Recently aquired an interesting Colt .38 Bankers Special (.38 S&W caliber).
It's in nice shape, functions excellent, & lockes up tight. Does not appear to have been fired much.
The grips are not original, and it appears to have been re-blued. Overall it's a nice revolver.
The serial number (3746XX) dates it to 1936, per www.proofhouse.com.
On the bottom of the grip frame is engraved "W.C.S. No.154". It is believed the Bankers Special was once in the firearms inventory of the Wayne County Sheriff Department. Wayne County (MI) encompasses Detroit, MI.
Does anyone know how many Bankers Specials were manufactured?

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

I would say a gun made in 1936 that is in the condition your gun is would be rare. Very nice... Congratulations! Don

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"Don't worry be happy"

That rascal must have been in the back of the bank vault under all the money. That's a beaut!!

Nice one. You should add that to the Detroit Police guns thread.

According to www.coltrevolvers.net , 35,000 Bankers Specials were produced between 1928 and 1943. That site also says the gun is chambered in .38 New Police, rather than .38 S&W. Is that the same cartridge under different names? I know the companies hated to hang the other's name on their own products.

The coltrevolvers.net site is under never-ending construction, but the Bankers Special is one of the few models for which there appears to be a complete write-up. In that production period about 230,000 serial numbers were used up in the series that included the Bankers Special. Is it reasonable to think that one out of every six or seven Police Positives manufactured in that range was a Banker's Special? Maybe. Looks like both .38 NP and .22 LR versions were produced.

There was a really nice Banker's Special up at a recent Greg Martin auction. I was tempted, but I had too much money tied up in bids on other items. If I had won everything I was bidding on, I would have been sunk. So I let that one go buy.

That's a very nice gun you have.

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David Wilson

Thanks for the replies.
The only caliber marking on the revolver is .38. It does not specify which .38.
I was told it was a .38 S&W.
It looks like the caliber is a .38 S&W. Colt called the same caliber .38 Colt New Police.
Thanks DCWilson.

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

Yeah, you Wiley Coyote .38 NP is .38 S&W, like .32 NP is .32 S&W long. Very Nice highly coveted gun. Sorta like an I frame Smith with one more shot.

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SOS USA

Very nice.

wyo-man

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Live free or die

I'd kill for a 2" .38 S&W Banker's Special or Terrier (or both). DROOL!!! -Ed.

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Shoot the CPU, not the monitor

I have a Bankers Special made in 1931 from the above link. Mines not a pretty one seems to have been carried alot, perhaps as a LEOs BUG. This one has no markings of ownership at all, almost seems rare to find one NOT marked? She does shoot nice for sure, I have been shooting 38 S&W 146 g lead RN in it. I have been trying to find some nicer grips, but the worn ones are probably original and I have mixed feelings of separating them. Perhaps new ones just for showing off





I just took her out of the safe, I guess she coming to the range today!

Here is an old box of .38 Colt New Police ammo. As far as I know the only difference from it and .38 S&W is the flat point. This gun ain't a Banker's Special. Just a chopped Police Positive from around 1915 or so.

Well I did take the bankers out today. Much to my surprise when I opened the ammo box I only had six rounds left , the rest just empty brass

Well heres is the result



Prior to shooting this I was shooting my 6" 28 and 6" 57 all with purchased ammo, so it was quite a change going to the little bankers special, but fun!

This was about 40 to 45, feet indoor range. I shot the group first then over and up. I never claimed to be a good shot

used to have one of these issued by railway post office. was fun to shoot. about like a 22 but a little more noise/ you did good with it. should get some more ammo and play with it some more. they usually have great triggers.