I picked up what's known as a New Navy 1889 and have it pictured with my civilian model 1889 which sports Ivory grips. Looking for some period grips for this Navy relic without much success.
This revolver like most was reworked by Colt after the 1892 modifications to the locking mechanism requested by the Army. The original design uses the hand to lock the cylinder much like the Colt 1878 does, the civilian model pictured was never reworked and doesn't have any of the modifications. The new Army/Navy revolver was the first swing out cylinder design, but the revolver design itself went through a number of changes to satisfy Army purchasing over it's lifespan. After the Philippine Insurrection and the Thompson LaGarde tests it was shelved as the Army turned it's attention to semi auto guns in 45 caliber.
One of the 1889s was salvaged from the Maine and presented to Theodore Roosevelt.
This revolver like most was reworked by Colt after the 1892 modifications to the locking mechanism requested by the Army. The original design uses the hand to lock the cylinder much like the Colt 1878 does, the civilian model pictured was never reworked and doesn't have any of the modifications. The new Army/Navy revolver was the first swing out cylinder design, but the revolver design itself went through a number of changes to satisfy Army purchasing over it's lifespan. After the Philippine Insurrection and the Thompson LaGarde tests it was shelved as the Army turned it's attention to semi auto guns in 45 caliber.
One of the 1889s was salvaged from the Maine and presented to Theodore Roosevelt.