Welcome to Coltforum. Welcome! You really know how to enter a room, with a grand old Colt revolver with lengthy family history.

It looks like a Colt New Service from the early part of the 1900s, but I have never before seen one in .41 (magnum?) caliber.

The exerts will come along soon and, no doubt, prove me wrong.

I think it is just wonderful that you have your Great Grandfather's gun. I hope you keep and cherish that family heirloom, and eventually pass it down the line in your family.

 

Could it be an 1889 d.a.? bill

 

Lack of locking notches on cylinder means it has to be an 1889.

 

You have a Colt New Army & Navy, probably the Navy Model.
21204 was made in 1894.
The .41 Long Colt versions were commercial models.
The letters stamped on the side plate are not factory.
Here's some general info on these Colt's........

Colt New Army and Navy Revolvers - Colt Fever

The new army and navy model is unique to colt, as the cylinder rotates counter-clockwise. Visit Colt Fever for more details. Learn more.

coltfever.com

 

Thanks for the info.
Regarding the right side letters, those were his initials. It looks as if there is an extra plate for the initials, when comparing to other Colt 41s I have seen. As if it was mounted to the gun.
Is that normal?
Thanks again.

 

No, it's just the sideplate badly fitting. This could be due to damage, or accumulated dirt.
The knob on the ejector rod has come off, and been replaced with a brass one, probably made by amateur machinist. This is fairly common. And much worse improvised replacements are seen.

 

Welcome to the Colt forum from Western Pa! Please tell us more about Great Grandpa. Was he the original owner? Love that holster. That rig looks like it worked for a living. What part of the country was he from.

 

Thanks and great questions.
Great grandpa was in the Navy as most of my relatives were in the military. He worked on a farm in McComb, Mississippi for most of his life. That's about all I really know, pretty sure he was the original owner.
I received this when I was about 16 (40+ yrs ago) and haven't really investigated it until now.

 

That is the first cylinder loading double action revolver ever made by Colt. It is an early one, as noted because it has no notches in the cylinder for either advancing or a bolt locking device. As such it is a curiosity, not necessarily worth more because parts are not available and no one works on these any more. The ammunition has long been obsolete, 41 Long Colt is not common to find or own.

Because this gun belonged to your grandfather the best thing to do with it might be to display it.

 

I thought that holster looked kinda military so I did some snoopin.
Great Grandpa my have dad a uniform back in his day like this one.

 

Unlikely. The pistol is a Colt Navy, a civilian version not issued to anyone.

 

Who knows, he may have been issued a model 1889 . Liked the gun but not the caliber. Bought a 41 caliber and a military like civilian holster to shoot the foxes breaking into the chicken coop on the farm.

 

Hi Steve,

You have an 1889 Navy (Civilian Model). Notice the cylinder doesn't have any notches in it. It was likely manufactured in 1892.

 

It is indeed a Colt model 1889 New Navy civilian.41. The grips are a replacement as they are for a New Army. The 1889 should have Colt in the grip oval not a rampant Colt.
this is a black powder gun so don’t shoot smokeless cartridges in it. What a great heirloom.