Colt Model New Service, Blue 5 ½” .45 LC Long Colt DA Double Action Revolver & Grips, MFD 1937 C&R

SOLD FOR $2,375.00
LSB#: 180110JB06 

Make: Colt

Model: New Service Revolver

Serial Number: 342858

Year of Manufacture: 1937

Caliber: .45 Colt

Action Type: Single Action/Double Action with Swing Out Cylinder

Markings: The top of the barrel is marked with Colts 2 Line Address with patent dates ending on Oct. 5, 1926. The left side of the barrel is marked “NEW SERVICE 45 COLT”. The crane is marked “342858”. The crane cut is marked “342858” and with a large and small “l”. The left sideplate is marked with a Rampant Colt logo. The left front of the trigger guard is marked with a “VP” in a triangle and the rear with “4”. The left side of the grip frame is marked “5”, “2”, ”2”, “0” and “Y”. The front face of the cylinder is marked “8” and “A”.

Barrel Length: 5 ½”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a tall Patridge style blade. The rear sight is a square groove in the top of the receiver. The entire top strap has a matte black finish and is finely serrated to reduce glare.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are smooth “bone” with colt medalions. The grips appear to have been seldom handled and exhibit very light marks, most will go unnoticed. No major chips or cracks were observed. The grips are in Fine – Excellent overall condition and fit the gun well.

Type of Finish: This revolver has a bright blued finish, with a matte black finish on the top of the top strap. The sides of the hammer are “In The White” and the trigger is serrated.

Finish Originality: The finish is original.

Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 99% of its metal finish. There is thinning on the front edge of the barrel, with a round spot of finish loss on the left side near the muzzle. There are several tiny single pinpricks of erosion scattered over the cylinder, the right side of the frame and the sideplate – we didn’t even seem them until we looked closely at the cylinder with a magnifying glass. These are not clumps of erosion, just single, tiny pinpricks. There is a small scratch on the crane and a few light marks scattered over the surfaces.  The cylinder has an an extremely light partial drag line that you need a magnifying glass to see. There is light wear in the hammer knurling and the ejector rod knurling is sharp. The screw heads are sharp and the markings are the crispest we have ever seen on a New Service. Overall, this handgun rates in about Excellent condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder lockup is SOLID on all 6 chambers. The single action trigger pull is crisp and the double action trigger is VERY smooth. We did not fire this handgun. As with all previously owned firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: There is a lanyard ring on the bottom of the grip frame. 

Our Assessment: The Colt New Service revolver was first built in 1898 and was a large frame revolver first chambered for .45 Colt. It was adopted by the U.S. Army as the Model 1909 after they found that the Colt New DA Army (Models of 1892-1901), chambered in .38 Colt, proved inadequate in stopping charging tribesmen during the Philippine-American War. Later, the New Service Model of 1917 was adopted to supplement inadequate stocks of M1911 pistols during WWI. This revolver is a commercial New Service model revolver with a 5 ½” barrel made in 1937. The revolver is chambered in .45 Colt. It has the crispest barrel markings we have ever seen on a New Service revolver, so PLEASE see our pictures. It is in about Excellent condition with a bright and sharp bore and a SOLID cylinder lockup. This revolver is in fantastic condition for a revolver over 80 years old. We often don’t see cylinder lockups this good on revolvers that are new in the box, let alone on those of this vintage. This revolver is sure to get the attention of the Colt collectors out there.

CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This C&R eligible revolver CAN be transferred as a dealer sale in California and CAN be sold as a Private Party Transfer (PPT) at our Simi Valley shop. All cartridge firing handguns (even C&R’s and antiques) sold to a California resident must be DROS’d. This does not apply to out of state residents.