Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns appraise this revolver

1917 Colt, 44-40 caliber. Also looking for a set of original grips.
Thanks

I have no idea what it's worth, but, if the bore is good and it's mechanically sound, I would like to see it with a quality refinish job and a set of stag grips.

Assuming its mechanically sound, all original...and the barrel length is original (not cut down), I would estimate between $900-$1,100. Colt New Service revolvers have gone up a lot in the past 3-4 years, so even when they're ugly, if they're mechanically sound and un-modified, they're pricey. As a general rule, the same gun in .455 would be worth around $800, but since that's in .44-40 it will bring a premium for that chambering. And it could be worth more than that. There could be even more premium for the 4" barrel; that's not very common on the NS.

Real replacement grips will run you around $100. The proper grips for that revolver are either the Gutta Percha (aka hard rubber) black grips, or checkered walnut with a silver Colt medallion. The military plain walnut grips are not the right grips for that revolver.

Vintage grips makes a plastic reproduction of the gutta percha grips and they look and fit great. I put them in my NS in .455

Thanks, great info ! Gun is all original ,except for those Pachmayers.

It may be the camera angle and/or I may be fulla hooey, but I've owned a bunch of NSs and handled hundreds and the position of the front sight doesn't look right to me. What is the actual barrel length? For a gun of that vintage it should be VERY close to either 4 1/2", 5 1/2" or 7 1/2". Clearly it's not the latter. Colt would make just about anything that a customer would pay for, but any other length than these is very uncommon before 1935 and you'd need a factory letter to prove it was factory original.

Another couple of factors: the period right before, during and after WWI was largely taken up with military production (1914-19), so odd barrel lengths were less common in that period. Almost all of the NS production in that period was 5 1/2", by far, and in .455 Eley (Brit guns with untapered barrels) and .45 ACP (American guns with tapered barrels). Some commercials were undoubtedly made then, but they aren't common.

Technically it isn't a "1917 Colt," even if it was made in 1917, unless it has US markings (on barrel and butt) and is in .45 ACP. An unaltered .44-40 made in that year would be an "Improved 1905 Patent Commercial Model." I don't know (and my New Service book, which should tell me, doesn't) when Colt started using tapered barrels on its commercial models. But most of the few that I've seen from the war period had the "Improved Model" UNtapered barrels.

What are the markings on the barrel? Lat patent date? Does the serial number indicate 1917 production? Any military or government markings on frame, crane, or butt? (Shouldn't be any if it's a .44).

Even if my suspicions are right and this is a modified gun, so what? It would affect the resale value, true. But it would still be an interesting and sturdy revolver in an excellent chambering.

I have a .44-40 made in 1913 and rebarreled in 1931 (With a Colt barrel, but not by Colt) with a post-WWI tapered 7 1/2" bbl. patent dated 1928. Shoots like crazy, and has a set of post WWII "Eagle" stags on it that I think are the nuts AND the berries! So it's a "parts gun"....So what?

Actually should have been posted as a Colt New Service. My mistake. Revolver dates to 1920-21 best I can tell. Not much taper to the barrel, about , about .40 . Barrel measures 4.5". I had known original owner back in the 60's, and actually shot this about the same time .Took a few more pics, I think its original except for the grips.

Cool.

I’m far from an expert, but it all looks legit to me. 4.5” barrels are far more common than 4” barrels; yet, still rather uncommon in the New Service. A Colt letter will verify if the barrel length is original. If I had to guess, I’d say it the barrel is un-cut. If I were selling that revolver, I’d list it at $1,100-ish. However, as I said before, I’m not an expert on New Service revolvers. I have no idea how many 4.5” NS’s were made, but I suspect it wasn’t more than a couple buckets full.

I'd say in the $1000 range, maybe a bit more if the bore and chambers are nice.

If you're patient an original set of grips will show up on ebay for not a whole lot more than the reproductions.

Type the serial # in this site and it should give you a good estimate of the year:

https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup

Thanks ! Typed it in, 1920.

Is that a Model 1909?

No. Model 1909 was a U.S. service revolver, primarily USMC, and chambered for .45 Colt.

One of these with a 4 1/2" barrel in .38-40 is another "kick my ass please for ever letting it go" guns. In my impetuous youth I handloaded the living snot out of it - it was a real mule killer. My present New Service, a 5 1/2" .45 Colt, 1920, is a pretty fair replacement, but geez I wish I had that .38-40 back!

Kenster, that is a heck of a find! A gun you'd want be able to stand behind in a conversation of the gunfight variety.... I have seen very few 4 1/2" NSs of any caliber, and most of them were .45 Colts. You got a rare bird, and a good 'ole rooster at that.

I’ll be first to say that I don’t know much about Colt revolvers. But I sure like that one. Looks legit, but would be hard to tell without it in hand. The cartridge it is chambered for raises the cool factor. I would like to shoot a .44-40 revolver, never have.

Finally got some grips for it, sure make it look 'more right' !

She's looking good now.

That looks much mo' better with the stock grips!

Don't know if you have any interest, but I have six very old rounds of 44-40 ammo sitting in a box on a shelf. I don't think I'd recommend firing it, but it might be fun to display it with the gun and take some photos. The head stamp is "WRA", so it probably dates from the 1920s or 1930s.

If you want it, you can have it. Just let me know.

Thanks for the offer, but have some real old stuff already. Not sure yet if I am keeping this revolver, have 44 mags,specials, 45 lc,etc. Not sure I want to get into another 44 cal, buying dies ,etc.

Nice old Colt! I'm eye balling New Services in 38-40 myself, just waiting on some funds to come in!, Had one in 45 colt, was a nice gun kinda miss it, but all set for a 38-40 as I have A Bisley in that cal. And reload for it.

saddlering, I imagine 38-40 rather rare in that New Service. They are sure beefy and well built revolvers, enjoy!