Is a Colt Model -New Service- worth $650

[ACES&8S]

Wish I had taken a pic of it. Can get a pic tomorrow.
I admit I have an addiction to 45 Long Colt caliber & this falls right in there being an old
revolver but it is in very worn condition.
The mechanics are excellent as well as the bore & every chamber is slick & clean.
I am not familiar with the history of this model yet except what I heard & read without
paying a lot of attention. But this fellow has it for now & needs the money but I don't want
to get stuck with a revolver that isn't historical in a way that will make it desirable in the future.
I think it was produced for the British military wasn't it?
Hope I didn't overlook that it may be an odd caliber 45 !
He want's $650 for it, any thoughts on it?

 

[OARNGESI]

Get it one is definitely on my short list

 

[DPris]

In condition described, I wouldn't.
Just me.
Denis

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Buy it and I'll give you $700 for it, sight unseen.

 

[BigBlue 94]

The new service was introduced over 100 years ago. I have 3, 45 acp army, 38-40, and 38 spl shooting master. 650 is good, depending on condition. Pics would help.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

My Colt New Service was vigorously polished, blurring the markings and reblued -- it looks good, is mechanically perfect and has a pristine bore. But it shot a foot to the left and 18 inches high. I finally cut the barrel back to 5 1/2", mounted adjustable sights, and put on a pair of Herrett Shooting Master grips. Everyone who sees it tries to buy it.

 

[BobWright]

A Colt New Service in good condition goes for around $1250. Condition dictates.

Bob Wright

 

[ACES&8S]

I will get a pic of it, or pick it up either one tomorrow. I will try not to buy on this impulse.
I love & collect old military firearms mostly rifles, I also collect older revolvers from the mid 70's on back
but never had one come up like this. It just looks like history.
Thanks for the replies.

 

[reddog81]

Make sure you figure out exactly what caliber it is. 45 could mean .45 Colt, 45 Webley, or 45 ACP.

It's possible the external condition is very worn and the mechanics are excellent, but I wouldn't take most peoples word on that. At $650 in very worn condition you are reaching the top end of the price range. Somewhere between $500 and $650 is probably a more fair deal assuming the gun functions as is, but depending on the exact condition could move the price range significantly.

 

[CraigC]

I would advise exercising some caution until we get a look at it. $650 could be a steal and it could be a nightmare.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I say do it!
Worst case, at $650, you could flip it again if it's got too many issues and not lose any money.
Best case, you got a heckuva deal!

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Buy it and if you don't like it, I'll give you $700, sight unseen.

 

[40-82]

I dearly love the New Service. As others have stated, it could be worth much more than $650 or much less, depending upon condition. If it has British provenance, it's most likely .455 Eley. Although be aware that some of these .455 Eleys had the cylinder shaved to take 45 Colt. If it is, it could still be a good shooter, but the conversion will hurt its collector value. Unless you know how to look at the cylinder the best way to tell the difference is to drop a 45 Colt into the chamber and see if it fits. If it's a .455 Eley the big .45 will only halfway seat. .455 Eley isn't as problematic as it once was since Starline recently started making the brass. The other possibility is 45ACP if the revolver was made after 1917.
If it happens to be .476 Eley, I'll gladly pay you a premium regardless of condition if it proves original. All the books list the .476 Eley, which was probably obsolete by 1898 when the New Service was introduced, but according to the sources I've seen only two are known to exist: one in Alaska, the other in Australia. It's really a terrible cartridge, designed around a hollow based .455 bullet meant to expand and catch the rifling in the .476 barrel, but it would be huge fun to reload for one.

According to Timothy J. Mullin in his excellent book, Colt's New Service Revolver, no one now that he knows still carries a New Service for serious business. That's because no one ever bothered to introduce him to me.

