[MustangPython00]

I picked this up today at a auto parts swap meet. All the numbers match, Im no Colt expert and in fact have never owned one before.The cylinder rotates counter-clockwise. I looked in my book and it appears to be a 1889 U.S. Navy-Martial. This is from the Standard Catalog of Military Firearms by Phillip Peterson. It says "This variation has a 6" barrel, is chambered for .38 Colt, and is offered in blued finish only. "U.S.N." is stamped on the butt. Most of the Navy models were altered at the Colt factory to add the model 1895 improvements. And original unaltered specimen would be worth as much as 50 percent premium over the altered values show."

Is this really what I have? Hopefully I didnt get taken.

 

[Clyde]

Not an 1889 in unaltered condition, though you know that - those have the cylinder notches (bolt locking recesses) on the back face of the cylinder between the charge holes. Looks like a Model 1892 New Army and Navy, though the butt markings differ from those Flayderman describes (butt marked "U.S.N./anchor/38 D.A./P/inspector initials/date"). Also Navy contract should have plain walnut grips and a lanyard swivel, while civilian examples would have the hard rubber with rampant colt (like yours). The number in the crane recess is an assembly number, the serial is on the butt and looks like 1892 production from my DOM list, but the 1895 patent date included on barrel suggests either later production or that the gun was rebarreled.

Note - 4637 of the 5000 1889s the Navy bought in 1889 were returned to Colt 1896-1900 for conversion to 1895 cylinder locking system. Butt markings for a Navy 1889 should be U.S.N/ serial number/inspector initial/1889. Did not have lanyard swivel, came with plain walnut grips. Standard civilian production had checkered hard rubber grips.

Your frame seems to lack the screw just above the grips seen in the 1892s, so looks to be an 1889 frame. I'm not sure exactly what you have - but I don't know anything that isn't in Flayderman on these. May have an 1889 Navy that was (like most) converted, and then rebarreled fairly early on from the looks of the finish wear on all parts, plus replaced grips. It isn't a bad find, and unless you paid high you are unlikely to have been taken.

Fairly nice find - if you don't mind, what did it cost you?

 

[MustangPython00]

I paid $150 for it, what do you think its worth?

 

[Clyde]

I paid $150 for it, what do you think its worth?

Judging from the pictures and assuming it is functioning and in time - easily double what you paid, at least in this part of the world. Would need to see and handle it to feel comfortable with a price call. But i don't think you hurt yourself.

 

[dfariswheel]

As was explained by the experts on the Colt forum, this is a commercial New Army type, probably made around 1907, and faked as a US Navy issue gun with poorly done phony stamps.

 

[Clyde]

As was explained by the experts on the Colt forum, this is a commercial New Army type, probably made around 1907, and faked as a US Navy issue gun with poorly done phony stamps.

Which Colt forum did he post in - I need to get some more education.

 

[ordnanceguy]

Which Colt forum did he post in - I need to get some more education.

Here is the link:

http://www.coltforum.com/forums/colt-revolvers/48726-1889-colt-d-38-navy-what-do-i-have.html

Bob Best (Colt DAguy) is the guy who literally wrote the book on the martial Colt DA .38 revolvers. You can pretty much bank on his opinions on these guns.

Regards,
Charlie