Definitely need some info on this one.

[Anzac15]

Bore is in very good shape, however I don't think I'll fire this one. Further inspection shows just enough play in the cylinder to make me not want to risk any damage to me or the revolver.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Bruce McAskill]

The cartridge stayed in US service up to about WW1. I have seen ammo for it made at Frankford Armory with a date of 1914 and smokeless powder.

[rcathey]

The cartridge stayed in US service up to about WW1. I have seen ammo for it made at Frankford Armory with a date of 1914 and smokeless powder.

Just stumbled across this today while looking for something else. Pretty interesting!
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/757298419

[fjruple]

I just want to make a quick clarification on the US Army adoption of the 1909 Colt "New Service". While the US Army adoption of the M1909 New Service was a stop gap measure until the Model of 1911. 45ACP could be finalized. Colt as the manufacturer of the early .38 Colt Army and Navy Revolver redesigned the revolver after the problems in the Philippines "troubles". Of course the US Army had moved to the .45 Colt and later the .45ACP due to these issues. Colt's re-designed and upgraded the revolver to take the .38 S&W Special, 32-20 WCF, and 41 Colt. Colt named the re-designed revolver "Army Special" and produced the revolver which was liked by Law Enforcement which later again changed the name to "Official Police". The pistol is not be confused with the "Police Positive" which is built on a smaller frame.

The numbers on the butt of your pistol appear to be evidence markings from a weapon seized in the commission of a crime by the police.

[Bruce McAskill]

Yup and loaded with Dupont's Bullseye powder. Seems Bullseye was a popular powder right up into the mid 1930's at Frankford Armory as it was listed on the boxes like this one but of .45 acp. instead of .38 long Colt. The .38 long has a larger diameter at .360 then the .38 SPL at .357. It also was a hollow base that would expand when fired to fill the bore. An old conversion was to modify the .38 long cylinder to take the 38 SPL but many of these did not shoot well because of the larger bore in the barrel for the .360 bullet.