St. George's Notes XXXV - The Colt New Service...
« on: December 03, 2007, 11:32:06 AM »
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One thing about folks in the Old West - they weren't afraid of innovation and new things, when it came to firearms.
One of the 'new things' was the Colt 'New Service' revolver that came about in November, 1898 - though you'll see 'Aug. 5, 1884' on the barrel.
That refers to the Carl J. Ehbets patent covering the swingout cylinder.
Standard barrel length is 7 1/2", though 4 1/2" and 5 1/2" are common as are lanyard loops.
It's a large-frame double action, built for large-caliber ammunition, and is 'legal in NCOWS.
Here's a synopsis:
Old Model - 1898-1909 - standard frame - #0 - 21,000
Target Model - 1900-1909
1909 Transition Model - standard and Target - #21,000 - 23,000
Improved Model, standard and Target - 1909-1917 - #23,000-143,000
1909 U.S. Military/1914 British Military - 1914-1917 - #65,000-139,000
1917 U.S. Army - 1917-1919 - #150,000-305,000
Improved Model - standard and Target - 1919-1928 - #303,000-328,000
Late Model - standard and Target - 1928 - End of Production - #328,000 - 356,914
(Sutherland - 'The Book of Colt Firearms'; Graham, Kopec and Moore - 'A Study of the Colt Single Action Army'; Serven - 'Colt Firearms')
This is a 'large' revolver - like the old Model 1878 - and it's doubtful if many saw a lot of holster use as opposed to saddlebag use, since the need to repel attackers was less prevalent by their time of introduction, though activities remained 'sudden' along the Mexican Border.
It was a powerful piece - chambered in .476 Eley, 455 Eley, .450 Eley, .45 Colt, .44-40, .44 Russian and .38-40.
A look at the 'Blue Book' and on the various auction sites will show prices all over the range - so condition is paramount.
If it's parkerized - it's a WWII-refinished piece - if it's 'brush blue - it's a WWI piece, since the military's demands weren't as stringent as those of the civilian purchaser's and a non-reflective surface was pretty desireable.
Other finishes were Colt's commercial blue in use at the time, with a few in nickel, and those early blued guns are quite beautiful, featuring fire-blued screws, hammer and trigger.
Regrettably - that wasn't always a truly durable finish and could be prone to flaking - ala' that od the various .38 D.A. Models 1892, '94, '96, '01 and '03 - resulting in Government refinishes and upgrades.
Though double-action - it has a long, hard trigger pull - and that's with a fitted action, so the hand span needed leaves smaller-sized shooters at a disadvantage, unless it's thumb-cocked.
Do you need one?
Hard to say - but the Old Model was used during the waning days of the Frontier, and the Model 1909 saw active service before we selected the M1911, and it carried on long after as a powerful revolver for an outdoorsman's use.
Vaya,
Scouts Out!
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