Is this a first year production Colt New Pocket revolver, built in 1893?

[Collects]

I won this auction on Auction Arms today for $500. I am unclear if this gun is a Colt New Pocket, built in 1893.

Item:10810312 Colts Patents Arms Manufacturing Company COLT POCKET POSITIVE (FIRST ISSUE) .32 S&W For Sale at GunAuction.com

With a serial number of 266 (according to seller), it must be a New Pocket, built in 1893 - per data on Proofhouse.com.

However, seller calls it a Pocket Postive, and says the last patent date on the barrel is 1905 - which would negate the 266 S/N from 1893. One can read "Pocket Positive" on the barrel and "New Pocket" on the frame in the photos.

Pocket Positive S/Ns start at 30,000 in 1905, per Proofhouse.

Might this be a New Pocket rebarreled with a Pocket Positive barrel?

Might this be a transitional gun?

The cylinder latch style is the type used during the first decade of the twentieth century, but I do not know what style latch was used in the last decade of the nineteenth century on DA Colts.

I do not yet know if the 266 "S/N" is actually an assembly number, or where it is stamped.

Where do we expect the S/N to be on this gun? Inside the crane? On the butt, under the stocks?

I am hoping that it is a New Pocket bearing S/N 266, built in 1893. I can't wait to inspect it myself.

Is the New Pocket Colt's first pocket sized DA revolver?

I was quite excited to have possibly found an extremely early DA Colt, built the century before last! I woke up repeatedly last night thinking about the revolver. I was like a kid on Christmas Eve, impatiently awaiting morning and presents under the tree. At this stage of life (age 59), my "presents" are found online or in gun shows.

Is there any reason why I should not fire this revolver?

Is there any particular ammo that I should use, or ammo that I should avoid in this old revolver? Must I shoot BP loads?

Opinions? Can you clear up the discrepancies?

Judge Colt, Your Honor, maybe I'll send it back to Colt, or to Fords, for refinishing. (Just kidding about the last line; I hope I did not give Judge Colt a heart attack.)

[twaits]

Looks like a transisitonal to me. I wonder if he's reading the right number. I think the serial number should be on the butt of the early pocket positives. And assembly number under the crane? It would have been nice if he posted more pictures. When I post a gun on Gunbroker I show every little nook and cranny. I guess if the serial really is that low it might be an old rebarrel. But I dont know.
It appears to have 32 S&W CTG on the barrel in his crappy pictures but its a little hard to see. There weren't many made like this. I think these might have been the first pocket positives which were switched over from .32 Colt to .32 S&W before they came out with the .32 Colt NP.

[Collects]

I think the S/N ought to be on the butt, under the stocks, too.

Seller just told me that what he calls the S/N is stamped inside the crane, on the crane and on the frame. That may well be assembly numbers in those old DA Colts, although in more recent years the S/N is stamped at those locations.

Twaits, thanks for your input. Yes, seller's photos are lousy.

I too think this is probably a somewhat rare gun. Colt HATED to roll mark "S&W" anywhere on a Colt. I have never seen one of these before, ...so I bought it.

[twaits]

I think you did well on it. I would love to have one of those myself. A while back someone posted an old catalog advertisement for the Pocket Positve and it had the S&W markings on the barrel.
I hope you post some good pictures of it when you get it home. Congratulations!

[twaits]

Wilsons book says "Various markings on the left side of the barrel; the earliest of these was: FOR .32 S&W CTG. or COLT D.A.32"

What is a little confusing though is that he says "2. Serial numbers stamped on the inside of the crane, and on the frame facing the crane; also written or inscribed inside of most grips"
Now Wilsons not always 100% correct so this could have just been the most common placement. I still think yours is going to be on the butt.

Also I think that all of these that were chambered in .32 S&W were made in the early 1900s so I think you will be fine with smokeless ammo

[thecoltguy]

The serial number will be on the butt. The number inside the crane is the assembly number.

[Collects]

Colts are beautiful.

The check is in the mail.

I will still respect the seller in the morning after the transaction.



Soon, my FFL will call for me to pick up a very early swing-out cylinder Colt. I'm excited.

I still can't believe you guys did not outbid me. Thanks.

[twaits]

Congratulations. I'm looking forward to seeing better pictures of your new Colt.

[Nframe_is_no1]

I have one of these from 1904, looks just like the pic only slightly more worn. I wanted to point out that although the barrels are marked "for .32 S&W ctg", these are actually chambered for .32 S&W Long.

[JudgeColt]

Don't let him re......................... ________________________.