In House Shipping:
Make: Colt
Model: Colt New Line Model (Colt New 32)
Serial Number: 13476
Year of Manufacture: 1877 https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup/
Caliber: .32 Caliber Rim Fire
Action Type: Single Action Only Revolver
Markings: The top of the barrel was marked “Colt’s PT.FA MFG.Co / Hartford, CT.USA”. The left side of the frame is marked “32 Cal.” . The left side of the barrel is etched “COLT NEW 32”. The bottom of the barrel is marked “13476”.
Barrel Length: The round barrel is 2.25” long.
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade at the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a “U” groove in the top strap. It is exposed when the shooter cocks the hammer.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The two piece wood grips. Both sides show handling marks. The grips rate in about fine overall condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: Case Hardened Frame with Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is strong. There is no erosion in the barrel. 9.5/10 for a bore rating in this writer’s opinion.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 90% of its metal finish. This gun has honest wear. There is some finish loss to the frame. The original bold blue color can still be observed on the barrel and cylinder. The cylinder shows no turn line. The cylinder pin and its knurling remain in excellent shape. The screw heads range from strong to slightly tool marked. The markings are clear. Overall, this handgun rates in about fine plus condition. Please see our photos.
Mechanics: The action does function correctly. The hammer will cock and the trigger will throw the hammer. The cylinder will lock-up. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment: The “New Line” was Colt’s first production model handgun chambered for .32 caliber and outnumbered all other pistols in Colt’s “New Line” group. This revolver utilized a .32 caliber cartridge matched to a 5 shot fluted cylinder fitted to a 2-1/4” long round barrel. This revolver was designed to be a small but potent self-defense revolver for stowing in one’s pocket in the 19th Century. Spur Trigger “Suicide Special” manufacture was fierce during this time, and Colt struggled to compete against the countless small shops making very similar, less expensive revolvers, though not necessarily of the same quality. The Colt remained a steady, reliable force in firearms for much longer than the rest. This revolver features 5shots of .32 caliber and a handsome aged case hardened finish.
The New Line series of revolvers, including all calibers, was a single action pocket revolver introduced by the Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company in 1873 and continued through 1884. Two years after the Colt House Revolver, a year after the Colt Open Top, and almost simultaneously alongside the Colt Peacemaker, the Colt New Line was one of the first metallic cartridge, rear-loading revolvers manufactured by Colt.
The overall condition is excellent ; 90% finish and the action is strong. The bore is in pristine condition with strong rifling. The grips are a perfect example with only a few marks. The numbers match on the frame and barrel.