Make: Colt

Model: New Army Model 1903

Serial Number: 228698

Year of Manufacture: 1904

Caliber: .38 Colt (Short and Long)

Action Type: Single Action/Double Action with Swing Out Cylinder

Barrel Length: 4 1/2"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a round blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is "U"-notch integral to the topstrap.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered black hard rubber with "COLT" in oval at their tops. Each panel has a loss at the bottom-front corner. The grips have some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The checkering is well defined. The fit of the grips to the frame likely indicates replacement. Overall, the grips are in about Good condition as not original to the gun.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original. The "W.F. & Co." marking is consistent with other observed Wells Fargo revolvers, the "A. 8" marking may have been added by Wells Fargo.

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly gray with well defined rifling. There is light erosion evenly scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 6+/10.

Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 10% of its metal finish. Exposed surfaces have mostly gone to a uniform patina with finish remaining in protected areas and around raised features. There are some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is some surface erosion, mostly on the right of the frame and the backstrap. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with usable slots. The markings range from clear to worn, but legible. Overall, this revolver is in Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly in single action, but does not function in double action. 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: None.

Our Assessment: Introduced in 1892, the Colt New Navy and New Army revolvers were an improvement on the 1889 Navy. The models saw continuing improvement with different design changes receiving different model numbers: 1892, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1901 and 1903. This is an interesting example from 1904 with a marking on the butt consistent with those purchased by Wells Fargo Company. Now known primarily for their banking, Wells Fargo was founded by two of the founders of American Express to provide not only express freight to and from California, but to offer banking services to the area which was, at the time, still a fairly primitive frontier. The transfer of large quantities of cash and gold required that Wells Fargo have armed agents accompany their train cars, and even in 1904 there were still some scoundrels who would attempt to rob trains as they crossed the nation.

This revolver was produced just before the model was updated for the use of .38 Special cartridges. The revolver comes from the personal collection of Robert Best, author of "A Study of Colt's New Army and Navy Pattern Double Action Revolvers". With its Wells Fargo marking, coming from the last days of the .38 Colt barrel diameter, and from Best's collection, this will make a wonderful addition to an early swing-out revolver collection. Please see our photos and good luck!