Colt New Service Revolver Need help with pricing.

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Sasquatch807

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I've been offered a Colt New Service Revolver in 38 sp caliber, 114 mm barrel (4 1/2") and I need to come up with a value before I make an offer. Outer condition is between fair to good and mechanically very good. The ejector rod knob is missing but these are still available. The side plate is engraved with the first owners name and the year 1925. Present owner even has the registration certificate and carry permits from 1939 on.

* Although registered as a "New Service" model, a better look at the barrel stampings shows this revolver to be an "Army Special" model 1905.


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I don't think that revolver is a "New Service" it looks more like an "official police". The new service revolvers were usually chambered for larger calibers, like .45 colt, .455 Webley and .45 ACP. Lots of guns have been registered wrong over the years, I think this is one of them. In the shape I can see in the photo, I wouldn't go more than $ 300.00.

Scott
 
Did the New Service ever have a half moon front sight?

What does it say on the barrel? It wouldn't be an Official Police because of the year (assuming '25 or earlier) but is likely an Army Special. I have one with a 5" barrel. I'd much prefer the 4 1/2" barrel on that one.

I can't help on value but I'd be all over it for $300. That's actually what I paid for mine a couple of years back. Came with the original grips (one is damaged).
 
m39a2 said:
I don't think that revolver is a "New Service" it looks more like an "official police". The new service revolvers were usually chambered for larger calibers, like .45 colt, .455 Webley and .45 ACP. Lots of guns have been registered wrong over the years, I think this is one of them. In the shape I can see in the photo, I wouldn't go more than $ 300.00.

Scott
Click to expand...

You are right about the registered wrong part, in 1939 it was registered as a model 1925, and in 1969 it had become a New Service. They did however produce the New Service in about 8 calibers, including 38 spl and 357 mag. I just back and took a closer look at the barrel and it is stamped Army Special.
 
Leg said:
Did the New Service ever have a half moon front sight?

What does it say on the barrel? It wouldn't be an Official Police because of the year (assuming '25 or earlier) but is likely an Army Special. I have one with a 5" barrel. I'd much prefer the 4 1/2" barrel on that one.

I can't help on value but I'd be all over it for $300. That's actually what I paid for mine a couple of years back. Came with the original grips (one is damaged).
Click to expand...

You are right on, I went back and had a look at the barrel and it is stamped "Army Special". Would that change it's value?

Colt's website list's the year of manufacture as 1915.
 
As I mentioned I can't really help on value as I'm not really a collector.

Does the Army Special command a premium over the Official Police? Perhaps. Those markings are certainly harder to come by. I'm no expert but it appears that the barrel may have been cut down? Wiki says 4,5 and 6" only but I do know that the New Service was available as a 4 1/2". If that's the case than it will affect value as well. It does have a lanyard ring, which mine does not. Honestly someone who knows more about these would be able to give a more realistic value.

Personally I'd prefer the shorter barrel and I've contemplated taking mine in to a gunsmith and getting it cut down to 4.2". I'd buy it as a shooter and not as any kind of collector piece.
 
Measure the barrel, don't sound right to me , not a new service for sure, Condition is not good, but if it is tight and timing dead on , 300.oo is way off unless a 12-6, 2-300.
restricted , good shooter I could see 500-600.oo easy. If the timing is off , that is a different ball game.
Just had a quick look in my book, and they do list a 4.5 inch . made in 32-20,.38c and sp. &.41colt serial # range291000-540,000 does it fall in this range?
 
marshall said:
Measure the barrel, don't sound right to me , not a new service for sure, Condition is not good, but if it is tight and timing dead on , 300.oo is way off unless a 12-6, 2-300.
restricted , good shooter I could see 500-600.oo easy. If the timing is off , that is a different ball game.
Just had a quick look in my book, and they do list a 4.5 inch . made in 32-20,.38c and sp. &.41colt serial # range291000-540,000 does it fall in this range?
Click to expand...

Like I mentionned, I went back and had a look at the barrel and although the registration papers say New Service, it is stamped "Army Special". Serial # is 399,### and Colt's website list's the year of manufacture as 1915.
 
According to Colt Fever, the Army Special replaced the New Army and Navy models, used the improved lock work of the New Service and was deigned around .38 Special and .41 Colt.

In 1927, since the US Army never adopted it, but many police departments did, it was renamed Official Police and remained unchanged until 1969.
 
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