Can anyone help me with this Colt?

[pilatuspilot]

My dad emailed this poor picture of a Colt double action revolver to me asking if I knew anything about it. I know very little about Colts in general however, I bet that someone around here probably does.

According to dad, it says Colt. D.A. 38 and the only other markings appear to be serial numbers and the Patent stuff and Colt Hartford Conn stuff.


Any idea what model it is and when it could have been made?

Thanks,
Rob

 

[cdrt]

It's probably their New Service Model. Mfg from 1898 to 1942. Came in a variety of calibers including .38 Special, .38-40, .44 Russian, .44 Special, etc. etc. Various barrel lengths. Usually blue with hard rubber grips (until 1920). After 1920 some have walnut grips.

You could check with Colt and probably get some documentation on it.

 

[philbo]

I'd say it was a Colt Police Positive because of the ejector rod. Better pics would help.

 

[Old Fuff]

Nope guys, it's neither.

What you see is one of Colt's early double-action/hand ejector revolvers.

It was introduced in 1892 and adopted by the U.S. Army as it's service sidearm. It was available as a .32-20, .38 (Long Colt) and .41 (Long Colt). Some 291,000 were made before it was discontinued in 1907. Over time barrel length of 2, 3, 4 1/2 and 6 inches were offered. Stocks were usually black hard rubber. It is the Python's great-grandpa...

 

[philbo]

I do believe Old Fuff is right. Top strap, grip and markings would be right for his suggestions. Good call.

 

[dfariswheel]

Yep, it's the Colt New Army & Navy Model.

This was the world's FIRST double action, swing-out cylinder revolver.
Colt first introduced this as the Model 1889, and made small progressive changes in the Models 1892, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1901, and 1903.
It was made for both commercial and US Military sales, with military issue models so stamped on the butt.

It was the New Army & Navy in .38 Colt that failed in the Moro uprising in the Philippines and lead to the adoption of the 1911 .45 Automatic.

From the appearance it's one of the later models.

 

[SaxonPig]

I think the New Service has that big shark fin front sight. Other models harder to ID from a photo.

 

[Rexster]

I am no Colt expert, but from having seen quite a few old Colts over the years, it's not a New Service, and I am inclined to agree with Old Fuff.

 

[floridaboy]

As usual. Old Fuff is right

 

[OPOEFC]

The only Colt revolvers that says Colt D.A. .38 on the barrels are the Models 1892-1903 New Army & Navys - Like Old Fluff says.

 

[gopguy]

Old Fuff and dfariswheel are right. Colt 1892 .probably in .38 long Colt. Weak lockwork, I don't advise shooting it. Parts are getting harder to find...

 

[Lone Star]

Look at the frame, the trigger, and the hammer. It is definitely the New Army or New Navy, as Old Fuff said. New Service, indeed! Some of you guys need to learn about guns before answering questions about them!

By the way, this is on their .41 frame and evolved into the Official Police. The New Service was on a .45 frame, quite a bit larger.

The Police Positive Special was never made on that old style frame. It came out in 1907, and always used Colt's more common frame, as did the Army Special/Official Police. The New Service was made from 1897-1905 on that shape of frame (sort of) but after 1905, it also had the more modern frame.

The trigger and the hammer are the easiest ways to ID this old gun.

Lone Star

 

[TimboKhan]

I do believe Old Fuff is right.

To date, I have never seen an instance when Old Fuff was wrong. There are a few guys on THR whose words I will automatically assume are true when it comes to gun-related knowledge, and he is one of them.