Hi, Everyone been a gun owner for a while, recently purchased a Ruger GP 100 Wiley clapp, and bit my revolver bug. So if you guy's can access my newest purchase to maybe give me an estimate on condition. This is a 1963 colt DS serial number 827xxx purchased from my Sergeant he let it go for $200.00

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If it's sound mechanically and the timing isn't hopelessly off, you got a hell of a deal in my opinion.

I'd say your sergeant must think well of you.

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Oh well, what the hell.

Welcome to the forum!!! You will like it here. There are all sorts of folks here who between them have a great deal of knowledge.

For $200.00 you definitely got a deal. It's really hard to tell from the photos, but it looks to be in good, shoot able condition. By the way, that's what I prefer, no regrets decreasing the value of a pristine, NIB safe queen.

I think you did really well. This is an item of considerable argument here on the forum, but that vintage, I would shoot standard velocity ammunition. Many argue that today's +P is the same as the old regular velocity, and others argue that that is not the case. I tend to err on the side of caution, and fire standard velocity ammunition in these older 38s.

There are some pretty nice cartridges out there in Standard pressure ammo, one that comes to mind is the Speer Gold Dot standard velocity 38 Special.

I reload as well, and have a great load for my older 38s. I have quite a few of the DS, Cobra, Agent, Diamondback configuration and like them a lot.

Best Reggards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

This is just my opinion, of course, but I think the Colt DS is the finest .38 Special snubby ever made. It's really the perfect cross between a S&W J-Frame and K-frame. Who cares if the cylinder rotates the wrong way?

I agree your Sergeant must have liked you, considering how much he easily could have sold that for. That's a great deal!

Welcome to The Forum!

Thank , all yes my Sergeant has a nice collection, heard me talk about wanting a Colt, his son just Recently joined the Marines we went out to dinner and his son picked my brain. My Sgt felt at ease . And I guess it was kinda of a thank you. I guess here are more pics

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$200 was a ripoff -- of your sergeant. Congratulations.

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Pisgah

I picked up a 1963 DS recently, more wear and more money. You did very well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Dave

You did well. Enjoy.

Is $200 a good deal?.... If I lived closer to Chicago I'd ask if you wanted to double your money.

And welcome to the best gun forum I've found (so now it's my only one). I hope you'll stick around.

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Oh well, what the hell.

QUESTION:
Were you wearing a mask when you took that Colt from your Sgt?
(great weapon and a great price)

I've owned a lot of revolvers during the last 50+ years and I consider my 1966 Colt DS to be the worst one with the exposed ejector rod and iffy timing.

In 1966 I paid $45 NIB.

It was one of my 2 off duty guns during my time in the NYPD.

I only had to use it once inside a 4'x4' elevator and it did the job.

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

Mine is a 1994 model and I paid $600

Well, StakeOut, I'm glad you had it, or we might not be sharing your wisdom now! And I'm not being sarcastic, but sincere.

I know that a lot of folks worry about that exposed ejector rod, and someone on the forum, it might have been your fellow former NYPD member, RichinCapeCod, had the early barrel changed to one of the later shrouded barrels in order to protect the ejector rod. Or was that you. I don't remember, but it was posted here on the forum recently. I have a DS in both configurations. What I don't care for on the later models is the large "Target Grip". Of course, one could fit the original or keep them, depending on the model. I also have a later shrouded barrel Cobra which had smaller early grips on it when I got it.

I have personally never had a Colt which had the timing issues, maybe just lucky.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Thank you all, did I wear a mask lol know I feel guilty. But its an awesome jewel, and thanks for all the greeting definitely going to stick around been reading alot of posts, you guys are right a lot of good info.

Forgive me new to uploading pics

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Looks to be in good shape overall. A keeper, if the timing is okay.



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The ones made after about 1972, with ejector rod shrouds are ok with +P. I have 2 Agents, one '75 and 1 '64. The older one is standard pressure only, but if I needed to shoot it for serious reasons, I wouldn't hesitate to run a half dozen +P rounds through it. I'm pretty sure it would survive. Wouldn't want to do it on a regular basis though.

Dizzo:

This is an old cell phone picture, not very good, but from the top is a Detective Special, next a Cobra, and bottom is an Agent. They went through several evolutionary stages, these still had the exposed ejector rod, as do all Colt double action revolvers for about 70 or more years.



