GrandDad's old NEW Army Colt

[atr]

Some pictures of my GrandDad's old Colt revolver and the cartridges that came with it. I believe it is a Colt New Army and the cylinder revolves counter-clockwise. I have shot low velocity .38 special 125 gr cast loads in this revolver but the cylinder alignment to the forcing cone/bore is pretty sloppy so I don't shoot it much.
There is a story about how I came into possession of this revolver.

The US Smokeless cartridges by the United States Cartridge Company are 145 gr. lead in Long Colt brass cases. The powder charge measured 3grains and looked a lot like Bullseye. When I put a match to it the powder burned progressively.

The Western Center Fire Cartridges are .38 special cases with 168 gr lead bullet.
The powder charge measured 16 grains, it was dark black, flake and when I put a match to it the powder did not burn progressively but went "poof" with a substantial cloud of smoke.

note that the boxes lids/bullets are in reverse, bad planning on my part.
Best
atr

[Rusty Goose]

Beautiful! Revolver and ammo both! I have a New Service M1909 in 45 Colt. It is so much fun to hold and shoot. If these old guns could tell their life stories....

[ATCDoktor]

I’ve got a commercial model of the same revolver chambered in 41 Long Colt:



Somebody did a pretty decent re blue on mine (side plate was buffed a little hard) it’s a decent shooter but (like you) I shoot it ever so rarely.

[smkummer]

If you tell us the serial number, we can tell you when it was made. And yes, older 38 long colt cartridges will be found with both blackpowder and smokeless loadings. And as you see, hollow base inside lube bullets are used to expand to the .375 bore diameter.

[Thumbcocker]

Thanks for sharing this.

[atr]

Yes the base of both the slugs is cone shaped. The measured slug diameters
were 0.357 for the 145 gr slug and
o.355 for the 168 gr slug

If I am reading it correctly the serial number is printed on the butt ....255559. Also on the butt in a different style is B 22

[Ajohns]

They are actually about a .362-4 groove diameter. Nice piece and a fun shooter!

[Texas by God]

That’s a neat old Colt.
I thought that Colts rotate clockwise and Smiths rotate counterclockwise.
Don’t allow any .357 Mag anywhere around it because they will chamber! (No step/throat)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[atr]

Texas,
these early model colts had the cylinder rotate counter clockwise, but in later re-issues they changed the rotation to clockwise. I just happen to have a very early model.
The cylinder itself is shorter than the standard 38 Special cylinder.

Based on the serial number I believe this is the year of manufacture:
Year of Manufacture 1905
Model NEW ARMY & NEW NAVY MODELS (DA 38 AND DA 41 WITH SWING OUT CYLINDERS, MODELS OF 1892, 1894, 1895, 1896,1901 & 1903) - SERIALS ON BUTT
also,
DA 38 is printed on the left side of the barrel.

[smkummer]

If made in 1905, it may very well be chambered in 38 special. Look for a step in the chamber.

[missionary5155]

Good morning
That is a real family Jewel !
I would not be hesitant to shoot it. We shoot all our old revolvers that are "complete and safe".
We have a Colt Army (1903) in 41 Colt we shoot whenever we desire. BP (Goex 3F) and with Red Dot to equal the BP velocity. Soft lead heeled cast for the 41 Colt is much more accurate.
The 6" barrels make good 20-30 shooting easy.

[218bee]

Looking at "proof house" website looks like made in 1905

[218bee]

Looking at "proof house" website looks like made in 1905.
proofhouse.com
they list serial numbers from some gun manufacturers