My father died 9/07. I was to have received his little COLT Det. Spec. 3rd model, i.e., w/ shroud on ejector rod, rubber grips, about 90-93% condition. Long story... it went to someone else.

Today I found a COLT Det. Spec. identical in every way to the one my father owned except it is in better condition... 95% or better... just a small amount of thinning of the bluing on the trigger guard. It shows no evidence of having been fired. The gunshop owner and I spoke and he said he would sell it for $510 plus tax. I have about 25 minutes before I have to leave. If anyone knows anything about what is a reasonable price for this pistol I would appreciate whatever help they might offer. Sincerely. brucev.

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I would give $510 for a 95% unfired Detective Special. Depends on how much you want it.

Charlie

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SWCA # 2294

Thanks for the response. The shop said they close at 5:30 and it's take me at least 40 min. to get there so I'll have to go in another minute or so. Also forgot to mention... no box... papers. Colt rubber grips w/ emblem in silver finish.

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Thats about what a nice one goes for these days.

Sounds very reasonable.....Buy it

These probably aren't in as good of condition as the one you're looking at, but they're a helluva lot cheaper! But then again...they are the OLD model.

Firearms, Guns, Rifles. Grain Valley, Missouri.

Well did you buy it?

I got to the gunshop about 12 minutes before closing time. Happily they had not closed out the registers. I think the whole process took maybe 7 minutes because I was getting in the car at 5 PM. I had $125 in cash from coins I had saved. I paid the rest with a check.

That little COLT is as pretty as a nice watch. The finish is slightly thin on the trigger guard. The rest of the revolver is just about perfect. The grips have silver COLT medallions and are checkered black rubber. There is no blue wear from holstering on the barrel or cylinder. There is no wear on the blue of the trigger or the hammer spur. The recoil has only the barest trace of brass rub. In fact it looks like the rounds may have just sat loaded in the cylinder for a long time. The hand and ratchet don't look like the revolver has been cocked very much. It locks up nice and tight. The single action is crisp. The double-action is smooth.

It is now to late in the evening (10:47 p.m.) to begin taking photos. I have some church members I will need to visit tomorrow morning. I will then need to do some office work. But hopefully by lunch I will be able to take some nice photos. When my wife returns home, I will ask her to show me how to put them up at Flicker, since that is the site that I think she uses for her knitting projects. Sincerely. Brucev.

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The pictures are up. Hit this link to see album... Colt Det. Spec. 3rd Model - a set on Flickr

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si--------------

Nice gun. While I'm a dyed in the wool S&W fan, I'm partial to the second generation Colt Agent with parkerized finish. IMHO you did well.

Very nice Detective Special, I think you did fine on the price, and it won't be going down...! There's nothing like those little Colt's, great guns...

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NRA Life Member

I am very pleased to have finally been able to find a nice COLT Det. Spec. It is not the revolver that belonged to my father, but it is as close as I will ever come in this life. If I had had more rounds I think I could have settled down and shot some nice groups. The second group I fired was double-action and other than dropping two low, all went right into the center of the plate. Shooting DA this little COLT is like just pointing your fist. Shooting SA I think is going to work very well once I learn how to deal with the short barrel. It handles beautifully.

I think I'm going to stick with the plain 158 gr. ammo for this revolver. I don't think it was intended for use with the higher pressure +P or +P+ SD/HD loads. I do wonder if the new Hornady flex-tip .38 Special load would be worth considering.

Other than a bit of corrosion on the edge of the cylinder and a slight thinning of the bluing on the trigger guard, it is perfect. There is no blue wear at all other than what I found on the trigger guard and edge of the cylinder. Mechanically it is absolutely perfect. I have six rounds left, so tonight it sits on the nightstand. My wife helped me shoot the pictures. She uploaded everything. Best part is that she thinks it is very nice.

Now that she has shown me how to use the camera and take some decent pictures, I'll take some shots of my other handguns and put them up. Sincerely. Brucev.

