1994 Colt Detective Special, in a Trade

[NCBeagle]

This handsome revolver deserves a few minutes in the spotlight. Picked up this perfect 1994 Colt Detective Special in a trade this weekend.

What happened in 1994? Well, it was the last semester of my first year of college and, with all the partying, could not tell you. But, we have proof that the folks at Colt were hard at work and making excellent snubbies. This is a fine example.

I would not normally trade away a Smith & Wesson revolver, much less a Model 19, but everything lined up just right. Ran across a nice guy who wanted a Model 19 for all of the reasons that I like them. He wanted to trade a Detective Special. I have a soft spot for the Colt D frames. A nearly perfect Model 19-5 for a perfect Detective Special and we're both pleased with the deal. Plus, made a new friend, got him to join this forum, and hopefully soon the SWCA.

I have a few D frames in the carry rotation. This one stays in the safe for now.

 

[.38SuperMan]

I picked up a nice 1974 that’s nice but not that nice. That’s a beauty! My brother has a 3rd model that’s spotless that I’ve tried to get him to sell me but no go. I really love snub nose and in the past couple of years acquired several Colts and have really enjoyed them.I won’t say Colts are better than vintage Smiths but they’re different and the differences make them interesting. Honestly though I’d hate to shoot one that nice.

 

[rockquarry]

I'd hate not to shoot one that nice. You might be surprised at the accuracy.

 

[moralem]

I do like a J frame but I prefer the one extra round……..

 

[sipowicz]

My 94 is also a pristine safe queen but I don’t mind since my 69 DS has a much nicer trigger. And I don’t worry about the finish since in lost a lot from my dad carrying it for 45 years.

 

[kaaskop49]

attn: NCBeagle

If you haven't already, I'd check under those Pachs to make sure there is no moisture or rust. Good shooting.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[cwo4uscgret]

My opinion; not shared by all.

I have a few handguns that I haven’t shot yet; nothing to do with rarity or high condition; I just haven’t shot them yet!

I had a Coonan Model B and a Coonan Cadet. The Model B is a “Government” sized .357 Magnum Pistol and the Cadet is a “Commander sized .357 Magnum Pistol. The seller was a collector and never fired them. I did; great pistols; used, but meticulously cleaned afterwards! I also have a Stainless Steel Double Barreled .410 Shotgun from him; same story - it shoots great!

 

[CH4]

As long as your 19 wasn’t a 2.5”

Your new DS is very nice. Congrats on the deal.

I picked up this 1981 DS in January. Very happy with it.

She works as good as she looks.

Edit: As of this past weekend, I am also the proud owner of a 1994 DS that I picked up in a trade.

 

[Baxter6551]

I bought a Detective Special new when I was in the Army 1976. Sold it to my buddy for gas money to get home upon discharge. He got on the sheriffs dept and it was his off duty gun his entire career. He retired as Deputy Chief. He refuses to sell it back to me so I have no clue why I keep him as a friend. But he did sell me a 66-1 2.5 inch that he had bought from another deputy in need of cash. He threw in about 1,200 rounds of 9mm carry ammo so I think I did ok. But I still want the Detective Special back.
To edit .. I missed the DS so much I bought a parkerized Agent like around 1980/81 but then it had to get sold along with others when newlywed wife got sick and I had to pay the mortgage … my rookie salary alone wasn’t enough.

 

[Grayfox]

Back in the late 70s I picked up a 1974 3rd Issue Detective Special as part of a trade deal. It was love at first shot. It would later become my first legal CCW and I carried it for several years. Apologies to S&W, but I really think these are the best snubbie revolvers ever made.
I made the mistake of letting my wife shoot it and she claimed it for her own. I didn't get it back for about 20 years.
I've developed quite a liking for the Colt "D" frame guns and now have 4 of them.

 

[-Woodsman-]

I always enjoy a good trade. What made this one really meaningful is that I made a friendship along with the deal. It was a pleasure meeting you Sir.

