___________________________________________________ Posted on 05/14/2016 5:32:31 PM PDT by atc23
___________________________________________________
Please help to ID my "new" weapon. Backstory: I recently received this beautiful Colt's revolver as an early inheritance from my mother's estate.
The accepted mythology is this: My stepfather was a navigator on a B-17 and later a B-24 and it is known that he was crew on USAAF battle missions over Jap held islands in the Pacific - throughout the entire Pacific War.
What is less known is a little more about this issued firearm. There is no stamping of caliber anywhere on the pistol. On the top of the barrel is a rather careless stamping which says - HARTFORD, CONN. On the left side a stamping which says: COLT ARMY (the ARMY stamp looks like is was done in a real hurry as the letters are kind of skewed.
I did provide the serial number to customer service at COLT FIREARMS and the gal said that when the war broke out in the Pacific, COLT ran low on inventory for the 1911 and pretty much grabbed whatever was on the shelves to issue officers in "low risk" categories (bomber crews?) -
I have measured the cylinder bores with calipers and they came out to about .383 inch. I assume the weapon is chambered for .38 (SW) later renamed by COLT as .38 SPL.
Funny thing is, many years ago I did receive his 1911 model which like the above pistol, had probably never been fired - some dealer told me - "still got the Guadalcanal grease innit!" - The action is really smooth and I smell nor see any evidence that this Colt pistol has ever been fired.
Thanks for any ideas.
NEVER admit owning or possessing a weapon of any kind. (KATRINA weapon confiscation from registered owners)...Walk softly and carry a big .......
The lands are .357 apart.
Looks like a Colt “police positive” with a 6” barrel.
CC
Colt’s shouldn’t be allowed to have pistols...
and... Where you on the night of the fourth?
Is the trigger grooved, is there checkering on the grip, and is the topstrap matte finish or shiny?
CC
Is modern .38 SPL safe to fire through it? I wonder . . - as long as I avoid +P? I thought the old stuff was easier on the frame and action. The customer service gal at Colt told me based on the serial number, that the date of manufacture was somewhere between 1917 and 1923
“I have measured the cylinder bores with calipers and they came out to about .383 inch. I assume the weapon is chambered for .38 (SW) later renamed by COLT as .38 SPL.”
No, 38S&W is not the same as 38 sp. 2 different cartridges.
It you plan to fire it, have a gunsmith determine correct ammo for it.
I go with the other poster that said- “It’s a Colt Army in .38”, but can not tell for sure by just a photo.
trigger is smooth, diamond pattern on the grips and the topstrap is matte
Many family arms have nothing to do with the service records of the folks in said families. Contrary to all the now numerous stories, it was a crime to come home with your US property issued arm. Not that it did not happen, but many units had quite tight accounting standards for issued arms.
Also it is common for folks to come back from war and buy a pattern of the arm they used as a keepsake.
That gun does not have the look of an issued weapon. There is no holster wear, which even in a carried arm will be present. Finally the arm has no US property marking, which is commonly found on common patterns of arms bought for US contract.
One way of eliminating the possibility of a bringback is to check the serial number VS the year of production.
Police positive .38 serial ranges (includes bankers specials) with the serial number indicating end of year ~ serial number.:
1939: 383,000
1940: 390,000
1941: 395,000
1942: 401,000
1943: 406,725
5.5 inch barrel
-------------------
A neighbors friend showed me this gun and I was hoping someone could help me out, I'm thinking of using an FFL to purchase it legally (if I pass the background check) ...
“It’s a Colt Army in .38.
The lands are .357 apart.”
I agree with that. If it was a police positive it would say so on the barrel.
Looks like it would make a good boat gun.....
The police positive and official police are very similar. The official police was a follow on to the police positive with minor changes. Otherwise they are identical. One of the changes to the official police was grooving of the trigger and cylinder release. Based on that I think you have a police positive. I’m suprised the people at colt couldn’t give you a model based on serial number.
CC
Modern .38 ammo is perfectly safe for your gun.There’s no point in using +P in a fine old gun like that.I’m sure you have other guns that are more powerful.The quality of steel used in these old guns is really quite good,I shoot guns older than yours all the time and have never had any problems.
That is an antique....2nd amendment speaks as a GOD given right.....I do not need (and you either) permission for a right.
Maybe a Colt Officers model in .38 cal.
http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/colt-officers-model-38-special-c4321/
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.