Make: Colt
Model: New Army Model 1896, Army designation Model 1894
Serial Number: 108426
Year of Manufacture: 1898
Caliber: .38 Colt
Action Type: Single/Double Action Swing-Out Cylinder Revolver
Barrel Length: 6"
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a rounded blade fixed to the front of the slide. The rear sight is a "U"-notch integral to the topstrap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece smooth walnut panels. Each panel has "R.A.C." stamped on the bottom, the interior of each has "7042" hand-written in pencil. The grips have scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There are a few more notable dings, mostly on the bottom faces. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good-plus condition as Antique and not original to the gun.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original, matching numbers on latch and crane.
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There are a few spots of light erosion in the bore, mostly near the muzzle, with a little stubborn fouling. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 8/10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 70% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The grip areas show handling wear gone to an even patina. There are evenly scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is some scattered light surface erosion, most notable is around the outside of the cylinder and a small patch on the left of the barrel. The action shows operational wear including turn-wear on the cylinder. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots, there are tool marks around some screws. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in Very Good-Fine condition as Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this revolver. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a 1908 dated Rock Island Arsenal flap holster, Mills canvas belt with eight integral Eagle-snap pouches for half-moon clips, leather pouch with wood 12-round cartridge block, and a canvas pouch with Wilford Hall Individual Dressing Packet in paper packaging.
Our Assessment: The Colt U.S. Army Model 1894 was a landmark revolver in American military firearms development, becoming the first standard-issue U.S. military revolver to feature a swing-out cylinder design. Adopted during a period of rapid technological advancement in sidearms, the Model 1894 represented Colt's transition away from the older single action frontier revolvers toward modern double action service handguns better suited for contemporary military use. Chambered in .38 Colt, the revolver saw service during the Spanish-American War, the Philippine-American War, and other late nineteenth century U.S. military campaigns. The revolver's smooth double action operation, simultaneous extraction system, and comparatively rapid reload capability marked a major step forward in military sidearm design. Inspector markings "R.A.C." denote inspection by Rinaldo A. Carr, further connecting this revolvers directly to its U.S. military acceptance and issue history.
This example retains much of its original blued finish with matching numbers on the crane and latch, though the grips are non-matching. It has a nice bore for such an old service sidearm and solid mechanics. Overall, this is a handsome and historically significant Colt U.S. Army Model 1894 revolver that embodies the transitional period between America's Old West single actions and the modern military revolvers of the twentieth century. It will display well with the included holster and belt rig. Please see our photos and good luck!
