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**Colt New Service DA revolver, .38-40 caliber, 7.5” round barrel, S/N 72

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,250.00 USD
**Colt New Service DA revolver, .38-40 caliber,  7.5” round barrel, S/N  72
All items are as is, no warranty or claims and All SALES ARE FINAL. Please examine prior to bidding as it is the bidder's responsibilty to establish condition, age, genuineness, value or any other determinative factors.
**Colt New Service DA revolver, .38-40 caliber, 7.5” round barrel, S/N 72738, blued finish, British proofed, checkered black hard rubber grips with lanyard ring; backstrap inscribed “Leonard. G. Byng./Royal West Dent Reg’t”. This Colt is in overall very good condition displaying the majority of its original finish on the frame and a brown patina mixed with original blue finish on the barrel. The action and markings are crisp, the bore is very good; the grips are overall good with an old repair to the back toe of the left grip. Accompanied by copy of a Nov. 1993 Gun Report article by James Smith on this exact New Service and Mr. Smith’s extensive search to determine the military history of this soldier. After much effort, it was determined that Lt. Leonard G. Byng joined the Royal West Kent Regiment in 1914 and transferred to the Grenadier Guards in 1917 “as a Lieutenant. He was awarded the Military Cross and died of wounds received in action in France on August 24th, 1918. He was just thirty years old when he died”. There is also the number 4969 on the butt of the gun which likely is a Regimental “rack” or inventory number. Interestingly enough, Mr. Smith notes he first