.38 cal. colt revolver, seraila # 15114

Question
These pistol looks similar to the police positive model and is double action but the hammer does not lock back, it has a swing out loading gate on the ride cyclinder side, the markings are almost the same as the police positive on the barrel but no dates or other info, a five inch barrel and checkered wood ladies grip;  can you identify the model and year made?

Answer
Hello Milas. I am very familiar with the Colt Police Positive and the only Colt DA's I know of with a loading gate on the right side are the 1877 Colt Lightning and the 1878 Colt Frontier. You say your revolver has checkered wood ladies grips. Could they be shaped like a birds head and beak? The size of this grip could make one think it is for a ladies hand, when actually it is called a Birds Head grip. Both the 1877 and the 1878 had these type grips. Your serial number would make the 1877 Colt Lightning manufactured in the range of 1879 to 1880. If it is the 1878 Colt Frontier, it would be 1885 to 1886. GUN SMITH ALERT!!! Both of these revolvers were the first of the DA's made by Colt, so there were problems to work out. The Colt design included many small parts including springs that could easily break. It sounds like you may have a broken part that holds the hammer at full-cock. This is the position for the hammer of the single-action operation of a double-action revolver. There is also the fact that these guns were built to fire blackpowder cartridges 'only'. I hope this helps you identify your gun and thank you for asking for me. Charles Gage