Make: Colt

Model: Colt New Line 38 Model 

Serial Number: 404

Year of Manufacture: 1874 https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup/

Caliber: .38 Caliber Rimfire

Action Type: Single Action Only Revolver

Markings: The top of the barrel was marked “Colt’s PT.FA MFG.Co / Hartford, CT.USA”. The inside of the left grip frame is marked “404”. 

Barrel Length: The round barrel is 2.25” long.

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade at the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a “U” groove in the top strap. It is exposed when the shooter cocks the hammer.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The two piece Rosewood grips. Both sides show very light handling marks They retain their shine nicely. The grips rate in about excellent overall condition.

Type of Finish: Blued/ Case Hardened (Scarce)

Finish Originality:  Original 

Bore Condition: The bore is semi bright and the rifling is strong. There is spots of light erosion in the barrel. 7/10 for a bore rating in this writer’s opinion.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 92% of its original metal finish. This gun has honest wear. There is light finish loss on the cylinder. The original blue/ Case Hardened color can still be observed in almost every inch of the revolver. Other spots are a pleasing patina. The cylinder pin and its knurling has lost some color but the tip is a bright fire blue. The screw heads range from strong to slightly tool marked. Overall, this handgun rates in about fine plus condition. Please see our photos.

Mechanics: The action does function correctly and quite strong. The hammer will cock and the trigger will throw the hammer. The cylinder will lock-up. We did not fire this handgun. 

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None

Our Assessment:  This revolver was designed to be a small but potent self-defense revolver for stowing in one’s pocket in the 19th Century. Spur Trigger “Suicide Special” manufacture was fierce during this time, and Colt struggled to compete against the countless small shops making very similar, less expensive revolvers, though not necessarily of the same quality. The Colt remained a steady, reliable force in firearms for much longer than the rest. This revolver features 5 shots of .38RF caliber and its scarce case hardened finish. The Blue Book considers this configuration of Caliber and Finish to be one of the rarest new line Colts produced.

The New Line series of revolvers, including all calibers, was a single action pocket revolver introduced by the Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company in 1873 and continued through 1886. Two years after the Colt House Revolver, a year after the Colt Open Top, and almost simultaneously alongside the Colt Peacemaker, the Colt New Line was one of the first metallic cartridge, rear-loading revolvers manufactured by Colt.

The overall condition is fine plus; 90%Blued /Case hardened finish and the action is very strong. The bore is in good condition with strong rifling. The grips are made of glossy rosewood. They did not and will not make many like this.