Any Detective Special Equivalent?

[Dot_mdb]

What being produced today comes closest to duplicating the specs of the Colt Detective Special? I have a 3rd generation that I carry from time to time. Specifically, is there any 6 shot, .38 special, 2 inch barrel, 25 ounce or less revolver being manufactured today? I know Charter Arms produces a light weight 6 shot, but I have never read any report about quality or reliability of that model.

Bill

 

[scout]

Rossi makes some (blued, stainless; .357 or.38 only). No firsthand experience, but I've heard good things from a few other owners. I do not need one, but my curiosity has been tempted. They are relatively inexpensive (~$360 or $370? at my LGS) The one I handled there (stainless .357) seemed alright.

 

[BC38]

Rossi makes some (blued, stainless; .357 or.38 only). No firsthand experience, but I've heard good things from a few other owners. I do not need one, but my curiosity has been tempted. They are relatively inexpensive (~$360 or $370? at my LGS) The one I handled there (stainless .357) seemed alright.

Yup, Rossi 461 (blued) or 462 (stainless) are 6-shot 357s very close to the size of a Detective Special. From what I have read they are close enough that the speed-loaders and holsters for the Colt will work perfectly with the Rossi.

They are selling them on GB for $250-$300 + shipping every day.

 

[colt_saa]

What being produced today comes closest to duplicating the specs of the Colt Detective Special? I have a 3rd generation that I carry from time to time. Specifically, is there any 6 shot, .38 special, 2 inch barrel, 25 ounce or less revolver being manufactured today? I know Charter Arms produces a light weight 6 shot, but I have never read any report about quality or reliability of that model.

Bill

Bill,
I have never looked for one.

To satisfy my need for something in that 2" under 25 ounce category I have always turned to the Chief's Special or Centennial models from Smith and Wesson.

If you have an aversion to the 5 shot revolver there is always the 2" 327 from Smith and Wesson. However that is an 8 shot, 357 Magnum revolver weighing in at 21.6 ounces.

 

[CajunBass]

Armscor has their Detective Special lookalike with 2" and 4" barrels. I've never shot one, but have looked at them. They're not bad for the money IMHO. Not as refined as a Smith & Wesson or a Colt, but then they cost a LOT less. I think my gun store/range has them in the $250.00 range. What I've read on the "net" leads me to believe that people who have them like them.

Revolver Series: Rock Island Armory | Armscor International, Inc

If I just wanted a gun like that I'd seriously consider one. As it is, I've got a Colt Cobra that fills that niche.

 

[Derosa]

I have the Rossi stainless steel, 2 inch, 38 special/357, model. Perfect IWB or pocket carry (DeSantis pocket holster is rock solid) for warm weather here in TX. In the last five years I have run about a thousand rounds of various brands and weights and pressures of ammo and never had a problem. I paid 269.00 at Academy Sports.

 

[KSDeputy]

It isn't 6 shot, but a 5 shot J frame 637-2 air weight. I bought it not too long ago and like it. It is rated for + P .38 spl. I would rather have the model 65, or 60 stainless guns I sold long ago to buy semi-autos. I'm still looking to replace them someday.

 

[Dot_mdb]

>>
If you have an aversion to the 5 shot revolver there is always the 2" 327 from Smith and Wesson. However that is an 8 shot, 357 Magnum revolver weighing in at 21.6 ounces.<<

I don't have aversions to any guns and my most carried gun is a Model 640 no dash in a Sparks Summer Special 2. I find N frames to be too big and unbalanced for my taste.

The diameter of a J frame cylinder is approximately 1.3". The Colt D frame is about 1.4" and the S&W K frame is 1.45". Small differences but the Colt and the 640 carry/conceal better than the K frame. Some of that might be due to the K frame having a thicker frame than the other two.

I don't think anyone is building a 1.4" diameter 6 shot cylinder today, Charter's cylinders are 1.45 but their guns are light possibly because of at least partial alloy frames. And their frames might also be thinner than K frames, Rossi also, but I don't have measurements for their frames or cylinders.

