I've been researching the different series of the colt detective special recently and I was wondering if the Python or Official police revolvers can be classified into different series as well.

Thanks.

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Aaron Terry

Aaron,

There is a Colt forum where you might find your answer. Not that we don't have smart guys here and many are on both boards.

From my limited knowledge base, I don't think so but check with them for certain.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

The MkIII OP revolvers can be considered a different series. The only thing that is the same is the OP designation. Everything else is different. The O/Ps in the MkIII series are not often seen but a few LE organizations used them. Maryland SP I believe is one.

Perhaps the earlier Army Specials could be considered a series. A change in name essentially to Official Police occured and the serial numbers continued uninterupted..

Maybe the 22 and 38 Officers Model Target revolvers are a series. They're built on the Army Special and OP frames but with target sights, grips, etc. Some are #'d in the same production as the fixed site guns in production at the same time. Others have a separate ser# range. The 22rf OP has it's own ser# series too.

Lots of cosmetic changes along the way but thats normal for a long in production firearm. A small change in the crane configuration occured in the time around the change from Army Special to OP. Perhaps that could be considered.

The Python never really had a big engineering change. Lots of optional finishes, barrel lengths, ect. But I don't think it was ever redesigned like the OP/MkIII was.

The Python and the original OP/Army Special share the same frame size and old style lock work.