Posted on 05/29/2015 3:14:36 PM PDT by marktwain
Ping on an Officers Model Colt.
Are you Dean Weingarten? If you are, can we become family?
I don’t know much about that model but I had a Colt DA Navy .38 which was made in the late 1800s and it had a cylinder latch which was similar to that one.
Makes me think it is probably an old gun.
The grips are apparently original like the ones in this photo.
Also curiously, yours looks to be chambered in .38 Colt, not .38 Special (like every other one I've seen). That would also point to it being an early gun, as the .38 Special dates to 1899 (IIRC). The picture should also help in answering your query about the ejector rod.
This is clearly a pre-WWI gun IMO. It even looks like the one on my Great Grandfather's NJ National Guard Pistol Marksmanship medal, which dates to 1909-1912. Thank you for sharing.
Due to the popularity of Cowboy Shooting, .38 Long Colt (which was Army issue from 1892 until 1909) is commercially available, and not too pricey, considering.
http://www.midwayusa.com/find?dimensionids=10068
Your gun may chamber .38 Special (some Long Colt guns can), but firing such is a risky proposition.
I recall the cartridges that were kept with the revolver were wadcutter rounds that were seated nearly flush with the case mouth. Probably a mild load. I doubt that the revolver has had more than a few hundred rounds fired through it. It simply was not shot much. The action and barrel are in excellent condition.
Wadcutters would likely have been .38 Special, but as you said, mild.
Interesting thread on THR about this.
http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-567258.html
I like the snubbies as well... but I like the long barrelled ones better.
The DS is my favorite snubby, thanks for reminding me what an idiot I was for selling the one I had. ;)
I have the same gun.It’s my back-up gun on an ankle holster.
Is it in Colt .38 long or S&W .38 special?
My colt book shows a page from a 1905 catalog showing it was offered in 38 colt and 38 spl. at that time.
There was a 38 colt short 38 colt long and then 38 S@W spl
Then to confuse things more the 38 S@W that has a bit different case Dia.
It appears to be a first series Officers Model. This model is interesting because it has the cover plate on the right side of the gun, unlike the later models which are all on the left. Also it rotates counter-clockwise while modern Colts revolve clockwise.
The .38 Short Colt is the .361 as well as the .38 S&W. Colt also made the .38 New Police later, which was a .38 S&W clone.
I agree a six inch barrel looks great on a revolver. I’m looking to buy a S&W model 66 and my struggle is between a four or six inch barrel.
I’ve had my S&W Model 29 for Decades. 6-1/2” Barrel, 44 Mag.
My favorite Pistol. Grip is just right for my hand and it is pretty accurate, though I’m no Dirty Harry. LOL
IMHO - Short Barrel if you Carry, Long Barrel for Fun.
I hear you. This gun will probably be for fun and to sit on the night stand, which points towards six inch.
No problem with a six inch for carry, if you do not need to conceal it.
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