Old Colt revolver

[kimbernut]

Trying to help a friend put a date and model name or number on a revolver he has just inherited. He was told it was a "special edition" but that is about fifth hand information. Any help will be most appreciated. Our look through my copy of "the book" just makes us more confused. There seem to be parts of descriptions of 2-3 different models that match the revolver we are examining.No camera available at this time but I'll try to get pictures up ASAP.
Left side of barrel- COLT D.A.38
Top of barrel- ______ FA MFG.CO. (overpolishing and renickling has
made some of the letters very faint.)
HARTFORD,Ct. U.S.A.
PAT.AUG5.84NOV81888
Inside yoke,rear of cylinder,center of cylinder release- 6xx
Numbers on front edge of bottom gripstrap- 26XXX
Rampant colt inside small circle opposite rear side plate screw at the very rear of the left side of the frame.Two side plate screws -the rear one opposite the Rampant colt and the forward screw just behind the cylinder screw which is holding in another unslotted screw? much like many of the older Browning shotguns. Under the cylinder are two bolt holes but no bolts.
The cylinder is fluted but has no bolt notches.The hand is one piece with the locking bolt which will let the cylinder rotate counterclockwise but not clockwise. The firing pin is one piece with the hammer. and the grips are hard rubber with the name COLT in large letters at the top with no Rampant colt in the grips. Unfortunately it appears to have been refinished at some point because there is quite a bit of fine pitting that has been nickeled over. Thanks in advance.

 

[1KPerDay]

Sounds just like my D.A. 41. I'll be interested to hear what others have to say about the model and value... I don't really know anything more than you do.

 

[dfariswheel]

Sounds like you have a Colt Model 1889 New Navy revolver in .38 Colt caliber.

This was Colt's, and the world's first swing-out cylinder double action revolver, and is the "great grand daddy" of all later Colt revolvers right up to the Colt Python.

The key identifying features of the New Navy are the counter-clockwise rotating cylinder, the side plate on the right side of the frame, and no external locking notches on the cylinder.
The Model 1889 New Navy was the only Colt ever made with all of these features.

The New Navy was made from 1889 to 1894, with about 28,000 made.
The first 5000 were ordered by the U.S. Navy, are so marked on the butt, and this accounts for the name "New Navy".

The New Navy was available in bright blue or nickel, and fitted with hard, black rubber (Gutta Percha) grips or walnut.
Available calibers were the obsolete Colt .38 Short or Colt .38 Long cartridge, and the Colt .41 Short and .41 Long cartridges.

WARNING: DO NOT shoot any .38 Special ammunition in this revolver, even if it will chamber.
These guns WILL NOT safely shoot more modern ammo.

Barrels were 3", 4 1/2", and 6".

In 1892, the New Navy was improved and issued as the Colt Model 1892 "New Army & Navy" model. The cylinder was now equipped with long notch-like cylinder locks on the extreme rear of the cylinder's outer diameter.
This model was available in a variety of different calibers and barrel lengths.

The 26XXX is the actual serial number, and indicates this one was made in 1893.
The other numbers are factory assembly numbers to insure hand fitted parts remained together during final finishing operations.

The "un-slotted screw" is actually the cylinder retention stud. When the interlocking screw is backed out, it raises the stud up out of the frame, releasing the cylinder.

While not particularly rare, the Model 1889 is quite interesting as the world's first swing-out cylinder DA revolver, and the first of what would be a long line of Colt's.

Value is entirely a matter of condition, and the re-nickel over a worn gun reduces it drastically.
In 80% condition, it would probably be worth "about" $300.

 

[kimbernut]

dfariswheel ,Thank you ,Sir,very much! This one is a 4.5" barreled revolver and for the condition it is in it is really very nice. lock up is still tight but I will certainly pass on your warning to my friend. I'm sure he has no intentions of firing the Colt but the .38 Specials do fit and close in the cylinder.

The friends uncle left the revolver to him with information that it was given to the uncle by a sheriff in San Antonio, Tx. Not sure if it was his personal revolver or of the confiscated variety. Would be interested to see if the story could be verified.
Thanks again for the info. You've helped my friend and I and 1KperDay as well.

 

[1KPerDay]

In 1892, the New Navy was improved and issued as the Colt Model 1892 "New Army & Navy" model. The cylinder was now equipped with long notch-like cylinder locks on the extreme rear of the cylinder's outer diameter.

That's the way mine is. Thank you, sir.