Make: Colt

Model: New Service

Serial Number: 53856

Year of Manufacture: 1911

Caliber: .44-40 Winchester

Action Type: Double Action Revolver with Swing Out Cylinder

Barrel Length: 7 1/2”

Sights/Optics: The front sight is a tall shark’s fin style blade. The rear sight is a “U”-notch integral to the topstrap.

Stock Configuration and Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered black hard rubber with "COLT" in oval at their tops. The grips have evenly scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is scattered light erosion and pitting in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates about 6 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 65% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The grip areas are mostly worn to white. There is some other scattered more minor wear. Some worn areas are discolored from oxidation and there is some scattered light surface oxidation. There are scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The action shows operational wear including a turn-line on the cylinder. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots, there are tool marks around some screws. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in Good-plus condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this revolver. As with all used firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork, and Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: The New Service revolver entered production in 1897 and was the first Colt double action revolver with a cylinder rotation to the right. The New Service was available in various calibers, but when the Army decided to adopt it in 1909, they were looking for a man-stopper to replace their New DA Army revolvers that gained such a poor reputation in the Spanish American and Philippine-American wars. The result was the .45 Colt chambered Model 1909. After the Army switched to the Model 1911 semi-auto, they wanted revolvers in the same caliber for WWI, and the Model 1911 New Service was adopted, chambered in .45 A.C.P.

This New Service revolver is a commercial model chambered in .44-40 Winchester with a 7 1/2" barrel, longer than the military issued models. It was manufactured in 1911 before WWI and is in Good-plus condition. This revolver may gather some interest from collectors of Colt revolvers and should still prove to be a fun shooter. Please see our photos and good luck!