Summary

Colt New Line Pocket centrefire revolver, 2nd model, cal. .380 in. long, rifled round barrel 56 mm (2 1/4 inch) long.

Made by Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Co, Hartford, Connecticut. Serial number 3699 stamped under barrel, 1876.

Physical Description

Five chambered long fluted cylinder, solid steel frame and backstrap with little original colour remaining, sheath trigger, dark brown two-piece non-chequered birdshead wooden grips fixed by a centrally mounted screw, white paint mark on left hand grip and cylinder. Bladed front sight, loading flute with thin loading gate on frame right hand side missing, hammer shows light original blueing. Stamped at rear end of cylinder with British proofmarks, British proofmarks stamped under barrel at cylinder end.

Significance

Most of the New Line models appeared across 1873-74 following the success had by the preceeding Colt Open-Top .22 and Cloverleaf models. The New Lines were produced in a variety of sizes ranging from the smallest at .22 rimfire up to the .41 rimfire, and .41 centrefire. The first models, appearing before 1876, had shorter cylinder flutes and stopping slots on the outer rear face of the cylinder. The later, or second model, had the flutes extended back, and the stopping cut on the back of the cylinder. In advertising literature of the period, many arms dealers and distributors favoured nicknames for the various New Line models. Prominent distributor, B. Kittredge & Co, advertised the model in 1878 under the followed titles: calibre .22 - The Little Colt, calibre .30 - The Pony Colt, calibre .32 - The Ladies Colt, calibre .38 - The Pet Colt, calibre .41 - The Big Colt. The last model of the New Lines was produced in 1886, thirteen years after they began.

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