Colt Detective Special

[Snapping Twig]

Stopped in to the LGS to check out the used section and I found this.



Of course I bought it!

1972-73 vintage, real nice shape and a butter smooth double action. Single action is heavier than I'm used to as a S&W collector, but over time I am certain that can be remedied.

What do you think?

I'm in Calif. FWIW and these do not often come by, so I snagged it when it did.

[Alnamvet68]

I like it. How about some more pics...more detailed?

[BananaDoc]

LOVE those! Can i ask how much?

The Colt site has a manufacturing year database by serial number if you want to find the exact year...

Colt Firearm Serial Number Lookup - Year of Manufacture

Enjoy!!!

[Wyatt Burp]

You found THAT so close to where I live?! And it's nickel? I love those. Those grips and that chunky barrel just feels right. Congradulations.

[Texas Star]

Try Pachmayrs on it. And I hope it shoots to the sights. Colts often don't.

[Snapping Twig]

I roll my own, hell - I cast my own, so dialing it in should be fun.

Thanks guys!

Its got a real substantial feel and it looks real nice - cuts a good profile.

6 shots, seems to be right in between a K and J, what's not to like.

[Dennis The B]

Well, I should be jealous. But I'm not, since I have one of my own.

Congratulations. That's a great catch.

If you're a Smith lover, the continually stacking action does seem odd. However, over time, it will become smoother to you. It can easily handle +P, but Colt only recommends a total of about 3K through it. I run 150gr lead through mine, and that little 2-inch barrel really barks.

Enjoy!

[BLUEDOT37]

I have one I got in the mid '70s & they're nicely made. The blueing is gorgeous, as is the fit. The cylinder lockup is impressive. It feels good in your hand, not to heavy, not to light. It's my only Colt revolver but it has a place beside all my Smiths.

[semperfi71]

Nice purchase!

I handled my first one, a blued version in a Yuma gunshop in 1975. I thought it was a great handling little gun.

I bought my first one a year or so ago. It is blued and I fitted the smaller DS stocks to it and it points fantastic. The blueing on mine is excellent with little wear.

But............with 6 different bullets and 40 different powders the best load I can get shoots into 3 inches at 25 yards and 2 1/2 inches left. And that is the ONLY load that will do so. All the rest were anywhere from 3 inches to 5 inches left.

I tried having a gunsmith twist the barrel but it would not budge.

At 25 yards it shoots into 1 1/2 inches and is 1 1/2 inches left.

So.......I'll just have to use it for shooting big, wide people!!

[sipowicz]

A set of medallion pacs would look nice on that....my 94 came with them on it....adds a couple of ounces but makes shooting it a little nicer.

[Double-O-Dave]

I almost hate to admit this, but I saw one at the LGS a couple of years ago just like that one, LNIB, that I doubt had been fired outside the factory. No box or documents, and the price was reasonable. But they also had a very nice Model 60-7 at a price I couldn't resist (almost half the cost of the Colt). Frankly, the Colt made me a little bit nervous as it was actually "too pretty to carry". No such problems with the Model 60. A nice, affordable Colt Detective/Agent/Cobra is on my Grail Gun List, and I hope to one day find one. Congratulations, yours is a nice looking one.

Regards,

Dave

[JcMack]

I have my choice of butts when I walk out the door.

[Dennis The B]

Here are both of mine. When I carry, I put on the Colt stocks with medallions. I like the fact that the DS's carry 6 rounds, instead of 5.

[ace22]

nice, if you decide you don't like it send it to me

[bamabiker]

I want to play.
I have this nickel DS and had a blue one but let it get away.

[reddogge]

This was my wife's grandfather's gun. He was a Baltimore City cop in the 20-50s. A manufacture date of 1915 plus the box it was in leads me to believe it's actually a rebarreled Official Police that had a 4" barrel. So not a collector but some family history.

[Malpasowildlifer]

Awesome find! Especially in CA

[BLUEDOT37]

Originally Posted by semperfi71

Nice. But............with 6 different bullets and 40 different powders the best load I can get shoots into 3 inches at 25 yards and 2 1/2 inches left.

So.......I'll just have to use it for shooting big, wide people!!

I almost put a comment in my original post to "ding" the sight picture & the POI, but I realized it's been so long since I've shot it much I couldn't recall with certainty that it hit to the left, as well as low, so I omitted it. Your comment seems to match my recollection. (Close & skinny will probably work too?) Guess I need to take it out for a date & get it dirty & see.

Just for giggles, what was your "best" load composed of?

[Snapping Twig]

I realize you weren't asking me, but I can tell you MY 38Spl receipe.

Home cast Lyman 358156 (160g from WW) sized to .358 and lubed with White Label BAC over 4.5g W231.

No gas check.

[JcMack]

Nice gun. I think it's a Police Positive re barreled (orig DS was a cut down PP) . If the barrel reads Det Spec. it's a post '47 barrel. That's when the DS went to ramped sight. I like the grip frame on these guns but there not as comfortable as the round butt.

Originally Posted by reddogge

This was my wife's grandfather's gun. He was a Baltimore City cop in the 20-50s. A manufacture date of 1915 plus the box it was in leads me to believe it's actually a rebarreled Official Police that had a 4" barrel. So not a collector but some family history.

[Mickey D]

A set of Gen 2 checkered stocks would look great with the shrouded barrel.

Maybe Sip will post his with these stocks.

[sipowicz]

Ooops, sorry, those are my other CCW Colts.

Here ya go...first pic is the grips s they came from Numrich...second pic I cleaned them up a bit...

[Mickey D]

Just love that look. ^^^ I need to find a Gen 3 soon.

[kennyb]

my first handgun was a det.sp.it's the only gun i have sold...sighhhhh

[tompehret]

I guess I'll take this opportunity to flash a Colt on the S&W forum. But I have to admit that S&W Forum members are pretty open-minded.
This is my wife's DS, 1978 vintage. It's a .32 S&W Long and Colt continued the unshrouded barrel in that caliber for a while after the .38's went shrouded. It's her CCW piece; mine's a Model 10 til I find another DS.

[Texas Star]

Originally Posted by JcMack

Nice gun. I think it's a Police Positive re barreled (orig DS was a cut down PP) . If the barrel reads Det Spec. it's a post '47 barrel. That's when the DS went to ramped sight. I like the grip frame on these guns but there not as comfortable as the round butt.

Prob. a re-barreled Police Positive Special. The Police Positive (not Special) was a shorter frame for the 38 S&W regular ctg.

[S&W Fan]

Love the DS! Another gun I regret selling lol. Stopped in a shop today & there was a late model, unfired nickel w/box& Pachs for $950.

[semperfi71]

Originally Posted by BLUEDOT37

Just for giggles, what was your "best" load composed of?

4.0 grains of Bullseye under the Miester 158 grain lead SWC and a Federal 200 small pistol magnum primer.

What's funny is I tested the 6 or so different bullets with that Bullseye load. I saw the Miester load and said, "Okay I start with this bullet, if it groups like that (close to POA) then the other 37 powders should produce better results from at least one or more.

Didn't happen. After shooting 38 powders (including the Bullseye again) I was back to the first load!

[Peter M. Eick]

I used to say Colts are for Shooting, S&W's are for collecting. I shoot mine a fair amount.

Question, was your front sight serrated or smooth? Mine is smooth and I have seen others that were serrated. Mine is from 76 so I think it depends on the year.

[Old cop]

I own one Det. Spl. from the early '80's and a Cobra from '68, my first off-duty gun. The Cobra now sits in the safe since I got a 442, these Colts are really fine "belly guns."

Congrats, fine looking Colt.