One downside to the New Service, unlike with the Smith, very few gunsmiths are left who understand that old Colt action well enough to tune it properly. I'm no gunsmith. I can replace parts and get one going if the problem is simple, but it will never be the same as one who has passed through the hands of a master. I have a .45 Colt New Service made in 1924 that just wants to shoot. Rapid fire double action, I can't equal what I can do with the old Colt with a heavier S&W 629 with target sights and a similar power load.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

According to Timothy J. Mullin in his excellent book, Colt's New Service Revolver, no one now that he knows still carries a New Service for serious business. That's because no one ever bothered to introduce him to me.

Next time you see Tim, tell him there are two of us.

 

[40-82]

Next time you see Tim, tell him there are two of us.

I'd love to, but I've never met him. What's your favorite New Service?

 

[BigBlue 94]

Next time you see Tim, tell him there are two of us.

Make that three... I carry the 1917 colt army when camping in bear country.

I recently bought a colt new navy that is more than likely in much worse shape than what you're looking at. I paid 340 from cabelas. It's way out of time, with lots of crane movement. The ratchet and pawl need serious work and the cylinder latch is very loose. Some day I'll tear into it and 3 other colts in various stages of looseness. By then maybe I'll be the forerunner in colt repairs? Lol

 

[ACES&8S]

No photo today, he was supposed to bring it by so I am going to go there tomorrow.
Thanks for all the info so far.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I'd love to, but I've never met him. What's your favorite New Service?

It's the one I got for $350 a few years ago. It had been reblued (and all the markings blurred.) It was mechanically perfect, with a pristine bore and It shot accurately, but about 18" high and a foot to the left. I finally cut the barrel to 5 1/2", put on adjustable sights and Herrett Shooting Master grips.

 

[TTv2]

There are better .45 Colt double action revolvers out there for not much more. I like the Colt New Service as I do most turn of the 20th Century Colt revolvers, it's got a fun history to it, but as a gun I'd want to shoot, I'd want something more modern, unless this is just something you would like to have, I wouldn't blame you. I'd love to have one and a .32 Police Positive, two of Colt's most iconic revolvers in the early 1900's.

 

[Deanimator]

He want's $650 for it, any thoughts on it?

I haven't seen one in ANY condition for less than that in years.

I've got one that was given to me as a gift:

 

[40-82]

It's the one I got for $350 a few years ago. It had been reblued (and all the markings blurred.) It was mechanically perfect, with a pristine bore and It shot accurately, but about 18" high and a foot to the left. I finally cut the barrel to 5 1/2", put on adjustable sights and Herrett Shooting Master grips.

Isn't that the way of it? We love the ones the most that aren't perfect, have already been marred a bit, and it's no crime against history to use them. One of my favorites is a 1909 .45 with the Rinaldo A. Carr and Frank Baker markings. This one is nearly in the white. I had to replace all of the springs, the grips, and turn the barrel in the frame to get it to shoot where she looks. It didn't hurt it to put thousands of rounds through it, and given that this one has seen duty in the Philippine insurrection, WWI, likely WWII, and God knows what banana wars, when I hear something go bump in the night, I know it's going to be trivial compared to what this old Colt has seen in another man's hands. Somehow, there's a bit of comfort in feeling the ghosts of the past in a troubling moment. I can almost hear an old trooper, standing behind me in the shadows who has seen far more than I ever will whispering in my ear, "Steady, boy, you'll be alright. The big Colt will see you through."

 

[BigBlue 94]

Isn't that the way of it? We love the ones the most that aren't perfect, have already been marred a bit, and it's no crime against history to use them. One of my favorites is a 1909 .45 with the Rinaldo A. Carr and Frank Baker markings. This one is nearly in the white. I had to replace all of the springs, the grips, and turn the barrel in the frame to get it to shoot where she looks. It didn't hurt it to put thousands of rounds through it, and given that this one has seen duty in the Philippine insurrection, WWI, likely WWII, and God knows what banana wars, when I hear something go bump in the night, I know it's going to be trivial compared to what this old Colt has seen in another man's hands. Somehow, there's a bit of comfort in feeling the ghosts of the past in a troubling moment. I can almost hear an old trooper, standing behind me in the shadows who has seen far more than I ever will whispering in my ear, "Steady, boy, you'll be alright. The big Colt will see you through."

