|
Colt New Navy Model 1889 Serial Number
"SAMPLE" with 6" barrel
- Factory blue finish with fire blue small parts and
smooth walnut stocks inspected "FHS 1897" on left stock. The parts are matched by a separate
assembly number (3034) which is present on the frame, crane,
cylinder release, side-plate, and written in pencil inside each of
the original smooth walnut stocks.According to Bob Best
who authored the authoritative book
A Study of
Colt New Army and Navy Pattern Double Action Revolvers
1889-1908 on these revolvers, in his opinion it was a
"Specs" or "SAMPLE" piece that was made up for the
conversion work contracted for by the Navy to convert the
5000 Model 1889 New Navy revolvers to Model 1895
configuration. Nathan C Twining (NCT) started this project
in 1896 at Colt. Several thousand guns were converted by NCT
and reported in the Navy's Annual Reports. FHS took over in
July 1897 as this project was winding down. As the bulk of
the guns were finished by NCT, FHS probably added his grips
to this "sample" gun and sent it out to the Navy at some
point. That would explain the FHS grips and why it also had
number 4010 inside the grips in addition to the assembler's
number "3034".
There are a variety of different variations of these
converted guns. Some have "NCT" grips, some have "95"
over-stamped on the 18"89" on the butt.
Colt New Navy Model 1889 Serial Number
SAMPLE - USN .38 DA No. SAMPLE, "P" over "W.W.K." over
"1889". W.W.K. is the inspection mark of Lt.
W.W. Kimball U.S.N. who inspected these revolvers in 1889.
Colt New Navy Model 1889 Serial Number
SAMPLE - Left side of barrel marked:
Colt New Navy Model 1889 Serial Number
SAMPLE - barrel marked under ejector rod with assembly
number 3034 and star with "C". The star with "C"
is the original sub-inspector's marking from the 1889
contract.
Colt New Navy Model 1889 Serial Number
SAMPLE - roll mark on top of barrel.
Colt New Navy Model 1889 Serial Number
SAMPLE - Assembly number 3034 and Triangle with "S" on cylinder latch.
Colt New Navy Model 1889 Serial Number
SAMPLE - Assembly number 3034 on frame.
Colt New Navy Model 1889 Serial Number
6446 - Assembly number 3034 on cylinder crane below Star
with "C". The star with "C" is the original
sub-inspector's marking from the 1889 contract.
Colt New Navy Model 1889 Serial Number
SAMPLE - right side. Front site is standard early rounded type. The trigger and rear of the hammer are fire blued.
Colt New Navy Model 1889 Serial Number
SAMPLE - Triangle with "S" on rear of cylinder.
Colt New Navy Model 1889 Serial Number
SAMPLE - fire blue hand checkered hammer.
Colt New Navy Model 1889 Serial Number
SAMPLE - fire blue hand checkered hammer and sight
groove on top of frame.
Colt New Navy Model 1889 Serial Number
SAMPLE - Star with "C" on left rear of frame.
The star with "C" is the original sub-inspector's marking
from the 1889 contract.
Colt New Navy Model 1889 Serial Number
SAMPLE - left stock with inspector's cartouche, "F.H.S."
over "1897"
Colt New Navy Model 1889 Serial Number
SAMPLE -
Stocks numbered in pencil with assembler's number 3034.
Also has the number 4010 in pencil as well.
Colt New Navy Model 1889 Serial Number
SAMPLE -
Stocks numbered in pencil with assembler's number 3034. Also
has the number 4010 in pencil as well. |
