1900 Colt New Police 32 Nickel/Ivory found in wall

[Sgt_nick_fury]

I apologize for double post I did not see this forum at first and posted in the handgun: revolver area........if an administrator needs to delete that, I guess it would make sense.....

The find:

We've lived in this house for about 2 years, and I am still getting around to different parts of the house working on this and that. I was looking to insulate our hot water pipes better and was following them into the walls I realized I had to go into a closet and lift it's ceiling panel in teh basement, upon getting a light up there and looking up I saw a glimmer of metal on one of the beams. I thought for sure it was a toy gun at first, but couldn't imagine why someone would put a toy gun up there.....it looked like it had a cheap plastic handle, and silvery finish like the kids cowboy revolvers....

Upon pulling it down I saw that it was in fact real, and loaded....kinda creepy to me.....not knowing it was there.....in any case, the first tip it was older should have been when i swung the cylinder out and saw only 5 rounds and the last empty for safety, I had heard they did this with older revolvers......teh "cheap" plastic turned out to be ivory, and it was shiney cause it is nickel plated. It looked fairly new to me at first I figured it was 1960's or 50's at most......boy was I wrong.

The bullet also looked weird to me and are stamped 32 s&w long.

I went online and tried to find more info about it and have read the basic history, but what is unusual is I don't see an example anywhere of this hand gun with nickel plating and ivory handles. The ivory handles have a little bit of space at the top, so I don't think they came from the factory as they are not a "perfect fit".

The Revolver:

Here are the details until I can get pictures.

Colt New Police 32
Nickel plated, and pearl handles...I think handles were likely added.

top stamp reads :

COLT'S PAT FIRE ARMS MFG Co
HARTFORD CONN U.S.A.
PAT'D AUG 5. 1884 JUNE 5. 1900

When I open the cylinder the number i get is 29597 on the frame and on the fold out portion for cylinder the number is the same.

the cartridges on ammo are stamped

w-w
32 S&W LONG

Still researching to see what I have found, I estimate it's worth minimum $400 as the standard police Colt New Police are worth that in good condition. This was definnately used, but loved, and has the nickel finish and ivory. so maybe 500 or 600? I dunno I am putting all my gun geeks on research......if anyoen knows anyone let me know....I'm not gonna pay Colt for their expensive records research unless I know it's worth a LOT. Which I doubt.

 

[Jim K]

The Colt New Police revolver (1896) was a 4" barrel version of the New Pocket revolver (1895). The former was adopted by the New York City police in a day when folks were under the impression that the little .32 could actually hurt people. There were about 49,500 New Police revolvers made and production continued until about 1907 when the New Police was phased out in preference to the Police Positive. Your gun was made in 1905. Nickel plate was a common factory option at the time, but today generally brings less than a blued gun, primarily because the nickel plating has suffered over the years from peeling. Ivory or mother of pearl grips were also a common factory option, usually in conjunction with nickel plating, and could be had after-market as well.

The .32 Colt New Police could be ordered chambered for either the .32 Short and Long Colt, or for the slightly larger .32 Colt New Police cartridge.

The term "New Police" was applied to both those guns and to ammunition, the ".32 Colt New Police" and ".38 Colt New Police" cartridges. Both were actually S&W developments, the .32 S&W Long, and the .38 S&W, but obviously Colt could never put the name of their rival on their guns, so they coined the name "Colt New Police."

Jim

 

[Sgt_nick_fury]

Well I have one correction it turns out it wasn't ivory I am an idiot on that count, it's an early resin/plastic...old celluloid I assume given the date.....I honestly didn't realize they had plastic, or used it on handguns that long ago, I knew it predated bakelite........my thread in the revolver section has pictures there, if you wish to look.

 

[Jim K]

I see I didn't give any value info, but my WAG is that the gun would bring about $250-300. Nickel plating actually reduces the value unless it is absolutely perfect. The grips, even if they were ivory, would add little or nothing unless they are factory. Those guns are important in Colt history and should bring more than they do, but outside of the comprehenisive Colt collectors, they have little interest and then only if in new or near new condition.

Jim