I couldn't agree more. That's also why I treat my sks with less respect. It was most likely used to kill our own soldiers. However, i know it goes boom every time. The ghosts that haunt that gun have never been upset with me, so i continue to remember them when i handle or shoot it. If the world was coming to an end, the new service 1917 army would be on my hip and the sks on my shoulder. They are as reliable as I can think of.

 

[40-82]

I couldn't agree more. That's also why I treat my sks with less respect. It was most likely used to kill our own soldiers. However, i know it goes boom every time. The ghosts that haunt that gun have never been upset with me, so i continue to remember them when i handle or shoot it. If the world was coming to an end, the new service 1917 army would be on my hip and the sks on my shoulder. They are as reliable as I can think of.

I once bought a little Browning .32 Auto with Nazi markings. I told the dealer he was charging too much. The original cost to an American was one ought-six bullet and that was paid for by our government. Of course, I didn't go through North Africa, Sicily, and France to earn the privilege. Where a gun has been before makes a difference in how I regard it. When I line up a bunch of steel knock over targets, if I have a Martini in my hands I can pretend I am with Gunga Din somewhere on the Northwest Frontier. With a trapdoor Springfield, I am with the U.S. Army somewhere in the West. An SKS in my hands, and I am reduced to chanting, "Running dog Capitalists lap dogs, take this." Not nearly so satisfying.
Still, it doesn't hurt to know something of the ordnance of your enemy.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

The Colt New Service was made from 1898 until 1944. Chambered for 11 different calibers, 38 Special, 357 Magnum, 38-40, 44 Russian, 44 Special, 44-40, 45 ACP, 45 Colt, 450 Eley, 455 Eley, and 476 Eley.

It led to the later Army Model 0f 1909, Navy Model of 1909, Marine Corps Model of 1909, and the Army Model of 1917, chambered for 45 ACP.

The one at the top of this photo is chambered for 45 Colt, (there is no such thing as 45 Long Colt). It shipped in 1906.

The one at the bottom of the photo is chambered for 44-40, it shipped in 1907.

Notice this pair has the old style frame where the profile of the trigger guard is not blended into the frame, but there is a distinct line where the trigger guard meets the frame. On later models the trigger guard was blended into the frame.

Condition is pretty good, lots of original blue. I paid about $1000 for each of them.






These are really big guns. The frame is larger than a S&W N frame. They can be awkward to shoot unless one has fairly large hands. Notice how much larger the 45 Colt New Service is than a S&W Triple Lock.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Isn't that the way of it? We love the ones the most that aren't perfect, have already been marred a bit, and it's no crime against history to use them. One of my favorites is a 1909 .45 with the Rinaldo A. Carr and Frank Baker markings. This one is nearly in the white. I had to replace all of the springs, the grips, and turn the barrel in the frame to get it to shoot where she looks. It didn't hurt it to put thousands of rounds through it, and given that this one has seen duty in the Philippine insurrection, WWI, likely WWII, and God knows what banana wars, when I hear something go bump in the night, I know it's going to be trivial compared to what this old Colt has seen in another man's hands. Somehow, there's a bit of comfort in feeling the ghosts of the past in a troubling moment. I can almost hear an old trooper, standing behind me in the shadows who has seen far more than I ever will whispering in my ear, "Steady, boy, you'll be alright. The big Colt will see you through."

I was on an operation at an Adviser with the 4/48 ARVN Infantry. We had an American tank company working with us. We got into a tunnel complex, and I tried to persuade the Battalion Commander to search the tunnels.

"No! Too dangerous!"

"But Dai Ui, the Americans do it all the time."

"You're an American."

"Gulp!"

So I was sitting there, about to go down into the tunnel (and not very happy about it) when a big black hand came over my shoulder with a SAA. "Go on, Sir. I'll cover you."

Later on, I talked to that sergeant. That SAA had been issued to his great great grandfather during the Indian Wars, and carried up San Juan Hill. Other members of his family carried it in WWI, WWII and Korea. And those ghosts watched over me in that tunnel.