Odd 1926 Colt New Service - Cline & Cline Co., Los Angeles CA

[Dump1567]

***Update*****

I put a rush letter request in with Colt on this to see if the Grips were original or if it shipped to Wolf & Klar. Pretty disappointing response:

Caliber .45 auto cartridge
Barrel Length: 5 ½"
Finish: Blue
Stocks: Checkered wood
Ship to: Cline & Cline Co., Los Angeles CA
Ship Date: September 22, 1926
Colt Factory Order: #11922 / 15
Number of guns
in Shipment: 15

Records do not mention the carved MOP stocks or checkered backstrap.

Anyone have any info. on Cline & Cline Co. out of LA? The checkering looks as factory as other Colt checking I've seen from that era.

***Original Post***

Picked this up today. Kind of an oddball, but based on my research, it may have left the Factory this way.

1926 (324961) 5 1/2 inch 45 Colt marked barrel, but chambered in .45 acp. Checkered back strap, and Steer head MOP grips. After more research, the grips may have been done by Wolf & Klar. They have 4 hash lines on the back of each panel (Roman Numerials?).

The September 1979 issue of GUNS magazine came out, with an extensive article about New Services written by Bob Murphy.

On page 47, he notes the following:

"A group of New Service revolvers with checkered straps appeared in the 324,000-325,000 serial range, circa 1926, sometimes turning up with fancy wooden grips checkered in an unusual oval pattern. Some of these guns are marked "New Service .45 Colt" on the barrel, but upon closer inspection have factory-fitted .45 ACP cylinders and sideplates. An inquiry to the factory for shipping data on one of these arms brought the response that the shipping records could not be located."

It's current configuration.

 

[les.b]

Well, all I can say is "That's awful purty"!!! I really like it. I have an old 1917 Colt that never went to war (well that I know of), and I've got a Tyler on it as well.

Also have an Army Special from the 1920s with checkered back and front straps that look a lot like yours!!

Thanks for sharing!!

Best Regards, Les

 

[jsfricks]

There's a good chance that those grips are W&K. These pearls pictured below came on a S&W 3rd Model of 1926 that shipped to W&K. It shipped with the factory wood grips but these were probably added soon after purchase. This shows the markings on the back.

 

[Texas Star]

Picked this up today. Kind of an oddball, but based on my research, it may have left the Factory this way.

1926 (324961) 5 1/2 inch 45 Colt marked barrel, but chambered in .45 acp. Checkered back strap, and Steer head MOP grips. After more research, the grips may have been done by Wolf & Klar. They have 4 hash lines on the back of each panel (Roman Numerials?).

It's current configuration.

I had one in .45 Colt made in the 1930's. That thing shot as well as my S&W M-29. And it shot to the sights, which most untuned Colts don't.

 

[Dump1567]

Sir.
The bottom gun in the pic is 45 ACP New Service from the same serial range.
Bill@Yuma

Is your barrel marked .45 Colt also? If so, how's it shoot with .45 acp FMJ's?
Thanks.

I'm going to letter this and see if it shipped to Wolf & Klar, or if someone added the grips later.

 

[Joe Kent]

A neat revolver and a great find.

 

[Dump1567]

Rush letter info. received.

Caliber .45 auto cartridge
Barrel Length: 5 ½"
Finish: Blue
Stocks: Checkered wood
Ship to: Cline & Cline Co., Los Angeles CA
Ship Date: September 22, 1926
Colt Factory Order: #11922 / 15
Number of guns
in Shipment: 15

Records do not mention the carved MOP stocks or checkered backstrap.

Anyone have any info. on Cline & Cline Co. out of LA?

 

[wordsmith]

Your gun may have been a LAPD detective division order, there were a couple of groups of .45 ACP New Services w/ 5.5" bbls that went to them. One was 25 units, the other I don't recall for sure. Cline & Co. could've easily handled this order, but you'll need to letter it to be sure.

DC

 

[Absalom]

Rush letter info. received.

Anyone have any info. on Cline & Cline Co. out of LA?

A bit odd. Not much of a footprint. Interesting, though. I found a document with some background info (see snip 1).

It looks like the sporting goods dealer was Cline-Dyas, while Cline & Cline was a realty business. They're obviously connected family-wise. A Cline Realty still appears to be in business in the LA area today.

The strange thing is that even though the 2006 document says that Cline-Dyas was "one of America's largest sports retailers", I can't find much about them, other than that they apparently opened shop in 1905 (snip 2, from a hardware directory dated October 10, 1905).

Why the gun (actually, 15 guns) would have shipped to the realtor is a mystery to me.

 

[Dump1567]

Your gun may have been a LAPD detective division order, there were a couple of groups of .45 ACP New Services w/ 5.5" bbls that went to them. One was 25 units, the other I don't recall for sure. Cline & Co. could've easily handled this order, but you'll need to letter it to be sure.

DC

My letter info. is in the first post.

Mine is very similar to what Mullin shows in his book (pg. 130) & 147 digits off in the serial number, but that shipped in 1928 to W.H. Hoegee Company in LA.

The more I research this, the more I believe it might have been an LAPD gun (just no proof). Here's one that's very close to mine in Ser. # that sold.
Colt - New Service-Revolver Firearms Auction Lot-700

 

[Muley Gil]

"All I have ever shot in it is 45 ACP. They are a big gun with a long reach to the trigger and have poor sights at best. Bullets do hit the target.'

At one time, I had a 1917 Colt that was issued to me by my police department. While the trigger pull was heavy, it was very smooth. I once shot a 59/60 score on the state qualification course. My hands are on the smallish side, but it didn't seem to matter that day.

 

[Absalom]

......

The more I research this, the more I believe it might have been an LAPD gun (just no proof). Here's one that's very close to mine in Ser. # that sold.
.......

That guess is as good as any other. As far as I know, LAPD did not have any standard issue sidearm until after WW II.

Notorious Chief "Two-Gun" Davis (1920s/30s) seems to have liked Colts; these could be .45s.

And the guys in his "gun squad" also appear to have favored long-barreled revolvers.

 

[Dump1567]

That guess is as good as any other. As far as I know, LAPD did not have any standard issue sidearm until after WW II.

Notorious Chief "Two-Gun" Davis (1920s/30s) seems to have liked Colts; these could be .45s.

And the guys in his "gun squad" also appear to have favored long-barreled revolvers.

Thanks for the pics. One of those guys could be holding my gun. But we'll never know.