Colt New Service

[Remo223]

Gordon, who made those grips on your NS (1917?)? They are gorgous. And that is a beautiful old Colt I might add.

That is one of the most impressive revolvers I've ever seen...and I'm not easily impressed. vented ribs and underlugs do absolutely nothing for me. Is that cylinder factory stock? It looks like the cylinder notches have elongated ramps. The grips aren't ideal shape for my tastes but they are close. I would've made the butt of the grips a little smaller.

Thanks for posting that pic.

 

[CraigC]

First time I ever heard somebody critique Fishpaw grips.

 

[Remo223]

First time?? I guess you don't talk to the right people.

I make my own grips. Looks are secondary to function. You can keep your store bought glitter.

 

[Jim K]

Hi, sixguns,

A NS in good condition in .44-40 can be found without too much trouble, just keep checking gun shows and the auction sites. A mint condition one? A lot less likely and a LOT more expensive. Lower your sights a bit and maybe one will come your way.

(Besides, do you really want a mint revolver to shoot? Put a box of ammo through it and your $2000 gun becomes a $1500 gun.)

Jim

 

[CraigC]

Storebought glitter??? You really don't know who Roy Fishpaw is, do you?

 

[Gordon]

Those are his Roper style combat grips.

 

[Sam71]

There are NEW New Service cylinders available...

Should you bulge one. An outfit in Florida, Florida Arms Manufacturing Co. (FAMCO) will make any SAMMI spec cylinder you like. Starting price is $500, so you'd better really want one. But if you have to get a damaged New Service up and running, its an option.When last I looked at their website, they had some New Service cylinders in stock, in .45 Colt and .45acp, IIRC. You might also just haunt the parts dealers at gunshows. Over the years I've picked up a (looks like) brand new unmounted late model 4.5" .44 spl New Service barrel and a very good+ .44 spl cylinder/yoke, assembly (unfortunately nickeled). There are parts out there, but they are getting pretty rare.

 

[sixguns4fighting]

Florida Arms Manufacturing Co. (FAMCO) will make any SAMMI spec cylinder you like. Starting price is $500,

Most excellent!

I am likely going this route.

 

[788Ham]

Beautiful piece Gordon, the engraving is VERY nice! You do know your firearms my man. Be safe.

 

[demne]

Old post I know but I just got a similar Colt New Service (1915) as ky40601, mine has a what I thought was some custom nickle plating & grips.
I don't think mine has been fired a whole lot.

 

[golden]

I doubt you will ever see another one

I do not think COLT will ever bring back a NEW SERVICE. Like the mid size OFFICIAL POLICE and PYTHON and the small frame DETECTIVE SPECIAL, they were expensive to make because of the old style action.

COLT did make the ANACONDA and the PYTHON was the last double action revolver they made if I am not mistaken.

In the mid 1990's, they brought out a line of small frame 6 shot revolvers and then discontinued them. If they bring out a new double action, it will have the same action as the MK V and ANACONDA revolvers. The development work is already paid for and at least on the MK V and DSII line, I have not heard any thing bad.

They will only make what they can sell and make a profit selling.

Jim

 

[Jim K]

In the post-WWII period, especially after the army adopted the M16, Colt effectively kissed off the commercial firearms market. The market, in turn, turned its attention elsewhere, while Colt's ever more expensive products sat on the shelves. Not wanting to sink funds into the civilian market when the police/military side was booming, they left some promising revolver designs to wither away. Their AA2000 pistol was a disaster, and other companies made their SA and 1911 designs as well or better than Colt.

I expect that they will continue to putter along for a while, showing some sign of life every so often, then quietly die away.

Jim

 

[Paul7]

In the post-WWII period, especially after the army adopted the M16, Colt effectively kissed off the commercial firearms market. The market, in turn, turned its attention elsewhere, while Colt's ever more expensive products sat on the shelves. Not wanting to sink funds into the civilian market when the police/military side was booming, they left some promising revolver designs to wither away. Their AA2000 pistol was a disaster, and other companies made their SA and 1911 designs as well or better than Colt.

I expect that they will continue to putter along for a while, showing some sign of life every so often, then quietly die away.

Jim

The SAA, possibly, but Colt 1911s are very well made these days and in high demand. One of the better mid-level 1911s.

 

[CraigC]

Doubt they'll ever get back into DA's but Colt is putting out a very good SAA and New Frontier at present. Vastly improved over previous 3rd generation guns.