I found a Colt revolver including holster in a drawer belonging to my wife's recently deceased parents. It shows Colt D.A. 38 on the side of the barrel, and the butt shows it is one of the 5000 Model 1889 Colts built for the Navy: "USN, 38D/A, No, 4694, P, W.W.K., 1889". The top of the barrel shows "Patented Aug 5, 1884 Nov 6 88 Mar 5 95". The serial number on the cylinder and locking pin is 4725 as opposed to the 4694 on the butt. This sounds like this Colt cylinder was modified sometime after 1895. What's also strange is the grip is wood rather that the hard rubber issued for the Navy Colts. Anyone have any idea when this gun could have been manufactured?
I believe the gun belonged to my wife's grandfather, Adm. Arthur Dewey Struble, who was Gen. McArthur's naval commander when he freed the Phillipines from the Japanese at the end of WW2 and for the Inchon invasion in Korea. The gun could be extremely valuable if I can link it to him. Unfortunately, the timing seems off. He was born in 1894, so wouldn't have been issued this Colt until at least 1912. Could it have been manufactured or modified that late?
I believe the gun belonged to my wife's grandfather, Adm. Arthur Dewey Struble, who was Gen. McArthur's naval commander when he freed the Phillipines from the Japanese at the end of WW2 and for the Inchon invasion in Korea. The gun could be extremely valuable if I can link it to him. Unfortunately, the timing seems off. He was born in 1894, so wouldn't have been issued this Colt until at least 1912. Could it have been manufactured or modified that late?
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