to *his* father, etc.

Thanks for any clues!

timothy

 

[bill larry]

Colt, probably in .38 official positive police officers match revolver thingy. I really dont know much about a Colt revolvers. Someone else will tell you the model.

 

[CMcDermott]

From having a bare front ejector rod, the screw just above the grip and the flat ledge on the bottom of the frame I would ID this as a pre-1905 Colt New Service revolver; from the first 6 years of New Service production. There should be some roll-marks on the left side of the barrel to identify this as a Colt New Service, and the caliber should be roll-marked on the right side of the barrel. Somewhere under the surface rust between the cylinder release and the top of the grip should be the "prancing pony" stamp that identifies a Colt product.
In this condition I really wouldn't call it a collectible, but definitely a possible piece of family history. If you can find the serial number stamping (At a guess look on the bottom of the grip frame) you may want to contact Colt to buy a factory letter that can identify where this revolver was originally shipped for sale. It may just been a hardware store, or it could have been shipped directly to a member of your family.

 

[RON in PA]

It's a Colt and an early swingout cylinder model based on the shape of the cylinder release.

 

[yhtomit]

Thanks, all! This is great information, esp. the details from CMcDermott. I have no question about its worth as a collectable except to me (anything that someone chooses to keep as an artifact is a collectable, eh? ), but the older it is, the more interesting a family keepsake. If it really is quite that old (pre-1905), I wonder if it belonged to my great grandfather, who was I think the one-time sheriff of Jefferson County, TN. My knowledge of the family tree is weak, though, so I may be imagining an impossible chain.

When I'm next down in TN, I'll try to get the serial number etc. and contact Colt for more information -- good idea.

timothy

 

[Jim Watson]

I think I am seeing double cylinder bolt notches. In which case it is a New Army as made from 1892-1905 or thereabouts.

A better picture, flat on, and well lighted would be a big help.

 

[yhtomit]

Jim:

Yes, I'm going to scour some disks to see if I can find some better pics I took of the same gun; not sure they include all of the detail I'd like, but they're far better than the only one I've been able to find yet (the one posted).

Thanks!

timothy

 

[OPOEFC]

It's not a New Service, It's a Colt Army Special, Model of 1908. Made in various calibers from 32-20 to 41 Long. Approx. 240,000 made between 1908 and 1927. The giveaway indicator is the screw above the trigger. Only the Army model had that, the Navy & marine Corps models did not. left side of the barrel shouls say "Colt Army Special" and the caliber.

 

[CMcDermott]

Well, I am standing by my ID as a Old Model New Service. The 1908 Army model is supposed to have the newer rounded cylinder release and trigger guard that is the full width of the frame, the picture of this gun clearly shows the old square cylinder release and the narrow trigger guard that isn't the full width of the frame.

 

[yhtomit]

I'll have to find the other pictures soon, so as not to be the cause of a fight

timothy

 

[yhtomit]

Finally found my other pictures of it!

a) It's in better shape (looks-wise, I am unsure of the interior's shape) than I remember it.

b) Drat, no serial numbers or anything in my photos (these are from 5 or 6 years ago, hadn't thought of it)

c) Sorry these aren't clearer, but do these somewhat sharper shots bring any new insight?

Cheers,

timothy

 

[Jim Watson]

No double notches, so it is not a New Army as I first thought.

With nothing to give scale, it could either be a 7 1/2" New Service or a 6" New Police, large vs small.

 

[CMcDermott]

You could also try posting these pictures at http://www.coltforum.com/forums/postlist.php?Cat=0&Board=UBB7 as there are many more Colt experts at that forum.

 

[OPOEFC]

I'm revising my opinion, based on the additional photos. It is not a Model 1908, but has the characteristics of a New Service, however the front sight ( rounded ) is a mystery. The only other front sight like that , that I know of, is on New Service, serial no. 0, an experimental gun formerly in the Colt factory museum. If this gun has no stampings, or numbers, etc. it may well be an experimental prototype.

 

[44and45]

This revolver does not look like a Newservice, it looks like an early hand ejector put out from Colt in one of the smaller calibers like .32-20, .38 Colt or 41.

Newservice revolvers are massive in their frames, and rarely long barrel. This firearm is too slim looking to be NS.

Jim

 

[target1911]

I know nothing about this gun, but now I am curious to find out what it is too.

 

[Logan5]

It *could* be a pre 1905 New Service, but somehow it just looks wrong for that ID to me. After some quality time with the R.L. Wilson Colt book, I'd say it's somewhere in that annoying range of the 42 different variants of 1895-1905 Colt DA's.

 

[Sixguncowboy]

I wish I could see the grips better in pic # 3. They may say COLT but I can't be sure. Could it possibly be a South American (Argentina) copy or Colt contract gun?

 

[44and45]

I would bring you're attention to the gun's small diameter barrel. View it in relation to the cylinder flutes and you get a smaller caliber than a big bore Newservice revolver...which was one size large frame fit all calibers.

Thus, the Newservice would have a bigger barrel in diameter even if it were a .22 long rifle. And they did make a few in .22 LR.

Why don't the would be owner of this piece find out its caliber?

Jim

 

[yhtomit]

SixgunCowboy:

Sorry about the photo quality, but Yes, the grip definitely says Colt! I wouldn't even have sworn to it I found the photos again, but it's definitely Colt on there.

44and45:

"Why don't the would be owner of this piece find out its caliber?"

Heh, I will ... eventually I'm working at remote, haven't been down to TN in longer than previously planned, and my dad has promised to examine / give me a better report, but he's the king of good intentions sometimes, and hasn't yet gotten around to it.

With all the reliability of long-ago memory, I'd guess it's a .32.

timothy