Questions about colt revolver

437 Views 10 Replies 7 Participants Last post by kenhwind, 4 d ago

Cdreyer48

Discussion Starter · 7 d ago

Hello everyone. I’m new here and new to colts revolvers. I recently bought one and don’t really have much information on it at all. Was hoping to get some answers. Would really love to shoot it. From what I know it’s a .38 DA. It has the number 3679 marked on it in a few different spots. Does say Colt D.A. 38 on the side of the barrel. The top of the barrel has some dates I believe that start at 1884. Also has a RAC stamp just above the grip. Any info on the possible year of the gun, and what I can and can’t shoot out of it would be great. All info is welcome like I said I don’t know much about them and would love to know as much as possible. Thank you!

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SHOOTER13

· #2 · 7 d ago (Edited)

Welcome to the COLT Forum from the Cradle Of Liberty...Pennsylvania !!

Enjoy Our Community Sir... see DFariswheel Post #8 for the correct response.

What I wrote was based on the partial serial number provided...my bad.

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kenhwind

· #3 · 7 d ago

You will need better information than what I know, but it is a .38 Long Colt revolver.
It is I believe an Army Navy New Model 38, others will chime in.

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FL Moore

· #4 · 7 d ago

Welcome to the forum from Virginia !!

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Cdreyer48

Discussion Starter · #5 · 7 d ago

SHOOTER13 said:
Welcome to the COLT Forum from the Cradle Of Liberty...Pennsylvania !!

Enjoy Our Community Sir... and as far as your questions:

I'll take a stab...it seems to me to be a 1908 ( serial# 3679 ) Colt Police Positive Special... ( an improvement of the Colt Police Positive ) with a 6" barrel, inspected by RAC chambered in either .38 New Police, .38 S&W, or .38 Special, not sure which yours is by looking at the one picture...but D.A. means Double Action.

( Based on the serial # ==> Colt's Manufacturing LLC )

Found 48 results for 3679...only 2 choices at the site ( linked above ) fit what I'm looking at in your picture

I appreciate the info. Helps out for sure. I tried doing some research on it and everything says there should be a serial number on the bottom of the handle but there are no numbers on mine. I really want to find out what ammo I can shoot in it. I’ve been trying to find some .38 long colts but have had no luck, .38 special is easy to find but I’ve read so many things that say it’s ok to shoot it, and also not ok to shoot that ammo so I’m hoping for a better answer here. Would love to shoot it knowing my hand isn’t going to blow up.

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SHOOTER13

· #6 · 7 d ago

Cdreyer48 said:
I appreciate the info. Helps out for sure. I tried doing some research on it and everything says there should be a serial number on the bottom of the handle but there are no numbers on mine. I really want to find out what ammo I can shoot in it. I’ve been trying to find some .38 long colts but have had no luck, .38 special is easy to find but I’ve read so many things that say it’s ok to shoot it, and also not ok to shoot that ammo so I’m hoping for a better answer here. Would love to shoot it knowing my hand isn’t going to blow up.

Yea...heard that !!

You cannot mix ammo calibers...Do NOT shoot any ammo till you ask a gunsmith or someone with more knowledge than me.

No guesses or stabs...ONLY FACT !!

OK !?

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Cdreyer48

Discussion Starter · #7 · 7 d ago

SHOOTER13 said:
Yea...heard that !!

You cannot mix ammo calibers...Do NOT shoot any ammo till you ask a gunsmith or someone with more knowledge than me.

No guesses or stabs...ONLY FACT !!

OK !?

Yeah that’s the plan.

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dfariswheel

· #8 · 7 d ago

You have a Colt New Army Model in .38 Long Colt.
This was a US issue military revolver.
RAC was the US inspector Rinaldo A. Carr.

The actual serial number was stamped on the bottom of the butt. The other numbers on parts were factory assembly numbers used to keep fitted parts together during manufacture.
It's not unusual to see these with the butt marking ground off, which is technically illegal.

Here's some general info on the Colt New Army & Navy models...........

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

Note that these military models were not chambered for the ,38 Special, but can be fired with LIGHT reloaded .38 Special ammo. NEVER shoot standard .38 Special or any hot loaded ammo.
Also note that these are complicated and fragile revolvers that break or go out of order rather easily.
Treat it gently.

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Mk VII

· #9 · 4 d ago

Many (though not all) of these use a .361" dia. bullet. If a .357 projectile drops straight through, it's one of these. It is possible to get decent accuracy if a .357 HB bullet is used. These arms have a reputation for fragile lockwork and if faulty it is difficult to find anyone who is prepared to work on them.
It is fairly common to find the number on the butt ground off by various parties over the years - one reason why Colt went to marking them elsewhere as well.
The standard work is Robert Best, A Study of Colt New Army and Navy Pattern Double Action Revolvers 1889-1908. This book is out of print and difficult to find.

It is just possible that the number may be pencilled inside the grips.

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Tall

· #10 · 4 d ago

If that were mine I would order some 38 Short Colt Brass 38 Short Colt brass

Then order a 38 Colt Heeled bullet crimping tool: 38 Colt Crimping tool

Then I would get the proper .375" diameter bullets for it: 38 Colt heeled bullets

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kenhwind

· #11 · 4 d ago

The best thing to do with one of these early Colt swing out cylinder revolvers is to buy an Army Special or Official Police and not have to worry about what ammo to use.

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