I got a line on a local hardware store that has .38 Special ammo for $16/50 rds. That is sky high for lead round nose ammo. I'm going to try to find some primers somewhere local and buy a pound of something useful to load some plain 158 gr. LSWC. I figure if I

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A very attractive and most business-like looking Colt. While I like the old school look of the Detective Special with the walnut grips and the exposed ejector rod now, I used to dislike it. I always have liked the look of the Detective Special with the shrouded ejector rod and still do.

Thanks for posting the selection of good photos.

I have an old style Detective Special produced in 1966 that I occasionally tote. It is loaded with +P 158 grain ammunition and has been fired enough to verify its shooting characteristics with such a load. It prints the +P 158 grain load to point-of-aim just the same as it does with standard velocity 158 grain ammunition.

Congratulations on a beautiful gun. I'm sure your Dad would be proud to see you with it. I prefer the shrouded rod Colts like yours - I had a beautiful nickel one and foolishly traded it away.

Again, congrats on a great find.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

For what it's worth, the Colt manuals of the era for the Det. Special, Cobra and Agents state you can shoot 1000 rounds of Plus P ammo through the alloy frame models and 3000 rds. through the steel frame model before they suggest you send the gun back to the factory to be checked for frame stretching.

HTH

I appreciate the information. I have had some thoughts about what I should shoot in this revolver. I would like to be able to use a good quality SD/HD load, not for regular shooting but for keeping it loaded when it is doing nightstand duty. I do wonder what kind of loads would stretch a steel framed revolver? Could this result from shooting standard factory loads? Would this only be likely as a result of shooting hot SD/HD loads?

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We tried to "blow-up and stretch" revolvers during my years as a Gunsmith.
At about 1000 rounds of "PlusP" ammo the aluminum framed Cobra we tested should some slight elongation.
The Detective Special at 10,000 rounds was still well within original specifictions.
The same test on S&W revolvers also was conclusive as to the strength and durability of the guns.
Chiefs Specials and Military & Police with Aluminum Cylinders showed distress well before 1000 rounds. Steel framed revolvers were still within spec. at the conclusion of the testing at 10,000.
Use it with factory or sensible handloads and it will no doubt last well into the next era.

Thank you very much! Once I get some bullets, powder and primers, I will be putting together some basic 158 gr. LSWC loads. I cannot imagine that I would be shooting heavy loads in this little COLT (that duty I reserve for my S&W M-28). However I figured it would be nice to be able to use it with some of the commonly available SD/HD loads. Thank you for the first-hand information. Sincerely. brucev.

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Bruce, that is about what you would pay for a Det. Special in exta fine condition near where I live. Hope that it makes you feel better for the loss of your dad. Sure shoots nice, tight groups.

Bruce,

You did alright on that fine Detective Special. Nice revolver.

Jackie

Just picked up a new in the box, from an estate sale, 3rd series Colt Det. Spl. Never been fired. Gave 567.84 tax included and thought it was a good deal.

I've owned several DSes and the series you and I now have is the best. I use Unique 4-4.6grains and a 158gr SWCL and it shoots to POA; and the Colts I've owned in the past never balked at this load.

I think you did quite well. Congratulations on your new Detective Special.

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Steve
NJ State Trooper (rtd)

Yo to our esteemed Tired Gunsmith,

Was that aluminum cylinders on those Chief Specials and M&Ps or aluminum frames? From everything I've heard or read I'm surprised the aluminum cylinders didn't just blow up in your face. Those same models with aluminum frames I would expect to be similar to the Colt on round count before noticeable effect.

Fortunately cylinders did not let go even though aluminum.

I'm glad that you got your DS. Your Dad would be pleased that you have it. Enjoy.

Charlie

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SWCA # 2294

I checked that link. If I could find 'Dick spls' in that cond, at those prices, around here. I'd buy every one of them.

I use 110 grain Hydra-Shoks in my Agents and Cobra.