[Scrape]

Year of manufacture 1908

 

[Darthcharlie609]

M1889 .41. Made in 1892 No one can help me with why the barrel has no patent dates. Positive it was replaced at some point. Going to finally get a letter for it, had it for two years now. Had offer's from friends ranging from 500-4500 for it.

 

[ratchetclank]

I was given a Colt DA 38 as a gift for my wedding. honestly i know nothing about it. please folks take me to school here.

 

[Mike Armstrong]

Can't do photos (no matter how much I appreciate YOURS!).

But i do have a question about the "medium frame" DAs made between1889 and 1908. I'm fairly familiar with the Army Special/OP/.357/Trooper/Python "family" of DAs.

But I wonder when the "up to 1905 improvements" began to be added to the "medium frames" that preceded the Army Special in 1908.

The "big frame" New Service had them added feature by feature from 1898 on and there are many "transition models" with some new features and some missing (new frame, hammer/firing pin, mainspring, hammer block, etc.) up until 1905 or shortly after. Are there similar transitional models in the 1889-1908 medium frame revolvers? Are these serial improvements what the model dates (1896, 1900 etc.)refer to? Or is it more complicated than that?

(If this is a too-dumb question, just point me to a source for a smart answer or answers....).

 

[Jesse Heywood]

I recently acquired this 1889 Navy .41 Colt, 5" made in 1893. Commercial model without improvements.

 

[area51guy]

I recently acquired this 1889 Navy .41 Colt, 5" made in 1893. Commercial model without improvements.

If it was made in 1893 then it has at least some of the 1892 upgrades. It would have to have been made prior to 1892 to be pure 1889 hardware. If you can find a copy of the book by Bob Best you will be able to learn all about these models.

 

[Schuren]

Time for the really ugly ones... I just found this one for sale in Germany.... I think it explains very well that engraving is difficult....
peter

 

[CWO4USCGRET]

Succumbing to the need to buy a gun in honor of the second month of the New Year I went gun shopping today. At one shop I was all set to buy a Ruger GP100 .44 Special but NICS was down so I went to another Gun Shop down the street. I walked right past this little guy last week; even buying one then (an H&R 5 shot .38 S&W "Suicide Special) and didn't see this 1895 manufactured Colt New Pocket .32. I like it; it looks to be in good shape; the left grip has faded to a brown color; the right still has some black color to it. The better news is they are both in very good shape and the checkering still is pointed to some degree. The trigger and hammer still have some bright blue left an overall there is a nice patina to the gun. A four digit serial number; Proofhouse and Colt's Serial Number Lookup agree with a 1895 manufacture date. The bore is dark but after a few passes with a bore snake its shiny. I found it here in San Antonio - maybe I should letter this one!

 

[gold_cup]

1894 DA 38. RAC proofed

 

[Berkeley492]

I had always considered picking up something between my 1877 DA's and 1911, so found this Model 1902 "Philippine". It seems to fit right in!!!!

 

[Berkeley492]

... and a few more pictures

 

[goodealou]

1889 Navy (Civilian) made in 1890

 

[goodealou]

1889 Navy's (Civilian) made in 1892 Nickel & Blue

 

[mentallapse]

1889 Navy. Made 1890. .41 caliber

 

[Lucky Sarge]

I really enjoyed this thread and learned a bunch about my 6" Colt Navy Commercial model. The last patent date was 1895. So does that make 1895 the model number? SN# 119727

 

[RevoReno]

Here is a extremely rare special order 1889 Navy. Ordered with 7 1/2 inch barrel, wider military style grip frame and ivory grips. This gun has two different factory letters. First letter shows a shipment on March 10th, 1891 with a blue finish and a 3" barrel. Second Factory letter confirms current features and states shipment of one gun to a W.S. Dalliba on March 20, 1891. William Swift Dalliba worked for American Express and was the man in charge of all shipping thru AMEX for the 1893 Worlds Fair Columbian Exposition in Chicago. He then went on to be in charge of all American Express operations in Europe with his base in Paris. Long family history of military and Colt ties. Dalliba's great grandfather was Benjamin Huntington who was a Revolutionary War General and member of the Second Continental Congress. Grandfather James was a Brevet Major in the War of 1812 and one of the first graduates of West Point who later was the Commander of the Watervliet Arsenal in New York. His father James Edward was one of the first Colorado Attorney Generals appointed by Abraham Lincoln. Aunt Sarah was married to Eli Whitney who helped Sam Colt out of bankruptcy with the manufacture of the Colt Walker. Teddy Roosevelt was one of Dalliba's best friends and attended many events with him. This 1889 was featured on the cover of The Rampant Colt Magazine with a story I wrote about it inside. Also a photo of the page from Colt's special order book which states the features of the gun and the notation "Government shape" referencing the grip frame. Note size difference between civilian and military in photo.


