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LOT 3214
Excellent Colt Model 1895 New Army & Navy Double Action Revolver with Rare Factory Picture Box - Serial no. 215733, 38 Long Colt cal., 6 inch round bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. Manufactured in 1903, this is an excellent example of a commercial Colt Model 1895 “New Army & Navy” revolver. The New Army & Navy Model revolvers are often, a bit unfairly, only remembered
for being hastily pulled from action in the Philippines due to their reportedly poor performance
in stopping the suicidal melee attacks of the Moro juramentados. Recent research however, along with the fact that they produced roughly the same muzzle energy as a modestly loaded Colt Model 1860 Army, indicates that the sidelining of the New Army & Navy was likely as much propaganda from the “big bore” faction within the army at the time as it was a successfully conducted terror campaign by the Moros. Regardless of its performance on the battlefield, the revolver saw fairly widespread commercial success and will forever be remembered as Colt’s second swing-out cylinder revolver. The top of the barrel is marked with the standard two-line address and patent dates while “COLT D.A. 38” is on the left. The left rear of the frame is marked with the circled Rampant Colt. The serial number is on the butt, and “820” is on the frame, crane, and cylinder latch. It is fitted with a blade front sight, groove rear sight, and a pair of checkered hard rubber grips with “COLT” in ovals at the tops. Includes a rare factory picture box with correct end label that appears to be hand numbered to the gun on the bottom in pencil, a combination cleaning rod/screwdriver, a rare Colt hanging tag, and a special oiling instructions card.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 97% plus of the bright original high polish blue finish and 90% of the original nitre blue with some light edge wear on the muzzle, cylinder, and heel/toe of the
grip frame. The grips are excellent with only the slightest handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The box is very fine with some light wear and edge separation and a small piece of tape on the lid label.
Provenance: The George S. Lewis Jr. Collection.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500