 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
US Navy Colt Model 1889 Double Action Revolver from USS Chicago
Guns International #: 101440535 Seller's Inventory #:
Category: Colt Revolvers - Antique - Military Revolvers - US
Seller's Information
When emailing or calling sellers direct, please mention that you saw their listing on GunsInternational.com
Seller: Brent Wilburn
Company: Antique Arms, Inc.
Member Since: 11/19/15
First Name: Brent
Last Name: Wilburn
State: Georgia
Zip: 30052
Country: United States
Phone: (678) 471-1432
Phone2: (678) 471-1432
Premium Seller
Number of Active Listings: 36
Total Number of Listings: 580
Seller: Private Seller
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
Payment Types Accepted: Money Order, Certified Check
Description:
A very nice example of a Colt Model 1889 from the US Navy Contract of 5000 Revolvers. The 1889 was Colt's first Double Action Revolver with a swing-out cylinder and is considered to be the Grandfather of the modern Revolver. This one has a couple of noteworthy things about it: One is that it has a very low serial number which is 221. According to Robert Best's research which can be found in his book "A Study of Colt's New Army and Navy Pattern Double Action Revolvers 1889 to 1908", the first shipment of 250 revolvers went to the US Navy Yard in New York for the USS Chicago. According to Best, these were shipped in 5 boxes in order of the US Navy registration number which on 1889's doubles as the serial number. That means these shipped in order from 1 to 250....not a group of 250 revolvers with randomly selected serial numbers and that serial number 221 was in Box 5 that went aboard the USS Chicago in 1889. See photo below.
The other interesting aspect is that it was probably one of the very last 1889's to be rebuilt and upgraded to Model 1895 Specs by Colt. Of the 5,000 original 1889's, 4,637 were returned to Colt by the US Navy between 1896 and 1900 according to Flayderman's Guide on Antique American Firearms. The grips are dated "1900" with an inspector's cartouche I've never seen before on an 1889/95 rebuild....it's not Kimball or Twining like you usually find on 1889's and rebuilt 1889/95's but "C.A.B." This would almost have to be the cartouche of USN Lieutenant Charles A. Brand who inspected Smith and Wesson .38 Caliber Revolvers and Winchester Lee Rifles from 1899-1901. From there, even the sub-inspector's marks are different. On the original 1889's, the sub-inspector mark was a 5 pointed star with a tiny letter C in the middle and you will often see a few of these on some of the original components. Then, there is a different set triangle-shaped re-inspection with an S or T inside when these were upgraded to 1895 specs with new cylinders and a much-improved locking system (the original 1889's had no cylinder stops). This one has sub-inspector's marks in the form of a Naval Trident like you find on the later Model 1895's that went to the US Navy and Naval Militias before and just after the Spanish American War. The trident on this revolver is located on the latch and the back of the cylinder which would have been the new components installed during the rebuild. As Best and Flayderman's note in their books, the rebuild/upgrade process for the Model 1889 took several years from 1896 to either 1900 or 1901 due to the fact that these revolvers were aboard ships and Naval Yards not just all over the United States, but scattered across the world. In the end, only 363 original 1889's escaped the Navy rebuild program making those some of the most desirable and valuable Colt Double Actions in existence. This one is likely one of the very last examples the Navy was able to find and send off to Colt. Being so late, Best's book does not even show an example of one with these markings as he probably never located one. I've had a number of 1889/95 Rebuilds over the past 20 years and this is the first one I've personally encountered with what appear to be an entirely different set of late inspection markings. It is an obscure variation that would expand upon what was written in Best's excellent book on the challenging subject of Colt New Army and Navy Double Actions.
As for its condition, this Colt is in NRA Antique Excellent Plus Condition as rebuilt by Colt in 1900 retaining 98% of its blued finish. The rear profile of the hammer, the trigger, and screws still show nearly all of their original bright nitre blued finish. Original Walnut Grips are in Fine+ to Excellent Conditon with no chips, cracks, or repairs. Action is excellent and the bore if Fine to Fine+. All in all, a great gun in terms of condition, we know the ship it originally went aboard,( the USS Chicago See photo) and a rather interesting very late rebuild from Colt that bears a seldom-seen subset of Naval Inspector's markings.
SOLD
Antique: Yes
Manufacturer: Colt
Model: 1889 1895
Condition: NRA Antique Excellent+