___________________________________________________ Posted on 05/14/2016 5:32:31 PM PDT by atc23
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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.
Just bought a book well ahead of Son in Laws birthday...COLT
Quite a history.
I can not see the exact model, but refers to many in that era and different length barrels. 11 1/4 inches overall?
Research, Colt Officers and New Colt Service models. Might not be old enough though.
In the 1920’s 38 caliber varying length barrels were started to be produced. “detective” and “banker” were produced in the 400,000 range.
It might take a long time to read the entire book!
Both of the .45’s I have never had in my possession are on the bottom of waters from boating expeditions....sad that two military issued .45’s would have such a sad demise...I know. Being ex-military and medic assigned to the .45 shooting team for two years in a row...think of what I could do in order to preserve them. Gee I wish I owned them.....but that’s how it goes.....maybe someday I can ask a government puke to give me permission to exercise my right. GET IT?
But if it was, it would have the model stamped on the barrel or the receiver. Makes me wonder ...
I did not see that top one in the history book of the COLT...It sure looks close to the one pictured...especially the grip. All I found of interest was references to personalized grips and special wood used...
Did they call it the ‘New Army’ ? I think that’s the one with those black grips.
Tim?
“The lands are .357” apart.”
Nope, they’re 0.348-0.350” apart.
The grooves are 0.357”, though.
Could it be a .38 Long Colt?
Didja see this?
They couldn’t take home Army issue, but they could bring back their own pistols, which a lot of officers had. They could also bring back trophy guns.
Imagine the Army allowing THAT today.
I once had a Colt New Navy model which in my memory resembled that one. It was nickel plated but looked similar. I think the caliber was .38 Long Colt or Short Colt.
One of the internal springs was broken. I tried to fashion another one by cutting the spring of a stripper clip. It fit but never worked right. I was going to order a replacement from Numrich but ended up trading it off to a collector.
It might just be an earlier version of the police positive but I can’t recall the name right now.
That’s not a weapon, it is a personal safety appliance.
I used to have (prior to the boating accident) an almost identical revolver...US Army Model 1917. The difference is that it is (was) chambered for .45 ACP, and had a swivel on the bottom of the grip for a lanyard.
Interesting that it won’t (wouldn’t) chamber long Colt .45 cartridges. You used .45 ACP and half-moon clips since there is no lip on ACP, and without the clips, extraction was non-existent.
I think, contrary to ProtectOurFreedom’s comment, that it is a beautiful revolver.
Looks a lot like the 32-20 military issue, but it’s hard to tell from this photo. Could be a 38 if your measurements are correct. Cylinder length as a second measurement should confirm the cartridge.
It should be stamped on the barrel, shooters left when pointed down range, just forward of the cylinder. If even worn some good gun oil may help you read it.
The “sloppiness” of the markings on the gun is because it is quite evident to me that gun was amateurishly re-blued. The edges of the machining shows too much buffing, curving off the sharp edges you’d normall see, and thus blurring the normally crisp rolled lettering. The color of the bluing is wrong.
Notice also the the cupping around the screw holes. That’s a dead give-away of poor polishing/finishing from a heavy hand buffing for re-bluing.
It’s either a Police Positive or an Official Police, and I’m inclined to believe the latter on account of the more robust front strap and the more abruptly pointed trigger. Plus the bakelite grips are more common on the OP, while wood is more common on the PP.
He said it looked unfired and I was going to recommend that he not shoot it to preserve collector value -- but re-bluing (espicially an obviously-crappy job like that) blows that hope all to heck...
I looked at the photo more closely and I see light over all pitting from rust that existed before the re-bluing attempt. It's blotchy and just poor overall. The hammer should be case hardened, not blued, as should the cylinder pin, and cylinder latch should be bright blue, as should all screws. Here is a pristine gun of the correct model that hasn't been screwed up by an amateur wannabe gunsmith:
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