I will try to get some better photos sometime, but I really like these little snub noses. They are addictive. The little Ruger that you have is a fine gun, and a great shooter, but... There is a history behind the little Colts that is intriguing and attractive. They are fine revolvers, and I'm sure that you will enjoy yours, and might want to acquire more in the future.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

For $200, you paid at least $300 less than what that DS could likely have brought on Gunbroker & Co. I went looking for one just like that last year, and it took a few months before I came across a 1961 specimen in about the condition yours is in, maybe a bit more wear, that I was able to acquire for an even $500 (which had been my self-imposed limit); I bid on quite a few that jumped out of reach, and saw many that started beyond.

Hi Dizzo:

Welcome to the Forum, and congratulations on a great deal on a Colt DS. I decided against the Colts because of all the negative things I had heard about them - that they were obsolete, that the lockwork was fragile, that they went out of time easily, that competent gunsmiths who would work on a Colt were few and far between, etc., etc., etc. Then, I found the one I purchased on sale at a local gun store.

I don't know why, but I had to have it. I got it at a very good price, and it is very handy and accurate - most J-frame holsters and K-frame speedloaders will work with the Colt DS/Agent/Cobras. I did a photo comparison with my Colt with the closest counterpart in my collection - a Model 649. I only feed my Colt standard velocity .38 Special ammo, and it's largely a safe queen as it is difficult to find competent gunsmiths to trust it to.

Best of luck,

Dave

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I had a Lt. sell me a Colt Combat Commander for $250, even back then it was a steal. Sometimes the bosses like to pass on their stuff to guys who they know will take care of it.

Apollo99:

I like the way you think. And you just might have a point there. If I was Dizzo, I would hang on to that Colt permanently. I would take it as a statement of faith by his Sergeant, not just a good deal. So it has more than just monetary value. Not to mention that it is a great handgun. Yeah, I know all about Glocks, and other "modern" sidearms, after all, I was and still am a firearms instructor. I have two Glocks, the one that I carried when I was still working, and a mini. And they are fine guns. But it's hard to get excited about a Glock; how many people post pictures of their Glocks? When I carry an automatic, I prefer something with a little more personality, like my Colt Commander from the 1960s. But I mostly carry small revolvers like the Colts in my post above, or a J frame Smith.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

I'm no expert in the prancing ponies, but any functional Colt for $200 seems like a heck of a bargain to me. Your sergeant is either a very nice guy who thinks very highly of you, or he's WAAAAY out of touch on gun values...

I strongly suspect the former rather than the latter.

I like those 80-90% guns. They still look good, and almost beg to be shot.

My DS was 921087 blue finish.

I never changed the barrel on mine so it might have been Rich.

I think there's so many better snub nose revolvers now to choose from so why choose to buy a DS?In hindsight I'd probably have carried a 3" Model 36 Police Woman's gun if I knew about them before I bought the DS

In 66 there weren't a lot of choices for off duty.

I had the 6 shot DS and a 5 shot Chief.

I guess I bought it for the 6th round.

I sometimes carried an unauthorized Walther 22 PP.

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

Jimmy Cirillo loved his Cobra.

He went everywhere with it in his pocket.

It saved his life taking out the garbage one night when he encountered a mugger.The muggers metal pipe broke Jimmy's non shooting hand thumb but the Cobra in his pocket dropped the mugger.

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR GUN

I like them, too.

It's a desirable, high-quality handgun that doesn't need to be handled with kid gloves. A gun that can be used the way it was meant to be, with no twinges of guilt at all!

My EDC is a 4th Issue, made in '94. It's one of the best looking revolvers I have. However, it has a couple small handling marks, almost big enough to be called scratches, that were there when I got it. I traded a GP-100 that I was into for $240 straight across for it, and knew before I even took possession of it that it'd be carried every day.

An interesting side note: My friend Kuhaku who I traded with, bought that DS from an older gentleman for $150. (This is about 3 years ago) Ku's a younger guy, early 30's, and had no use for a small .38 Special. He wanted a .357, so when I offered the GP-100, he jumped on it!

I have never had an 'out of time' Colt that was taken care of with a relatively low round count. Treat them with respect/care, and they will return the favor. Start abusing them, and they will return that favor too.

It is true that even a well taken care of Colt will slowly go out of time over the course of multiple hundreds, usually thousands, of rounds, but the fix is usually easy on those ones. Just bend the bolt actuator tip back toward the rebound lever and problem solved.

Even if you abuse it to the point where the fix becomes difficult, nothing about it is 'hopeless'. Locate the problem and parts causing it, then locate replacement/s, then fit it. It is so easy to find parts for them, and a book exists that outlines factory service procedures in detail.

