Guns International #: 101984313
Seller's Inventory #: CM22-695

Category - Colt Revolvers - Army - Colt Revolvers - Double Action Pre-War

Category
Colt Revolvers - Army
Colt Revolvers - Double Action Pre-War

**SOLD** Pre-WW1 1913 Vintage Colt Army Special Model Revolver in .38 Special ** All-Original Honest Example ** **SOLD**

Description:
This is a very nice all-original and honest Colt Army Special Model DA/SA revolver chambered in .38 Special.  This particular example is serial number 357158, manufactured in 1913 just before the hostilities of World War 1 broke out.  This Army Special has been modified with the addition of a lanyard loop added to the butt of the gun, indicating that it may have been carried as a private-purchase sidearm in WW1 by an American Expeditionary Forces trooper.  The Colt Army Special revolver was first introduced in 1908 and remained in production until 1927.  It was offered in .32-20 WCF, .38 caliber (various), and .41 Colt.  It was also offered in various barrel lengths including 4", 4.5", 5", and 6" inches.  It was fitted with black hard rubber grips thru 1923 and then checkered Walnut with Colt medallions from 1924 onwards.  It was finished in a gloss blue factory finish with some fire-blued small parts and featured fixed iron sights, a rounded checkered cylinder release, a six-shot fluted cylinder, a smooth trigger, and a heavier-duty frame than the New Navy Model which preceded it.  The Army Special proved to be an excellent revolver, very well-made, reliable, and accurate despite it's rudimentary iron sights.  It was a commercial success for the Colt firm with almost 250,000 manufactured.  This particular example is a 5" inch gun in .38 Special in good all-original condition and is excellent mechanically.  It shows only minor finish wear and scattered minor handling marks, with the majority of the finish wear on the grip straps and some of the high edges.  As you can see from the pictures it is still a handsome gun.  All of the factory markings are still crisp and fully intact, and all of the sharp lines and edges of the design are still crisp.  The factory fire blue finish on the trigger still shows some very pretty color and gloss on either side towards the top.  What finish wear there is on this Colt is almost entirely superficial.  The 5" inch barrel has a good bore which would be perfect if not for two tiny little spots of very shallow pitting on the roof of the bore.  The rifling still looks like-new and the balance of the bore is mirror-bright.  The six chambers of the cylinder are pristine and free from any defects.  The factory grips are in great shape and match each other perfectly.  Both the right and left grip panels are free from any cracks, chips, or repairs.  The checkering and Colt logos are crisp and clean, and both grips are perfectly fit to the gun and tight to the frame with no wiggle.  The aforementioned lanyard loop fit to the butt of the gun rotates freely and appears to have been on this gun since shortly after it was sold.  The action on this Colt has to be felt to truly be appreciated.  It is butter-smooth and precise, perfectly "in time" no matter how fast or slow it is worked, double or single action.  The trigger is also quite good, the pull is very smooth with no grit and in single-action operation breaks crisply with a light pull.  All of the controls on this Army Special are in perfect working order, including the cylinder release and hand-operated ejector.  This Colt should still shoot just as reliably and accurately as the day it left the factory over 109 years ago!  If you have been looking for a pre-WW1 Colt double-action revolver to add to your collection this 1913 Army Special in .38 Special would be a great choice.  Not only should this continue to be a good long-term investment but could be enjoyed at the range as well with .38 Special ammo available just about everywhere.        

SOLD

Curio/Relic: Yes
Handgun Caliber: .38 Special
Manufacturer: Colt
Model: Army Special
Serial Number: 357158
Barrel Length: 5" Inches
Bore: Rifled
Condition: Good
Metal Condition: Good
Bore Condition: Good
Action: Double-Action / Single-Action Revolver
Finish: Gloss Blue / Fire Blue
Sights: Fixed Iron Sights
Manufacture Date: 1913