A pair of Colt Official Police revolvers

383 magnum · May 25, 2014

The top revolver is .22 caliber and was made in 1948. I've had it for more than 10 years and had been wanting a .38 to go with it. A couple of weeks ago, I got one that was made in 1949. Both of these are great shooters. As much as I like the Smiths, I don't know why the M&P became the dominate revolver and the Colt has a smoother action in single and double action.

Tadeus67 · May 25, 2014

The Official Police is one of my favorite Colt Revolvers. Congratulations!

383 magnum · May 25, 2014

Tadeus67 said:
The Official Police is one of my favorite Colt Revolvers. Congratulations!

Thanks, and I have a nickle-plated one on the way that was made in 1962. There appears to be some good deals to be had on these online, at least compared to what they are typically priced at gun shows.

Art Doc · May 25, 2014

I think Colt outsold S&W until the 1960s. By then S&W had more models and cost less.

I looked for a 5" OP for years and finally settled on this one. Would love a matching revolver in 22.

383 magnum · May 25, 2014

SaxonPig said:
I think Colt outsold S&W until the 1960s. By then S&W had more models and cost less.

I looked for a 5" OP for years and finally settled on this one. Would love a matching revolver in 22.

That's nice! As far as I know, the .22s were only made with six-inch barrels.

bmcgilvray · May 25, 2014

Colt revolvers built on that frame size, including an Official Police live here and see use. I cannot say they are smoother. They are too different to my Smith & Wesson tuned finger to be considered smoother and most especially when used double-action. I don't care for even the Python when it's fired double-action.

Great pair of Colts however and I'd love to have a .22 Official Police or Officer's Model.

Mike McLellan · May 25, 2014

The colts are beautiful guns, and well made, but let's face it; the cylinder revolves in the wrong direction.

Art Doc · May 25, 2014

I have seen some 4" 22 caliber OPs but they are far, far lest common than the 6" version. My college friend's dad had one. He worked for a while as a security guard and had to buy his own pistol. He carried a 4" 22 OP he got in a pawn shop. Only gun he ever owned. Never shot it even once. Quit the guard gig and put the gun in the closet. Would not sell it to me under any circumstance no matter how much I pleaded.

alwslate · May 26, 2014

"I don't know why the M&P became the dominate revolver and the Colt has a smoother action in single and double action."

The Colts were smoother but the S&Ws proved to be far more durable
and much easier to maintain and repair.

Cocked & Locked · May 26, 2014

1937

Serial number on this .22 OP puts it at 1937. Had it for years and gave it to my grandson about 3-4 years ago. He brings it when he comes around and even lets me shoot it some!

That's me and my wife in the little picture.

jimmyj · May 26, 2014

Per unit to Agencies, Smith and Wesson cost less and was easier to train Department Armors to work on.

383 magnum · May 26, 2014

bmcgilvray said:
Colt revolvers built on that frame size, including an Official Police live here and see use. I cannot say they are smoother. They are too different to my Smith & Wesson tuned finger to be considered smoother and most especially when used double-action. I don't care for even the Python when it's fired double-action.

Great pair of Colts however and I'd love to have a .22 Official Police or Officer's Model.

What is it that makes the double action on S & W better? I admit I don't have much experience with double-action shooting, but when I have dry fired them, the Colt seems smoother and has a lighter trigger pull.

Maximumbob54 · May 26, 2014

Mike McLellan said:
The colts are beautiful guns, and well made, but let's face it; the cylinder revolves in the wrong direction.

I'm pretty sure the only reason S&W rotates the opposite direction was because of the original Colt patent on rotating into the frame.

S. Hammer · May 26, 2014

383 magnum said:
That's nice! As far as I know, the .22s were only made with six-inch barrels.

Here's my 4".

Thuer · May 27, 2014

I love the Official Police. It is a well made Colt revolver. I love the wide sights and the striping on top of the frame to avoid shining of the light. The lock is like silk and the craftmanship is great.

Mine Colt is made in 1937.

Below is a Webley MK IV made in 1951

Muley Gil · May 27, 2014

383 magnum said:
What is it that makes the double action on S & W better? I admit I don't have much experience with double-action shooting, but when I have dry fired them, the Colt seems smoother and has a lighter trigger pull.

A lot of folks don't like the way a stock Colt DA revolver "stacks" (gets heavier) as it cycles. This is due to the V mainspring compressing in the older DAs. It is easier to get a straight through DA pull in a S&W.

Walter Rego · May 27, 2014

I like 'em. Here's a pair. The .38 actually shipped to a a chemical plant in January 1942 but I had not yet received the Colt Letter when I captioned this photo.

A pair of Colt Official Police revolvers

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