Colt New Line Revolver -- 1870-1880

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  • AGarbers

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    I saw this at Four Guns in LaFayette the other day and decided it should have a new home. It is a Colt New Line, Second Model single-action five-shot revolver in .38 Colt. It is scarce because it has a four-inch barrel in .38 centerfire. Most were made in .22, .30, or .32. Some were made .41. According to Flayderman is was made from 1874-1880 with only about 5,500 being made in this caliber, making this particular variation even more rare. It is considered a pocket gun. It has the loading gate. (Not all of them did.) The grips are supposed to be rosewood but I assume use has darkened them. The cylinder pin has been replaced with a non-correct pin which is undersized. Once I find a replacement pin I do plan on playing with it at CAS side matches. This is a black powder model gun so I will be using APP, a black powder sub.

     

    asevans

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    Feb 26, 2011
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    Awesome gun. I recently got into single actions and the history of that time period.
    Didn't know these existed. Thanks for sharing.
    AA
     

    indy1919a4

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    Neat gun.. Would love to see a photo in the human hand or against another pistol to get a size comparison.. how many did they make in all calibers????

    And is that 38 Colt long or short??
     
    Last edited:

    AGarbers

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    Neat gun.. Would love to see a photo in the human hand or against another pistol to get a size comparison.. how many did they make in all calibers????

    And is that 38 Colt long or short??

    Production numbers from Flayderman:

    .22 rimfire = 55,343
    .30 rimfire = about 11,000
    .32 rimfire and centerfire = about 22,000
    .38 rimfire and centerfire = about 5,500
    .41 rimfire and centerfire = about 7,000

    Centerfire models have a C stamped in the frame below the cylinder window. This one has .38 CAL C stamped in it.
    The .38 Long Colt I use for my 1877 Lightning fit perfectly so I suspect it can shoot either.

     

    indy1919a4

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    Wow thanks, I know we are talking Back powder and all but that seems a hand full in 38 & 41 cal..

    Once more I come to the well.. Any idea what they sold for in the day???
     

    AGarbers

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    Wow thanks, I know we are talking Back powder and all but that seems a hand full in 38 & 41 cal..

    Once more I come to the well.. Any idea what they sold for in the day???

    I assume it would have been a handful, considering the .38 Long Colt was what the US Army went to briefly before going to .45 ACP.

    According to this 1876 ad, they sold for $3.50 each, wholesale.

     

    steif

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    That's cool. I seldom see long barrel new lines in any condition. I think that length barrel is fairly hard to find.
     

    indy1919a4

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    an ad from 1880..

    800px-Colt_NEW_LINE_und_NEW_HOUSE_Revolver.jpg
     

    AGarbers

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    It just dawned on me that the replacement cylinder pin appears to have been made from a round file! Too funny. The ad sure clears it up what cartridge it is supposed to shoot. This makes two Colts that I have that shoot .38 Long Colt. To be more accurate, they are supposed to be loaded with a heeled bullet. I may need to invest in a heeled bullet mold for them.
    https://oldwestbulletmoulds.com/products/38-375dia-125gr-heel-seated-double-cavity-mould
     
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