[Tall]

Mine arrived at my FFL today so I picked it up and brought it home. Now I have more questions -
1. It's stamped 1902 just forward of the wood on the RH side.
2. It's stamped "J.T.T" just to the rear of the cylinder on the RH side.
3. It's stamped RAC on the RH side too.
4. The cylinder is bored through.

 

[JustJim]

Mine arrived at my FFL today so I picked it up and brought it home. Now I have more questions -
1. It's stamped 1902 just forward of the wood on the RH side.
1902 - year it was accepted at Springfield Armory

2. It's stamped "J.T.T" just to the rear of the cylinder on the RH side.
John T. Thompson - accepting Ordnance Officer at Springfield Armory

3. It's stamped RAC on the RH side too.
Rinaldo A. Carr - Ordnance Department inspector at Colt

4. The cylinder is bored through.
All of them (Models 1889, 1892, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1901, 1903, and 1905), as originally manufactured by Colt, were bored straight through

The above info comes from Robert Best's book "A Study of Colt's New Army and Navy Pattern Double Action Revolvers, 1889 to 1908"

 

[Tall]

JustJim thank you!

 

[Midwest Nobody]

I have one. I paid $20 for it 30? Years ago to a degenerate biker neighbor who needed to put gas in his hog to flee town. It's of no real worth. The purchase was far more an act of charity.
I forgot I even had it until the other day. There are a few things that remain legal firearms but aren't worth anything so I put them in bags and seal them in an old cat litter bucket.
I haven't checked on this in probably 10+ years.
The internals are ruined, it's just barely even Relic condition.
If this old gun could talk it would tell tales of abuse, neglect, bad living, and tawdry lives.
I recall now considering fixing the action to pure single action and locking the cylinder in place to make a knockabout single shot for low powered .38, ala the Savage 101, but never did it.
I should probably give it away but even that effort is hardly worth it...
At least I need to clean off the surface rust and seal it up again. Honestly I forgot all about it until posting here the other day.

 

[Scottz63]

That's actually pretty cool and would make a fun project. I like it!

Edit: So, is that actually an Official Police 38, or a New Army/New Navy with an Official Police 38 barrel replacement?

Edit 2: Serial number look-up indicates a 1902 New Army/New Navy.

 

[ILGAC]

1904 New Police DA32

 

[BER911]

This is my 1899 New Police D.A. 32.

 

[Coldwarmariner]

I picked up a 1901 Army DA (original serial number to 1898) a few months ago and put some vintage .38 Long colt ammo through it and compared it to my 1908 Army Special loaded with .38 Special. Just had to see how whimpy the long colt would seem (Philippine Morro Warrior problems, etc…) compared to .38 Special.
I shot a couple 2x10’s at about 20 yds. The LC slug penetrated the first board and lodged in the second. .38 Special round had no trouble going through 2 boards. Seems like the LC would do the job at short range but definitely does not pack the punch of newer cartridges.
Not very scientific but interesting to try.
I guess I should have tried out my 1911 .45 as well but didn’t have it with me.
The old D.A. Is really my favorite to admire. If it could only talk!

Slug in second board after passing thru one 2 by (lower edge)

 

[goodealou]

I'm really intrigued by the 1889 & 1895 New Navy series.

 

[victorio1sw]

I don't know if there's already a thread of photos on these or not so I'm going to go ahead and start one.

Please post your's .

Here is a dual-inscribed Colt M1892 DA, complete with a history of its original owner.

 

[DoubleAction.38]

I'm really intrigued by the 1889 & 1895 New Navy series.

Very nice one of less than 400 unmodified 1889s. Sweet

 

[DoubleAction.38]

A Colt New Army and Navy model 1895. The gun has about 50% blue with the rest turned. In .38 Long Colt, the gun is mechanically tight. All matching numbers. Made in 1901, a much better gun than the contemporary Colt Lightening. It has a 4 1/2” barrel and a number were purchased by Wells Fargo in this barrel length. The gun came with a nice early flap holster that has formed to the gun. (The gun is resting on a copy of “Firearms Identification, Vol II,” by Mathews)

View attachment 843240 View attachment 843241

Nice New Navy.

 

[DoubleAction.38]

This my Colt Officers Model Target .38 serial #245XXX. Gun has 50% blue with the rest greying and light pitting in front of the cylinder/frame from firing the original black powder .38 Colt cartridges. The gun dates from early 1905 with a 1901 patent date and has a tight lock up and functions well.

View attachment 770610 View attachment 770611

By 1904 these guns had a .357 bore for the .38 Special. Nice

 

[ooSilver]

Very nice one of less than 400 unmodified 1889s. Sweet

With the star on the cylinder release and the lack of the Colt 38 on the barrel, why do you think it is unmodified? Just asking.

 

[DoubleAction.38]

With the star on the cylinder release and the lack of the Colt 38 on the barrel, why do you think it is unmodified? Just asking.

When they modified the 1889 Navy they added stop bolt and notches on the cylinder.

With the star on the cylinder release and the lack of the Colt 38 on the barrel, why do you think it is unmodified? Just asking.
[/QUOT
In 1895 when they updated them the added a stop bolt, cylinder lock and notches in the cylinder. Yours has none of that.
yours is one of the original 5000 ordered by the Navy. They were all recalled in or after 1895 to add the improvements that the New Army had.All were modified except about 400 or less. Yours appears to be one of those.

 

[ooSilver]

When they modified the 1889 Navy they added stop bolt and notches on the cylinder.

So no Colt 38 on the barrel is original. I thought all 1889 s had that feature. Thanks.

 

[DoubleAction.38]

So no Colt 38 on the barrel is original. I thought all 1889 s had that feature. Thanks.

Yes that is correct. It should not have Colt 38 designation

So no Colt 38 on the barrel is original. I thought all 1889 s had that feature. Thanks.

So no Colt 38 on the barrel is original. I thought all 1889 s had that feature. Thanks.

the top is M1889 unmodified
middle is M1889 modified
bottom is M1895 New Navy

 

[ooSilver]

Yes that is correct. It should not have Colt 38 designation






View attachment 901811
the top is M1889 unmodified
middle is M1889 modified
bottom is M1895 New Navy

Thank you. Very interesting. I never knew of any 1889s without the Colt 38 DA on the barrel.
Now all you need is to find the speed loader that went with the Navy versions!😀😀

 

[TheCorsican]

Hello guys,
Here is my latest acquisition : Colt DA new Army in 32 WCF, produced (or sent ?) in 1908 (one of the last ones, new officers and Special Army’s seeming to take all the place and production from 1908…).
The state seems really nice despite its respectable age of 116 years… particularly the finish still present, the blue of the trigger or screws, or (amazingly) the angles on cylinder chamber’s bores…

 

[twaits]

Hello guys,
Here is my latest acquisition : Colt DA new Army in 32 WCF, produced (or sent ?) in 1908 (one of the last ones, new officers and Special Army’s seeming to take all the place and production from 1908…).
The state seems really nice despite its respectable age of 116 years… particularly the finish still present, the blue of the trigger or screws, or (amazingly) the angles on cylinder chamber’s bores…

View attachment 929509

View attachment 929510

View attachment 929511

View attachment 929512

View attachment 929513

Love it. I don't recall seeing these in 32WCF before. I wonder if that is a rare chambering?