I sometimes carry a 2" model 10. They run about 29 ounces. The standard magna grips are difficult for me to conceal. I find the thinnest and best grip to be the Pachmayr Compact Professional.

The original Model 12s had a thinner frame. I guess S&W recognized the advantage especially competing against the Detective Special.

My Detective Special is in good mechanical shape but carrying a blued gun next to the body in Florida leads to corrosion problems even with careful maintenance. So finding an alloy or stainless replacement would be nice, and that's the reason for the search.

Bill

 

[PALADIN85020]

A 2" Model 10 should fit the bill quite nicely as a six-shot belly gun. This nickeled example is a 10-5, shipped in December, 1977. It's complete with its original box, papers and tools.

John

 

[gaucho1]

A 2" Model 10 should fit the bill quite nicely as a six-shot belly gun. This nickeled example is a 10-5, shipped in December, 1977. It's complete with its original box, papers and tools.

John

Nice Shiny One!

The Detective special and the K frame snubbies are my two favorite revolvers.

But......the size difference is surprisingly large. The DS compares much better with the J frame as far as size.

Erich did a through comparison a while back, they are very close.

For concealed carry, the DS is better than the K frame for most people.

YMMV........

 

[35Rem]

Yep. Probably the Rossi 357 is closest

 

[Engine49guy]

>>
My Detective Special is in good mechanical shape but carrying a blued gun next to the body in Florida leads to corrosion problems even with careful maintenance. So finding an alloy or stainless replacement would be nice, and that's the reason for the search.

Bill

Bill Colt made a couple SS versions of the Detective special ,
The one below is an "SFVI" that IIRC bridged the gap between the DS and DS2.


My CCW alternates between a Model 37 and a RB Model 12-2 snub.

 

[Tex1001]

UptX6xyY

Armscor has their Detective Special lookalike with 2" and 4" barrels.

At the last Market Hall gun show I found six of the Armscor revolvers. ALL SIX had serious timing problems. The cylinder doesn't rotate enough to let the cylinder bolt fall when the trigger is slowly turned.
I had my eye on these revolvers for a while, but this operational problem turned me away. It is very seldom that I completely discourage people from buying a certain firearm, but the Armscor revolver has serious timing issues. Stay away from them.

___________________
I don't have Alzheimer's- My wife had me tested.

 

[lowercase]

For size and capacity, a gun that comes close is the Charter Arms Police Undercover.

It is a 6-shot, .38spl with a 2.2 inch barrel and weighs 21.5 ounces. The gun is made on the same frame as the .44 Bulldog.

This gun will fit in many holsters made for the detective Special.

I don't have a Police Undercover, but I have the .357 Mag Pug, which is a 5-shot .357 with identical dimensions. I also have a current production .44spl Bulldog. It is the same size, but with a 2.5" barrel vs the 2.2" on the Mag Pug and Police Undercover. I wouldn't mind adding a Police Undercover model to my collection.

 

[Donn]

I'd love to have a "Dick Special," but I refuse to pay Python prices for one. I know they've been out of production for many years, but when they were, Colt made a ton of them and they were production guns, not hand fitted like the Python. So to me, $500-$800 is WAY out of the question. I'll just have to muddle thru with my S&W Models 36 and 49.

 

[Black_Sheep]

Nice Shiny One!

The Detective special and the K frame snubbies are my two favorite revolvers.

But......the size difference is surprisingly large. The DS compares much better with the J frame as far as size.

Erich did a through comparison a while back, they are very close.

For concealed carry, the DS is better than the K frame for most people.

YMMV........

My DS fits a j-frame holster like it was made for it...

 

[NYlakesider]

My DS fits a j-frame holster like it was made for it...

It will fit many but not all.(voice of experience talking)

 

[ken158]

I carried a model 2" 12 RB for a while and swapped for a 2" 64 RB. Both are great carry guns.

 

[Dot_mdb]

I spent some time last night doing some research on some of the suggestions mentioned in this thread for a substitute Detective Special.

