.32 Colt Revolver from the Late 1800s

Help us learn more about our collection!

Please help us uncover some of the stories behind our objects. All information is welcome; sources and citations are requested when possible.

Please email: museum@nleomf.org.

.32 Colt New Police Revolver, 1896. Collection of the NLEM, 2007.125.1.

Inscribed on base of gun barrel, at top: “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. / HARTFORD CT. U.S.A. / PT. AUG.5.84.NOV.6.1888.”; on base of barrel, on side: “COLT NEW POLICE 32”; on surface behind chamber, on left side, is “COLT’S NEW POLICE” encircling an engraved image of a rearing horse.

What we know:

• Weapon was produced between 1896-1907
  
  
• Approximately 49,500 were produced
  
  
• NYPD purchased and issued around 4,500
  
  
• President of the Commissioners of Police, Theodore Roosevelt authorized the purchase and issue
  
  
• Weapons were factory stamped “New York Police” on backstrap
  
  
• Two stamped badge numbers: “2318” and “4777”

What we want to know:

• Who do the badge numbers belong to?

We have seen that the first “officially carried” weapon of the NYPD was the Colt .36 5-shot percussion revolver. But we’ve also found references to Roosevelt having problems with poor marksmanship and back firing weapons after this weapon was adopted. After conducting tests, the NYPD decided to issue the Colt New Police as the standard revolver for the NYPD. Does anyone have any insight into this? 

We are also am looking for information about the standardization of law enforcement equipment in the late 1800s. So, if you have an early-issue police weapon or know when police departments began issuing standardized weapons, let us know.