Picked up preseted 1896 Colt .38 Colt

[imarangemaster]

I work part time at a gunshop, and we just got consignments on 4 old Colt .38s. Two 1895 last patent, one 1905 last patent, and one 2nd Model Officers 1905 patent in .38 Special.

All are original and intact. Three are ordinary, so no problem with values, but one is a gem. This is the one I picked up, though he decided not to sell the others.

On the back strap of the grip is engraved: "Major John Chase COMDG 1st Squadron Cavalry Nat Guard Colo". Second line "Presented By The Denver City Troop 1897"

He is real and has quite a presence on the internet at least. This one is really clean, probably 70%+. I load heeled .38 Colt for my 1851 .38 conversion.

This is a great job, Last month I picked up a model 1902 vintage Smith & Wesson Military and Police (serial number puts it at 1903).

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Nice old revolver, love the ones with provenance.

[imarangemaster]

Nice old revolver, love the ones with provenance.

Yep, I have been working on this deal for a couple months. I have a thing about .38 Colt with heeled bullets. This is pre-1900, so it has the original .375" bore for the original .38 Colt (Navy Loading). Around 1900, the Army adopted a hollow base .357" bullet that worked in newer guns with the updated .357" bore and .38 Special revolvers, and obdurated into the bore of the older guns. I also load 148 grain hollow base wadcutters, and they work almost as well as the .375" heeled bullets....

[imarangemaster]

Here he is:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Chase_%28general%29

Dr John Chase (1856-1918) - Find A Grave Memorial

[browningautorifle]

Yes, the softer bullets will obturate and increase the potential accuracy.

[baltimoreed]

Attachment 120868Nice revolver. I have an aluminum mould and built these for mine. The trigger pull on all 3 of my revolvers is a bear. Primers in the 1890s must have been made of flint.

[imarangemaster]

I have a 38 Colt heeled bullet die set from Bernie at Old West Bullet molds. The 140 grain I use is from Bear Creek Bullets and is moly coated.





I also load hollow base wadcutters in the 38 Colt case, sticking out about 1/4".

[imarangemaster]

Took it to the range and fired some rounds. It loved the heeled bullets, and hit POA/POI at 25 yards with them. It absolutely HATED the HBWCs! I think because Tthey were loaded with Trail Boss (lower velocity and impulse, did not obdurate), rather than Unique or Bullseye. It was fun shooting the heeled bullets!