 

[Golddollar]

Some 20+ years ago the owner of a gun shop in NE Baltimore was retiring, and I made some significant contributions to his retirement fund. One of them was the purchase of a 3rd Model Detective Special. When I lost my job in 2009 it was one of the guns I made sure to hang onto as long as I could because it had been discontinued and I was concerned about being able to replace it. Luckily I got another job after 7 months and I still have the gun now. I have no plans to ever sell it. It's just a classic.

 

[sipowicz]

I also have a pristine nickel viper that someone gifted me a while back and I wish I had the box and papers because they going for amazing amounts of money on gun broker.

 

[GeoJelly]

Those Colt Pachmayr grips are getting harder and harder to come by, to boot. For some reason, years ago, people tended to throw away their Colt boxes, so only one of mine (Agent parkerized) has the original box. Hopefully yours came with an original box. Nice pick up either way!

 

[Xfuzz]

Nice Det. Special.
Mine is one year earlier...1993.
I strapped with some older grips.

 

[C Islander]

Not a DS but a 1954 Cobra that I got in a trade.

 

[NCBeagle]

I also have a pristine nickel viper that someone gifted me a while back and I wish I had the box and papers because they going for amazing amounts of money on gun broker.

I’d really like to see the nickel Viper. The Viper is on my short list of “gotta have” guns. Would like to find one in less than perfect condition so that I can carry it, shoot it, etc.

I do, however, I have a 1977 heavy barrel Police Positive. This is the Viper’s chunky counterpart. Sort of like a 4“ Detective Special. Funny story. Well, not so funny at the time. This Police Positive came with original factory wood grips. For those not familiar, the factory Viper and heavy barrel Police Positive grips look like 3rd issue Detective Special grips but slightly longer. Well, my idiot cat jumped into the gun safe and knocked the Police Positive down. Grips split upon hitting the safe floor / door rim. Would have strangled that cat if it was not so mean. I am afraid of it.

 

[NCBeagle]

My 94 is also a pristine safe queen but I don’t mind since my 69 DS has a much nicer trigger. And I don’t worry about the finish since in lost a lot from my dad carrying it for 45 years.

Really liking this thread and all of the Colt D Frame pictures. Keep them coming. A lot of nice guns and good stories.

How about a nice pair of Agents? 1969 on the left. It looks cleaner in the picture than in hand. It’s a regular in the carry rotation. Has somesort of police evidence / case number inside the topstrap. On the right, well, that one is pristine. Edit: Found the manufacture date. It is 1967.

 

[DWalt]

I have a second series DS from the early 1960s, the only DS I have. But that is enough, as it is my favorite of the various DS versions. Somehow, the barrel shroud of the later iterations just do not do it for me. And I have no interest in revolvers having alloy frames. I would like to have one of the very early DSs having a square butt, but I have seen none of those for many years.

I hav a friend who owns the DAO version of the fourth series DS. It came from the factory with a bobbed hammer. They are not often seen. For a long time he did not know what he had. He wanted to replace the bobbed hammer with a spur hammer until he found out what the price of a replacement hammer was.

 

[sipowicz]

I’d really like to see the nickel Viper. The Viper is on my short list of “gotta have” guns. Would like to find one in less than perfect condition so that I can carry it, shoot it, etc.

I do, however, I have a 1977 heavy barrel Police Positive. This is the Viper’s chunky counterpart. Sort of like a 4“ Detective Special. Funny story. Well, not so funny at the time. This Police Positive came with original factory wood grips. For those not familiar, the factory Viper and heavy barrel Police Positive grips look like 3rd issue Detective Special grips but slightly longer. Well, my idiot cat jumped into the gun safe and knocked the Police Positive down. Grips split upon hitting the safe floor / door rim. Would have strangled that cat if it was not so mean. I am afraid of it.

That gun makes way more sense than a 4” aluminum frame. I guess that’s why it was only made one year. Anyone wanting a gun that light most likely wants a more compact gun. There’s one on gunbroker right now with a bid of $7500 and another asking over $12,000. I might wait a few years and trade it for a Ferrari.