Colt Super .38 Automatic - #63126


Made 1948

This is an interesting example of the early post-WW2 Super .38. It would be considered a "transitional" piece as it has a few "left-over" military parts. However, all is finished to high commercial standards. Left-overs include the GI stocks, hammer, and safety.

Notice the barrel exterior diameter. This is the rare "fat barrel" model, its barrel having the same exterior diameter as a .45 barrel. These are seldom encountered and only appeared in the immediate post-WW2 years.

The slide inscription also is noteworthy. It reads: "COLTS MFG. CO. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A." For just a few years following WW2 this inscription was used, and it was discontinued some time around 1950. During the many years prior, and ever since, the inscription has always been: "COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A."

My photos don't do justice to this pistol. It really presents much better in the hand than it does under my harsh lights. Nevertheless, it's an historic part of the .38 Super story and worthy to be shown to those who appreciate such.

More great stuff from Curl, and this time, it's domestic!

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

I have 62000 made 1948. Fat barrel and looks just like yours. I will send for a letter from Colt.Could be Cuban contract.

Fantastic looking 1911. I di not realized that they had made fat barrels in the 38 Super. Thanks for sharing.

Really neat! Thanks for all the great pictures!

Dah original gangsta 9 gat special! John Dillinger tested Al Capone approved

I have a great fondness for the .38 Super. These days its a tragically under rated cartridge.
Congratulations on a great gun.

You do know about the need to re-cut the chamber so the case headspaces on the case mouth, to get decent accuracy?

I had a really nice prewar Super Match that was wildly inaccurate. I sold it before Jim Carmichel blew the whistle on that issue.

Colt should be deeply ashamed that they didn't correct that within a few years after the Super was introduced in 1929.

My son just bought a recent Super, but Colt is now doing the chambers as they should. He's having fun deciding which ammo to try.

Wonderful pistol!!

Thanks for sharing it.

CptCurl, thanks for sharing!

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I've still got it made.

I assume that one does not have the Swartz safety as I see no evidence of it. I have heard that some .38 Super GMs were made during WWII did have it, all of which were later destroyed, but I have never seen any information about how many (probably only a small number) and when that stopped. Would be really great to find an early postwar .38 Super with the Swartz safety.

No Swartz safety on this one.



Curl

Hey everybody,

Thanks for the many warm comments on this older thread!

Curl

Ha! I didn't notice! Doesn't matter. I still like your pictures and your a Super. Really sharp looking old gun.

You got more comments this year than four years ago.

My Super 38, SN 8290 is from the second year of production No Swartz safety on it. Workmanship is incredible, but it's nowhere near as accurate as current versions as it headspaces on the rim.

Attached Images

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BTW . . . I have 4 .38 Supers. Love the caliber.

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I've still got it made.

The Colt 1911 .38 Super is my favorite semi-auto handgun...thanks for posting this beautify example of American craftsmanship!!

Bob

FYI...

The chambers can not be recut as the metal necessary to make the headspace shelf for the case mouth has already been removed. The whole barrel has to be replaced.

The shooter who discovered the problem was Major George Nonte in the 1970s. He had Irv Stone of BarSto barrels make the first heaspaced on the case mouth barrels...

My 1969 GM shot 3' groups at 50 yards...after the barrel was replaced with a BarSto it shot 3" groups with the same box of ammo...

And you are correct, Colt was negligent to say the least in not recognizing and correcting the problem long before they did. The first Colt 1911 made Super with the headspace on the case mouth barrel was the 1986 Super Elite which was done at the insistence of the distributor, AccuSport. It was not till 1990 when there now other 1911 manufacturers making Supers with the proper headspaced barrels did Colt finally change their reamers...and never said a word about it...typical Colt.

The Old Super .38 Barrels - 1911Forum

Bob

My 1948 fat barrel.

Attached Images

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Terrific pistol, description, and photos. Beautiful !!

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John

I don't plan to do it, but I wonder if there is even available a "fat barrel" aftermarket barrel that headspaces on the case mouth.

I've had a number of 38 Super Colts. In fact, my first 1911 type pistol was a .38 Super Government Model from the late 60s. I bought it new back about 1972.

Some years ago I had a Series 70 Colt .38 Super I planned to use as a shooter. I had read that 9x23 brass could be used and it would headspace on the case mouth. I bought some of the brass, but no deal. it fell right into the chamber and sank in that particular barrel. Obviously there was no ridge for the case mouth to encounter.

I don't have a .38 Super "shooter" now, but if I did I would get a modern barrel for sure.

My other .38 Super is a pre-war from 1936. I posted it here several years ago: Colt Super .38 Automatic - #21051

Curl

Thinking further, I guess on a "fat barrel" pistol you could change both the barrel and bushing to install a modern aftermarket barrel.

Again, I don't plan to do that. I like the pistol all original.

Curl

SO COOL!!! I'd like a .38 Super in a 1911 myself. Not sure why though. Bob

CptCurl... There is no reason why you can not pull the barrel/bushing out of your gun and drop in a correctly headspaced barrel in to shoot with as the original will drop right back in...


bananaman...."SO COOL!!! I'd like a .38 Super in a 1911 myself. Not sure why though.".....buy one and you'll find out what you have been missing...

125 gr bullet over 10.4 gr VV N105.

1,400 no BS fps.

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I've still got it made.

I love the Super! My first one was an .......older......one.



I haven't fired it, but I bought a second so I could enjoy one at the range.



I almost bought an older Commander in .38 a few years ago but it was a toss up between it and a 1914 Canadian contract GM the seller had. The GM won that day.

What is the market value today?? Thanks

AA #5 is also very good for high end loads, about 8.7 grains behind that bullet will get you in the 1400 ft/sec range with a 5" barrel. But if you want to go that hot, it's better to use 9x23 Win or Starline SuperComp cases. Those cases are rimless but will work OK, considerably heavier at the base than .38 Super brass. That's all I use for such hot loads.