Colt New Service questions

coltonwilky · April 12, 2013, 12:01 PM

I am just looking on some information on a Colt New Service 45 LC. I just acquired this gun in a trade and after doing some research realized the serial number is 22. So I know it is a 1898 and was the 22nd one made. I talked to Colt and they confirmed this was legit and it is the oldest one they have heard of still being around. If anyone could let me know approximately how much it is worth I would really appreciate it. As far as the condition the gun is in it is almost excellent. It has never been re blued and the bluing is wearing off but no rust spots or damage at all. Im not so sure that the grips are original they are a wood color grips with a silver colt medallion on the top of both sides. There are no markings on the gun other than the patent dates on the barrel and the serial number on the frame in front of the cylinder. If anyone know anything about this gun please do let me know.

cvc944 · April 12, 2013, 12:33 PM

Wow, congrats on that great find. In my experience, a low s/n always adds money to the value of any firearm. How much extra is something that is decided by the buyer.

coltonwilky · April 12, 2013, 01:45 PM

Yeah it's a really cool gun I'm def gonna keep it for a while I just hope someone out there knows some of the history on something like this and what it really might be worth.

**Mike Irwin** · April 12, 2013, 01:48 PM

Without good, clear photographs we can't really say.

cvc944 · April 12, 2013, 02:00 PM

Get a few pictures to those two chaps who host NRA's Guns and Gold show. They might be able to conjure up a guess as to what it's worth. But the only real way I know how to tell what kind of money a special gun will actually bring is to see where the hammer falls at an upscale, well-publicized gun auction. I was at one such auction in the late '80's that had a rare, cased Luftwaffe drilling as the star of the auction. We common folk figured 3500.00 or so would get it. That was our guess. 9500.00 is what it actually fetched.

coltonwilky · April 12, 2013, 06:15 PM

Here are some pictures of it.

Bob Wright · April 12, 2013, 07:35 PM

Hate to be a naysayer, but neither the barrel nor grips look right to me.

Guns of that vintage had black, hard rubber grips. The barrel should be straight where it joins the frame, without that "bell" at that point. I can't tell from the photo but the area where the trigger guard meets the farme doesn't look right.

Bob Wright

Jim Watson · April 12, 2013, 08:42 PM

Factory overhaul with later pattern barrel and grips?
I don't know but it is still gorgeous.

James K · April 12, 2013, 08:43 PM

I agree with Bob. The grips are of a later vintage; the ones of that time were hard rubber with the word "COLT" at the top. The barrel is of a later period as is the ejector rod head.

There should also be a rampant Colt on the side plate with the words "Colt's New Service" in a circle around it, but I can't tell from the pictures.

What are the markings on the top of the barrel? If it has the June 1900 patent date, the barrel can't be original to a gun made in 1898.

Jim

savit260 · April 13, 2013, 05:02 PM

Looks re-blued to me.

... and definitely wrong grips and barrel for such an early serial number.

Still a pretty cool old Colt though.

April 12, 2013, 12:01 PM	#1
coltonwilky Junior Member Join Date: April 11, 2013 Posts: 3	Colt New Service questions I am just looking on some information on a Colt New Service 45 LC. I just acquired this gun in a trade and after doing some research realized the serial number is 22. So I know it is a 1898 and was the 22nd one made. I talked to Colt and they confirmed this was legit and it is the oldest one they have heard of still being around. If anyone could let me know approximately how much it is worth I would really appreciate it. As far as the condition the gun is in it is almost excellent. It has never been re blued and the bluing is wearing off but no rust spots or damage at all. Im not so sure that the grips are original they are a wood color grips with a silver colt medallion on the top of both sides. There are no markings on the gun other than the patent dates on the barrel and the serial number on the frame in front of the cylinder. If anyone know anything about this gun please do let me know.

April 12, 2013, 01:48 PM	#4
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	Without good, clear photographs we can't really say. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

April 13, 2013, 05:02 PM	#10
savit260 Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2006 Posts: 702	Looks re-blued to me. ... and definitely wrong grips and barrel for such an early serial number. Still a pretty cool old Colt though. Last edited by savit260; April 13, 2013 at 05:10 PM.

April 12, 2013, 12:33 PM	#2
cvc944 Senior Member Join Date: March 17, 2013 Location: Lenhartsville, PA Posts: 164	Wow, congrats on that great find. In my experience, a low s/n always adds money to the value of any firearm. How much extra is something that is decided by the buyer.

April 12, 2013, 01:45 PM	#3
coltonwilky Junior Member Join Date: April 11, 2013 Posts: 3	Yeah it's a really cool gun I'm def gonna keep it for a while I just hope someone out there knows some of the history on something like this and what it really might be worth.

April 12, 2013, 02:00 PM	#5
cvc944 Senior Member Join Date: March 17, 2013 Location: Lenhartsville, PA Posts: 164	Get a few pictures to those two chaps who host NRA's Guns and Gold show. They might be able to conjure up a guess as to what it's worth. But the only real way I know how to tell what kind of money a special gun will actually bring is to see where the hammer falls at an upscale, well-publicized gun auction. I was at one such auction in the late '80's that had a rare, cased Luftwaffe drilling as the star of the auction. We common folk figured 3500.00 or so would get it. That was our guess. 9500.00 is what it actually fetched.

April 12, 2013, 07:35 PM	#7
Bob Wright Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2012 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 2,989	Hate to be a naysayer, but neither the barrel nor grips look right to me. Guns of that vintage had black, hard rubber grips. The barrel should be straight where it joins the frame, without that "bell" at that point. I can't tell from the photo but the area where the trigger guard meets the farme doesn't look right. Bob Wright

April 12, 2013, 08:42 PM	#8
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,535	Factory overhaul with later pattern barrel and grips? I don't know but it is still gorgeous.

April 12, 2013, 08:43 PM	#9
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I agree with Bob. The grips are of a later vintage; the ones of that time were hard rubber with the word "COLT" at the top. The barrel is of a later period as is the ejector rod head. There should also be a rampant Colt on the side plate with the words "Colt's New Service" in a circle around it, but I can't tell from the pictures. What are the markings on the top of the barrel? If it has the June 1900 patent date, the barrel can't be original to a gun made in 1898. Jim