Look what FedEx brought me today.
While I have a very soft spot for all my S&W Hand Ejectors and Model 10s I also have a thing for the Colt Official Police - especially when chambered for .32-20 like this one.
This Colt is in great shape; pristine bore and cylinders, uniform original bluing, no scratches, a barely visible turn-line, virtually no wear on the grips, and only a couple of freckles. Tiny bit of holster wear at the muzzle tip. Managed to get some dust and hardened gun oil out of the barrel but no real crud indicating someone put this firearm away clean - likely many years ago. Thank you whoever you are or were!
This was a calculated risk Gun Broker purchase. The pictures weren't very good and not many of them, and the seller didn't seem to know exactly what he was selling, minimal description. This can be risky but frequently rewarding. He said the firearm dated from 1951, which is not possible for this configuration and chambering, so I asked for the serial# which he furnished, bid immediately, and won it for the opening bid. This Colt turns 90 this year.
A fair amount of variability around about this time for Official Police with many sporting Army Special engraving on their barrels despite the name change in 1927. They also came with wood grips and/or with hard rubber as on this example. Colt, like S&W, generally did not waste inventory that was still useful until it was exhausted. Lots of steel surrounding those .32 cylinder holes as Colt claimed the same cylinder, in .38 Special, could handle the .38/44 Heavy Duty ammo. (Relax; I'm gonna treat this lady well.)
We've had a lot of rain lately, which no one here will ever complain about, so it may be a day or two until I get this Colt out to the ranch and the gong range. Can hardly wait!
While I have a very soft spot for all my S&W Hand Ejectors and Model 10s I also have a thing for the Colt Official Police - especially when chambered for .32-20 like this one.
This Colt is in great shape; pristine bore and cylinders, uniform original bluing, no scratches, a barely visible turn-line, virtually no wear on the grips, and only a couple of freckles. Tiny bit of holster wear at the muzzle tip. Managed to get some dust and hardened gun oil out of the barrel but no real crud indicating someone put this firearm away clean - likely many years ago. Thank you whoever you are or were!
This was a calculated risk Gun Broker purchase. The pictures weren't very good and not many of them, and the seller didn't seem to know exactly what he was selling, minimal description. This can be risky but frequently rewarding. He said the firearm dated from 1951, which is not possible for this configuration and chambering, so I asked for the serial# which he furnished, bid immediately, and won it for the opening bid. This Colt turns 90 this year.
A fair amount of variability around about this time for Official Police with many sporting Army Special engraving on their barrels despite the name change in 1927. They also came with wood grips and/or with hard rubber as on this example. Colt, like S&W, generally did not waste inventory that was still useful until it was exhausted. Lots of steel surrounding those .32 cylinder holes as Colt claimed the same cylinder, in .38 Special, could handle the .38/44 Heavy Duty ammo. (Relax; I'm gonna treat this lady well.)
We've had a lot of rain lately, which no one here will ever complain about, so it may be a day or two until I get this Colt out to the ranch and the gong range. Can hardly wait!
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