Does someone know the frame size of Colt's New Service .45
ACP?

I believe Colt's Official Police is same basic frame size as their
later Trooper and Python.

I'm wondering, for holster compatability, if the New Service was the same frame size or significantly larger?

If you know, I will appreciate you help.

__________________
In Omnia Paratus

Before WWII Colt assigned names to their frame sizes. New Service is a "Large Frame"
After WWII Colt started using letter codes for frame sizes.
The Official Police is a "Medium Frame"

New Service is a significantly larger frame than the Official Police/Trooper/Python (Medium or E/I-Frame)line. In some dimensions it is larger than a S&W N Frame, while the OP, etc. falls close to a S&W L . As with the S&W Outdoorsman and Heavy Duty models, Colt offered the big New Service (fixed sight) and Shooting Master (Adjustable) in .38 Special. They were tanks.

I'm no guru, but I used to mess around with Colts and that is my recollection.

__________________
I need ammo, not a ride.

OldK22 nailed it: "Large Frame"

The Colt Army Special, Official Police, Officers Models, 3-5-7, Python, and Trooper revolvers all used essentially the same medium frame, the main difference among them being that those chambered in .357 have the firing pin in the frame instead of on the hammer. They are a little beefier than the S&W K-frames. The Colt New Service revolver and its derivatives used a larger frame, somewhat equivalent in size to the S&W N-frame. The Colt Police Positive, Police Positive Special, and Detective Special (and its derivatives) revolvers used smaller frames. I'd think most holsters made for the S&W N-frame should accommodate a Colt New Service and vice-versa. Military holsters for the M1917 certainly will.

Thank you all for the responses. I just received an Askins Border Patrol
by Myres. Someone etched Python on the back. I don't have a Python,
but K Frame with adjustable sights fits quite well.

I had read that the New Service was issued by the Border Patrol back
around the time that Askins designed the Border Patrol, so I wondered.
But my N Frames will not go in it. I imagine Myres sold a lot of them
to other LEOs and civilians.

I also have a Jordan Border Patrol that takes the K Frames perfectly.

I got the Askins mainly to study the differences in the two.

Thanks again.

__________________
In Omnia Paratus

Askins chose the New Service .38 with 4.5-inch over the Official Police when he was the firearms guy for the USBP. I think he said the NS made a better club.


He told me himself that he bought Colts because the Colt reps were good guys and the S&W factory men were elitist snobs.


Unless your NS fits a holster made for an S&W N-frame, you'll need to have a holster made for it. I think El Paso Saddlery can make one. Those marked Colt are normally for the Official Police size gun, inc. the Python.


Colt's small frame for the Cobra, DS, etc. was the D frame. I don't know letter codes for other Colt frames.

The E-frame was used for .38s (such as the OP) having the firing pin on the hammer. The I-frame (Python, etc.) had the firing pin in the frame.

The New Service never had a frame letter designation assigned to it as it was discontinued in 1941/42. It was simply the 'New Service frame'.
Pre-WW2, the OP was the '41 frame', Detective Special was the 'Police Positive Special frame'
Those letter designations were a post WW2 designation thing AFAIK.

No New Service after WW2, so no New Service frame size letter designation.
Maybe the closest thing to it post war would be their Anaconda size revolver/frame from the 90's,,that was designated 'MM'.

"...the OP was the '41 frame'" Meaning it could be used for revolvers chambered in .41 Long Colt, now obsolete. Early in its production those Colt DA revolvers were fairly popular in .41 LC, especially so in Mexico. As the .41 LC cartridge has a slightly greater diameter than the .38, it requires a slightly larger cylinder diameter and frame.