Colt New Service?

[lowercase]

I ran across one of these revolvers at the LGS.

At first, I thought it was a Model 1917, but the gun was a New Service chambered for .45 Colt.

The gun had a decent amount of wear, and had probably been reblued at some point because the frame had a glossy blued finish that just didn't strike me as stock.

The cylinder had a fair amount of side to side play, even at lock up, and it wore some old Franzite grips. The price was $399.

Can anyone tell me more about this old revolver?

 

[Iggy]

The New Service became the Colt Govt Model 1917 at the advent of WWI.
Also provide to the UK in .455 cal.

It was made in numerous calibers before and after WWI.
This is a 1917 with New Service grips. Front sight filed down to improve accuracy by someone.. It worked.


Grand old gun.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_New_Service

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

As stated the New Service has been around a long time. They were produced in various incarnations from from 1898 until 1944. In 1909 the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps adopted them as a stop gap until a suitable 45 caliber semi-automatic could be produced.

I bought this one just a couple of months ago. It was made in 1913, has a 7 1/2" barrel, and is chambered for 45 Colt. The hard rubber grips are scratch numbered to the gun. This is a fairly early gun, notice the trigger guard is not the type where the sides of the frame taper down to the width of the trigger guard. Instead, there is a relatively straight line across the bottom of the frame that sets it apart from the trigger guard.





These were the biggest side swing revolvers Colt ever made. The frames are really big. You can see how much bigger it is that this S&W Model 1917. This is the biggest revolver I own.

 

[rswartsell]

It usually takes big hands to feel they are in any way "ergonomic" (a new age term not used during the years the New Service was produced). This same complaint can be followed (for some) into the Official Police. Many think however, that the Colt reputation for high quality barrels capable of superior accuracy begins here.

 

[.455_Hunter]

In my view, the New Service series is one of the finest guns produced anywhere at anytime. I have a M1917 and a 1908 .38/40, both excellent examples of the gun makers art.

I would pass on the Colt you describe. For just a bit more money, you can find one with good mechanics and fully shootable.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

My Colt New Service wears Herrett grips -- the Shooting Master style.

I have the original grips put away (they're collectables) but I'm one of those unfortunates who gets his middle finger rapped with hot loads. I looked and looked for magna style grips, and finally whittled a set out of scrap walnut.

But last January, just on a flyer, I emailed Herrett and asked if they made grips for the New Service, he said they did, and the grips are beautiful.

 

[AbitNutz]

It was Colt's 45 size frame and one of the finest revolvers ever made. Internally, the way the action works, is pretty much the same as the Python, not interchangeable but the same design. The Colt Python was based on their medium or 41 size frame so the 357 magnum was as big as they could go.

This was the frame that Colt should have developed into their 44 magnum. Imagine a Python styled 44 mag on a New Service frame. Dirty Harry might well have chosen a different gun than the Model 29 Smith. I know I would have.

Unfortunately, it was never revived after the the second world war. I have heard various stories as to why. One famous one was that Colt needed room for war production and hauled all the tooling and machinery outside to make room...and there it sat just disintegrating in the open until it was hauled away as scrap.

Colt didn't get back into the large frame revolver business until the Anaconda came along, many many years later...the Anaconda can't hold a candle to the New Service.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

This was the frame that Colt should have developed into their 44 magnum. Imagine a Python styled 44 mag on a New Service frame. Dirty Harry might well have chosen a different gun than the Model 29 Smith. I know I would have.

Colt lives up to their corporate motto -- "Clueless in Connecticut."

 

[oldbear]

I've seen photos of some really nice Colt New Service revolvers that have been cut down into Large frame belly guns. One member here has several that are really nice.

 

[Dr.Rob]

This was the frame that Colt should have developed into their 44 magnum. Imagine a Python styled 44 mag on a New Service frame. Dirty Harry might well have chosen a different gun than the Model 29 Smith. I know I would have.

Amen. What a grand revolver that would have been.

 

[rswartsell]

As an aside, notice the "fire blue" finish of the trigger in Driftwood's example. Unique to Colt, truly beautiful and I assume very expensive and environmentally unfriendly to produce.

Colt collectors dote on such as this.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

As an aside, notice the "fire blue" finish of the trigger in Driftwood's example. Unique to Colt, truly beautiful and I assume very expensive and environmentally unfriendly to produce.

Those photos really don't do it justice. The trigger is a brilliant blue color.

 

[AbitNutz]

A beautiful picture. If you look at the at the unique "hump" in the frame at the trigger screw, it clearly shows the relationship to the Python.

 

[stressed]

That blue is beautiful. Almost more so then the gold strawing on my Lugers..

Shame they didn't continue with revolvers after WWII.

 

[lowercase]

Thanks, everybody for the responses.

I passed on the old revolver. It was a bit too beat up.

However, I did manage to snag a Police Positive .38spl (put it on layaway) that was sitting right next to the New Service in the used gun case. Looks to be quite old, and sports a set of black hard rubber "Colt" grips.