Colt New Service in 38-40

[Stoney]

Found this nice conditioned Colt New Service in 38-40 at a local gunshop. Serial number dates it to 1923. Took her to the range today and had a blast, my first time shooting a 38-40 wich was almost magnum like in performance in a revolver.This is going to be a fun one to play with.

 

[Otony]

Very nice, very, very nice. I am living through you right now, treat her with love!

 

[Husker1911]

Wow! What a beautiful old girl. Treat her well. .40SW performance in a classic, elegant package.

 

[SaxonPig]

Nice.

But why were you photographing it while it was loaded? Not necessary and maybe a bit of a safety hazard?

 

[pbslinger]

Nice New Service! You were lucky to find that one.

 

[Stoney]

Saxon
I don't find it to be a safty hazard at all, but thanks for your concern.

 

[Bigkahunasix]

Damn fine wheelgun, congradulations.

 

[keyboard commando]

Nice Six Shooter

That's a Big Ole Gooden/Good Ole Biggen!

 

[CZ223]

I'm Jealous

If you haven't reloaded for the 38-40 in the past you are going to want to start unless you are independently wealthy. If you do reload for it be forewarned that it is a bit of a PITA. The necks will crush quite easily. Using a Lee crimp die might be the best way to go. In the revolver, neck tension is not quite as much an issue as it is in the rifle, but you will still want some crimp. For a real blast from the past, load them with real black. I love the 38-40.

 

[bannockburn]

Stoney

Fantastic find; like discovering some long lost buried treasure. A great old-timer, the .38-40 is more like the original 10mm. I know there are handloads out there that will easily top out at over 1200 fps with a 180 gr. bullet, but I believe they may be a little too hot for the old New Service. At any rate, you've got a nice old Colt there, and thanks for sharing it with us.

 

[Stoney]

CZ223
I don't reload at this time, but am planning too in the future, so all the brass will be saved. Thanks to all for your kind words. Funny thing about this revolver, the guy at the gunshop said it sat in the case for two weeks and nobody ask to look at it until I showed up, Guess lot's of shooters don't care about these old time revolvers, thank god.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

My New Service is in .45 Colt. Like yours, it had been re-finished.

Mine had razor-thin front sight and a teeny nick of a rear sight. It shot about 18" high and 12" to the left. After thinking it over, I finally bit the bullet -- it's been re-finished and it's not really a collector's item. I cut the old front sight off, soldered on a new one -- a huge slab of steel, 1/8" thick -- and zeroed it for elevation. Then I opened up the rear notch to match, doing most of the cutting on the right side.

I now have a beautiful sight picture, and she puts them right on top of the center of the blade.

 

[Stoney]

Vern
Mine has not been refinished, the only work done on it is a filed down front sight.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Mine has not been refinished, the only work done on it is a filed down front sight.

Ah. In that case, I would hesitate to solder on a new front sight, or widen the rear notch.

Does she shoot where she looks?

 

[.455_Hunter]

Use it as it was intended...

I would have no concerns about carrying this gun in a good full flap holster for rural self defense, nor using it for home defense. Get some of the current production Winchester 180 gr. JSPs and you are good to go.

 

[Stoney]

Vern
At 15 yards she was dead nuts, that's as far as I shot her and was very happy with the results.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

That would be good for me, too.

If Colt had a lick of sense, they'd put that revolver back into production. But the union would drive the price out of sight, and they'd have no quality control.

 

[Colt46]

New Service is one of the nicest of double actions

Still don't have one in my collection, would 'bout wet myself if I ran across one in .45

 

[SaxonPig]

Okie-dokie.