All the negatives you hear online are largely false and is usually the result of some kind of bias towards Colts. They are mechanical tools and can be worked on as such.

I have repaired and worked on many Colts now, and I think they are actually quite simple. So either I am some kind of prodigy considering the magical talent everyone thinks is required to repair or adjust a Colt, or I am just an average person with a mechanical aptitude that can understand what he reads.

So if anyone wants to get rid a dreaded 'out of time' Detective for a couple hundred, I will gladly take it off their hands. I need another one for the wife.

I almost forgot to address the OP. You got a mighty fine gun, for a mighty fine price. I would love to find another at that price point. Be proud.

I have owned and shot a number of Colt revolvers, from Agents up to the New Service. I believe the "easy to go out of time" statement to be overused.

Yes, I have seen & owned a well worn NS that doesn't lock up like it did when new. But most of the Colts I've shot have been just fine.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

It's inconceivable to me that anybody who loved guns wouldn't want a large collection of both colt and s&w revolvers.

Lesb, great collection. Apollo99 you are correct it just shows you there are still great boses out there, my Sergeant was a Detective for 15 year's, when we did the transaction I told him if I ever make Det. Thst I would carry it as a bug. (Chicago just gave the first Detective test last may, in ten years), my wife superstitious I guess all Cops, and Military are. She said its a good sign on passing and being made. Bad part is she conceals carry a lady smith and fell in love with the DS. Got lock it in another safe. But thanks to everyone not mention alot of info. Thanks as I begin my journey on collecting great firearms.

I told the story about my first Colt rev a couple of years ago! It looked so lonely in the used gun case surrounded by S&W revs that I had to rescue it. Gun was a very good condition old style Dick special 2".38. I really like that gun.

A few months ago I found at a decent price a very good shrouded Cobra 2" .38. The box came with numbered to gun and with a old price sticker on it ($138). That gun shoots well also. Keeping my eyes open for a agent. FWIW in my area you hardly ever see a Colt Rev for sale and when you do you had better move fast or its gone!

OP enjoy your new gun, you and the Sergent did well!

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

Or at least a dozen Krispy Kremes and a coffee.

Very nice looking gun! I also agree that you stole it!

Dizzzo:

If you want to see some of the back stories of some of the guys posting here, check out this thread: What we carried in 71, the Model 10-5 some of these guys have been around police work and firearms for awhile, and some have passed on their knowledge, both through posts on the forum, and some have also written books. Just thought you might like to be introduced to some of the regulars here.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Thank all, les b . Will go to those tread. Went to my LGS they chrck the timing all was tight shot about 50 rds if Hornandy 125 .38 wow how accurate and no bull, no reciol was amazed. I have several glocks (21sf 3 gen) duty gun, a Ruger gp100 wiley clapp, Smith wesson Shield, goick 26, 27, 19 and a Springfield field xdm 9mm compact, and honestly besides my glock 21 which I carried since 2006, the DS is the most comfortable to shoot if that makes since..

It's probably not needed, but being that they no longer manufacture Colt DA snubs, and parts may be hard to come by, I'd recommend using snap caps if you plan on dry firing the piece. As mentioned previously, my Colt DS is largely a safe queen these days, but my daughter (20 yrs. old) has asked me to teach her to shoot handguns so she can test for her LTC (License To Carry - used to be CHL - Concealed Handgun License) when she reaches her 21st birthday this August. She likes the size and feel of the Colt DS, and I allow her to load snap caps and cycle the piece to help her gain familiarity with Colt and S&W snub nose revolvers. By the way, in the S&W line, she prefers the Centennial design due to their better (lighter/smoother) trigger pull, and the simplicity of point and shoot.

Regards,

Dave

I'd have jumped at that too. I had one of those about that same year. It was a fine choice then and yours is today.
Some of the other guys carried the S&W Airweight. They were five shot and a less than usable grip___for me.
That's when Colt produced some good revolvers. Before going up to detective in uniform I had a Colt Trooper 357. That too was a shooter.
Ya got a good buy.
Poli Viejo

In late 2015, I bought my first DS. I've wanted one for a long time, never found one in high condition at a price I was willing to pay. Mine is from ca. 1960, in honest 95% condition, and I was happy to pay $475 OTD for it. Maybe Colts do get out of time, at least lots of people say they do, but I have owned and fired numerous Colt revolvers of all vintages since the early 1970s, and have yet to see that problem. I consider the Colt DS (and possibly the Agent and Cobra, neither of which I own) to be the finest carry revolver ever made.