Colt 38 New Service WCF #94xx
My Father recently passed away and my mother has this pistol which I know nothing about. It is a Colt 38 with a 7" barrel and a serial # 94xx. It says "new service .38 WCF" on the side of barrel. On top it gives mfg. info on 1st line then "PAT'D AUG 5 1884 JUNE 5 1900 JULY 4 1905" It has black rubber knearled grips that say colt on them. Just above the grip it says "Colts New Service" in a circle. I was wondering if anyone could tell me it's approximate year of manufacture and approximate value.
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According to the Serial Number you show with a "four digit" number, the gun would have been manufactured in 1903. The "New Service" revolvers were made from 1898 until 1944.
Here's where we begin to run into trouble. The Patent information you have listed on the barrel showing the last patent date as July 4, 1905, would NOT have been listed on a gun made in 1903! A barrel with the Patent information you are stating would have been on the barrels of the guns made from 1909 to 1926. Now, let's talk about barrel length. You must measure from the front of the cylinder to the muzzle end. The part of the barrel which is inside the front portion of the frame is also a part of barrel length measurement. I would assume you didn't measure that way because there are only 7 1/2 inch barrels and not any 7 inch. If you measure again, see if it really is a 7 1/2" barrel.
Okay, now with this major discrepancy, there are many different things that will help to actually pinpoint its authenticity. However, at this point, I would assume this is a gun that, for whatever reason, has endured a barrel change at some time. Now we need to answer why. If it was changed because the old one was worn out and it was a factory repair.....or did someone change the cylinder and the barrel and went to a different caliber, (caliber change)? In order to answer these important questions, you really should get a "Historical Letter" from Colt's Historical Department. They generally cost about $100.00 for such a letter. Without such letter, we don't know what caliber the gun was when it was shipped. Even then, it may be impossible to determine why the barrel was changed as it obviously had to have been.
Regarding a value.....well, first of all, the amount of original blueing and the condition of the cylinder bores and rifling, mechanics, cosmetics of wear showing on the stocks, all having a bearing.......but in this case, it will be necessary to explain the parts which don't belong on the gun before one can even attempt a value. It may be that because of the changes it is not longer of interest to a collector......even though it came from a very desireable year.....! No way I could venture a guess without some condition information and resolution of the "wrong" parts. There are many things on the gun, such as type of hammer, shape of trigger guard, that can aid in determining what is original and what is not. Extensive pictures would be required to identify and catalog its features and determine what belongs and what doesn't. Only then, could a "guesstimate" of value be made. Sorry, I can't help more, but you have thrown me a curve with the parts problem. Let me know if you have digital photo capability. You may take photos and e-mail them to me and I would try to see what's there. Good Luck!
"Life is FRAGILE!" Handle With Care!0 -
I wouldn't give up hope of that barrel being original without a factory letter telling me when it was shipped--as Ranchero Paul says, that's the only way to tell if it is original. It may have been shipped after 1906 because of Colt's habit of holding a few frames from each run as spares and then assembling guns on them later when another run of spares was available. That's why you occasionaly find New Services with "Old Model" frames and "Improved Model" (or post-1905) lockwork and barrels. I have one of those (a .44WCF with 4 1/2" barrel) that letters as having been shipped in 1910, even though the frame was serialed in 1900). You really need to get into the details to know what you have. (If the barrel is tapered, it is almost certainly a re-barrel.).
By the way (you probably know this, but it bears mentioning)that .38WCF isn't a .38 Colt; it's a .40 Colt that for some reason no one has ever understood is called a .38. Thank you, Winchester marketing department). You inherited a really neat gun that contains a lot of history and a lot of interesting puzzles. Enjoy!0 -
The 1903 New Service had a brilliant, high polish blue but replacement barrels didn't. If the finishes of barrel and frame are of different qualities the barrel is a replacement. There was plenty of corrosive 38-40 ammo around making replacements of these barrels common.
Yours should measure 7 1/2" from muzzle to front of cylinder.0
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