The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Researching Colt U.s.army Model 1901 With Unusual Characteristics

James K · July 10, 2005, 09:35 PM

Wow! That gun is almost a history of the Colt Army and Navy revolver.

First, it was a military revolver; the grips are a civilian replacement. "RAC" stands for Rinaldo A. Carr, the government sub-inspector at Colt, in charge of inspecting component parts. His mark appears in several places on the revolver, notably the left side of the frame above the grip. It would also appear on the bottom of the left grip if the original wood grip was still on the gun. The "K" is a Colt inspection mark, possibly that of one A. Kind, a known Colt inspector.

But the serial number does not jibe with an original Model 1901. So the gun was one of many older models that were rebuilt and updated by Colt after 1901, and marked that way to indicate that for parts replacement purposes they were now Model 1901's rather than the older models. The mixture of assembly numbers indicates that parts from several guns were used in the assembly of the rebuilt gun. The number 1052 was probably the original serial number (which would indicate a Model 1892), and it was restamped when the revolver butt was "cleaned", drilled for the lanyard loop, and re-stamped during overhaul.

More detail can be found in "A Study of Colt's New Army and Navy Pattern Double Action Revolver" by Robert Best.

Shooting note. The .38 Long Colt for which those guns is chambered has the same cartridge diameter as the .38 Special, but is shorter, so .38 Special cases can be trimmed and light loads used. Some guns will accept regular .38 Special, or even some .357 Magnum loads, but should NEVER be fired with other than light loads.

Those guns are notorious for going out of time and for broken parts, especially springs. Parts are scarce and expensive. I strongly recommend they be considered collector's items and not fired.

Jim

July 10, 2005, 09:35 PM	#3
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Wow! That gun is almost a history of the Colt Army and Navy revolver. First, it was a military revolver; the grips are a civilian replacement. "RAC" stands for Rinaldo A. Carr, the government sub-inspector at Colt, in charge of inspecting component parts. His mark appears in several places on the revolver, notably the left side of the frame above the grip. It would also appear on the bottom of the left grip if the original wood grip was still on the gun. The "K" is a Colt inspection mark, possibly that of one A. Kind, a known Colt inspector. But the serial number does not jibe with an original Model 1901. So the gun was one of many older models that were rebuilt and updated by Colt after 1901, and marked that way to indicate that for parts replacement purposes they were now Model 1901's rather than the older models. The mixture of assembly numbers indicates that parts from several guns were used in the assembly of the rebuilt gun. The number 1052 was probably the original serial number (which would indicate a Model 1892), and it was restamped when the revolver butt was "cleaned", drilled for the lanyard loop, and re-stamped during overhaul. More detail can be found in "A Study of Colt's New Army and Navy Pattern Double Action Revolver" by Robert Best. Shooting note. The .38 Long Colt for which those guns is chambered has the same cartridge diameter as the .38 Special, but is shorter, so .38 Special cases can be trimmed and light loads used. Some guns will accept regular .38 Special, or even some .357 Magnum loads, but should NEVER be fired with other than light loads. Those guns are notorious for going out of time and for broken parts, especially springs. Parts are scarce and expensive. I strongly recommend they be considered collector's items and not fired. Jim