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Colt New Pocket Double Action Revolver
New Pocket Double Action Revolver. Manufactured 1893 -1905; total run of about 30,000. Under serial number 11,900 (approx.) made prior to Dec. 31, 1898.
32 Colt and 32 S& W calibers. 6-shot cylinder. Barrel lengths from 2-1/2" to 6".
Checkered hard rubber grips with COLT oval motif. Finishes either blued or nickel plated.
Serial numbering in an individual range, beginning with 1 and continuing through approximately 30000; serials then continued by the Pocket Positive Model. Barrel marking of Colt company name, Hartford address, and 1884 and 1888 patent dates. COLT’S NEW POCKETstamping on left side of frame.
The New Pocket began a long line of pocket size double action swingout cylinder revolvers made by Colt’s. Model identification can quickly be made by the serial number range, and the New Pocket frame stamping.
Basic variations are:
Standard model, but early production, without 1884 and 1888 patent barrel markings:
5B-211
| 5B-211 | Values—Very Good $125 | Exc. $375 |
Standard model, with 1884 and 1888 markings, and in 2-1/2", 3-1/2", and 6" barrel lengths:
| 5B-212 | Values—Very Good $100 | Exc. $300 |
(Note: Premium placed on 5" barrel specimens.)
Colt New Police 32 Double Action Revolver
New Police 32 Double Action Revolver. Made c. 1896-1907; total produced about 49,500. Under 4,600 (approx.) made prior to Dec. 31, 1898.
32 Colt, 32 Colt New Police, and 32 S& W calibers. 6-shot cylinder. Barrel lengths of 2-1/2", 4", and 6".
Checkered hard rubber grips with COLT oval motif. Finished either in blue or nickel plating.
Serial numbering in an individual range, from 1 on up through approximately 49500 (and including the New Police Target Model): numbers then continued by the Police Positive 32 Model. Barrel marking of Colt company name, Hartford address, and 1884 and 1888 patent dates. COLT’S NEW POLICE stamped on left side of the frame.
The New Police 32 was the second pocket size double action swingout cylinder revolver brought out by Colt’s factory. It was given a substantial boost by Theodore Roosevelt and the New York City Police Department, purchasers of better than 4,500 specimens, all with the backstrap marking: NEW YORK POLICE. The New Police 32 is quickly identified by the serial range, 1884 and 1888 patent markings, and the frame marking: NEW POLICE.
Basic variations are:
Standard model, blue or nickel finish:
5B-213
| 5B-213 | Values—Very Good $90 | Exc. $275 |
New Police Target model; 6" barrel, flattop target frames and target sights, otherwise basically same as standard model; total production about 5,000:
| 5B-214 | Values—Very Good $250 | Exc. $650 |
(Note: Premium placed on New York Police contract revolvers, and other specially roll marked revolvers.)
Colt Model 1900 Automatic Pistol
Model 1900 Automatic Pistol. Manufactured 1900-03; total run of about 3,500.
38 rimless smokeless caliber. Magazine held 7 shots. Barrel length 6".
Walnut, checkered walnut, or hard rubber grips. Blued finish; the hammer and combination sight/safety casehardened.
Serial numbered from 1 on up through about 3500; numbers then continued by the Model 1902 Sporting Pistol. Left side of the slide marked BROWNING’S PATENT, with 1897 patent date, and the Colt company name and Hartford address. Caliber designation and AUTOMATIC COLT on right side of the slide.
An extremely significant pistol to the collector, the Model 1900 was Colt’s first production in the category of automatic handguns. In its own way this is the “Paterson” of Colt autos, and several of its features are quite primitive when compared to later developments. Long slide without slide stop, pointed hammer spur, rear sight doubling as a safety (later replaced by sight mounted in dovetailed fashion), rather straight grip.
Major variations are:
Standard model, with rear sight also serving as hammer safety:
5B-215
| 5B-215 | Values—Very Good $1,450 | Exc. $6,000 |
As above, but hammer safety rear sight altered to conventional rear sight:
| 5B-216 | Values—Very Good $800 | Exc. $2,000 |
Pistols with slide serrations on front area of slide (above serial range of about 2000):
| 5B-217 | Values—Very Good $1,250 | Exc. $5,500 |
U.S. Navy model, marked USN and number on left side of the frame, with the Colt serial number on right side of frame:
| 5B-218 | Values—Very Good $2,750 | Exc. $6,500 |
U.S. Army model, two contracts (as below) intermingled in the commercial series production. Each contract marked on left trigger bow U.S.
Although quantities purchased of this Army model somewhat higher than Navy model, they appear with less frequency, and in more worn states of condition, hence values usually higher:
First contract, total quantity 75; in serial range under 200. Plain, smooth walnut grips with inspector’s cartouche on left grip dated 1900 over initials JTT:
| 5B-219 | Values—Very Good $7,000 | Exc. $19,500 |