New/Old Pony..................

[fred cook]

This is my latest Colt acquisition. It is an 1889 Model Colt revolver chambered for the 38 Long Colt cartridge. This particular piece was born in 1891 (121 years old) and is one of approximately 31,000 that Colt made. A large percentage of these guns were built with the 6" bbl. Also offered was the 3" and 4 1/2" bbl. The first 5,000 of these guns were purchased by the U.S. Navy causing the model to be know as the "Colt Navy Double Action" In approximately 1892, the Navy guns were sent back to Colt to have the actions updated to the 1892 style. The model designation for these guns is easy to figure out as the cylinders have no locking notches in the outside of the cylinder. Timing and lockup were controlled by the hand which has two steps to it, one turning the cylinder and the other locking the cylinder in place by pressing against the "star" on the back of the cylinder. This method of lockup was soon found to be unacceptable, causing Colt to redesign the lockwork after only about 3 years. The 38 Long Colt cartridge used a 150 grain lead bullet which left the muzzle at about 730 fps. Not exactly a barn burner! While the gun will chamber a 38 special round, firing it would not be a good idea. There is a very real possibility of ruining the gun by blowing out the cylinder if the 38 special round is used. The shorter cartridge on the right is the 38 Long Colt. A 38 Special is shown for comparison. The cylinder timing and lockup works perfectly! Some pictures..............

[gshase]

I bet in the 121 years someone stuck a 38 special in one by mistake.

[azasadny]

Beautiful!! Congrats!

[Bill Douglas]

It must have been quite an advanced gun 121 years ago.

[HHI944]

*drool*..........