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An interesting addition to this revolver also in my possession. A book written by Col. Theodore A. Dodge titled "A birds Eye View Of Our Civil War". The book is inscribed by Dodge to the owner of this 1889, William S. Dalliba. Written at the beginning of the Gettysburg chapter is a personal notation from Dodge as to where he was kept prisoner after he was wounded in the Gettysburg battle. He took a ball in his ankle and eventually lost his leg. Inscription and notation below.

 

[victorio1sw]

Texas Border Wars Cavalry Gun, Dual Factory-Inscribed Presentation Colt M1896

The sideplate inscription reads “First Prize Skirmish Match 1900”, while the backstrap is engraved in a single line “G. B. Regar 2nd Troop PCC NGP”. The gun came with the original black holster, which is generally of the style issued by the U.S. military during the period for this Colt model. A 3-inch wide belt loop is attached to the back of the holster, making it compatible with a Mills pattern woven cartridge belt for large caliber rifle bullets (45-70, 30-40, or 30-06).

On the night of May 5, 1916 two groups of Mexican raiders surprised the small Texas villages of Glenn Springs and Boquillas in Brewster County, killing at least four citizens. These unexpected invasions from Mexico now resulted in such a public outcry that on June 18, 1916 President Woodrow Wilson ordered the entire National Guard of the United States to mobilize on the Mexican Border. This event led to the creation of twelve cavalry camps from El Paso to the Big Bend area of Texas.

George Bertram Regar received orders to rendezvous for participation in this event on June 22, 1916, and was mustered into federal service on July 6, 1916. His 1st Cavalry and other units from the Pennsylvania National Guard (1st Artillery, Co’s A & B of the Signal Corps, Ambulance Co’s 1 & 2, and Field Hospitals 1 & 2) were based at Camp Stewart. Camp Stewart stretched for two miles along the Southern Pacific Railroad between Dyer Street and Hondo Pass Road. The camp was named for long-time Adjutant General of Pennsylvania, Thomas J. Stewart (see his name in Colt factory letter).

John P. Wood (see also his name in Colt letter) commanded Sgt. Major G. B. Regar and the 1st Cavalry. The October 1916 National Guard Roster records the “Field And Staff” at El Paso under Col. John P. Wood and the “Headquarters Troop” that included Reg’t Sergt. Major G. Bertram Regar. Their objective was to protect and defend the towns and isolated ranches in west Texas. The presence of these military units proved to be very effective as the prior border invasions from Mexico were silenced. After 18 years of service G. B. Regar was discharged on June 25, 1917.

Other photographs will follow.....

 

[victorio1sw]

Texas Border Wars Cavalry Gun, Dual Factory-Inscribed Presentation Colt M1896

Pictures of Camp Stewart and the 1st Cavalry there. Colt factory letter. Summary of Regar's service record.

 

[RevoReno]

Pictures of Camp Stewart and the 1st Cavalry there. Colt factory letter. Summary of Regar's service record.

I find it interesting that 2 identical guns were in the shipment. I wonder why 2 guns, identically marked, would have been made as an award to the same person? I have never seen this before with presentation guns.

 

[victorio1sw]

I find it interesting that 2 identical guns were in the shipment. I wonder why 2 guns, identically marked, would have been made as an award to the same person? I have never seen this before with presentation guns.

A very good question, as the Colt letter leaves one kind of hanging and mis-informed. Two identical guns did not go to G. B. Regar. I asked Marty Huber about that other Colt. On my Colt letter I wrote down the SN (147,42x) and the other recipient of a presentation Colt. So the 2nd gun was engraved down the backstrap “R. S. Hart, Jr. 2nd Troop PCC NGP”.

To my knowledge that 2nd gun has never turned up.