I went to the Rossi site and to the Charter Arms site and I have been at both in the past. Both have appealing offerings.

But then I did some Googling and came up with some pretty bad experience that people have had with revolvers from both companies. That is not unusual on the internet and I would probably find similar experiences with S&W or Ruger.

But then I started to think. I own a Model 640, a 2" Model 10 and a blue Detective Special. The blue guns require a lot of maintenance work to keep from rusting and even with maintenance they are likely to rust. Maybe that is just what happens with heavily used guns.

Anyway, I asked myself if I was likely to go out with a Rossi or Charter Arms in my holster and leave the S&Ws or Colt behind? The answer is that I can never have the same confidence in the Rossi or Charter Arms guns as the ones I already own.

If I was younger I would probably buy the Rossi or Charter Arms guns just to get experience with them. But at this point in my life the idea of having to send guns back and forth to the manufacturer is not appealing.

So I guess I am "stuck" with my Smiths and Colt. But now I am thinking that is not a bad place to be stuck.

Bill

 

[Dot_mdb]

I'd love to have a "Dick Special," but I refuse to pay Python prices for one. I know they've been out of production for many years, but when they were, Colt made a ton of them and they were production guns, not hand fitted like the Python. So to me, $500-$800 is WAY out of the question. I'll just have to muddle thru with my S&W Models 36 and 49.

I paid $225 for a very used DS 10 years ago. The gun was about 30 years old at the time. I am sure it was a cop gun because of the wear and the dealer I bought it from. It is in mechanically excellent condition because I sent it back to Colt to make sure of that.

My thinking is that 10 years later a decent DS is probably worth $500. A 3" Model 64 or 65 would sell for that much and the DS is a better concealed carry gun.

Bill

 

[RobertJ.]

A Ruger SP101 is an accurate, dependable, and tough-as-nails revolver as you're likely to find, and in the ball park size-wise. I'm really surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet. My last one was my EDC for a few years, then a friend wanted it back, and made me an offer I couldn't refuse.

About the same time, I traded into my first DS, a 1977 specimen. It's been my EDC since.

Recently, I picked up my second DS. It's a true "1st issue", with the squared grip style that was discontinued in 1933. My LGS had this for $500! According to that other forum I visit occasionally, they're somewhat desirable. I've included a photo of it, with a companion.

Edit: I forgot the 6 shot requirement! Still, a great little gun. (SP101)

 

[bronco45]

Ruger SP 101, is almost identical in size to a Colt DS, I have both and they interchange holsters 90% of the time. SPs chamber and handle the 357 but only 5. SPs are stout, and will be running in proper timing and strength for your sons and grandsons.

 

[raylan007]

M15 option

Good enough for the USAF pilots in Viet Nam. Coming in at 23 oz. +or- a great carry with unprecedented accuracy. If you don't care for the adjustable sights check out the M10 with a lower price tag and greater availability.

 

[eveled]

I am surprised it took so long for somebody to mention the Ruger SP101, very close in size to the DS. You give up one shot, but gain .357 potential.

 

[shawn mccarver]

The Taurus 856 was an attempt to reintroduce the idea of a 6-shot Detective Special revolver, but it fizzled. It may have fizzled because of the unusual magnesium frame. The all stainless version was likely too heavy.

I suppose the closest to the Colt Detective Special is the Armscor 2 inch 38 Special.

Personally, were I to desire such a revolver, I would just get a 2 inch Model 10 or Model 64. I might have S&W bob the hammer and convert to DAO, but would give that some thought just because it is hard to find 2 inch Model 10s and 64s these days.

You could just get a Shield in 9mm. Better trigger, flatter, more powerful, more rounds, less recoil, etc.

 

[TTSH]

There is no substitute for a nice Colt Detective Special.

 

[Cal44]

If we see more 32 caliber guns like the six shot Ruger LCR 327 Federal, we will have reasonable replacements for Detective specials.

Ruger also has a 327 Federal SP101.

Perhaps S&W will bring back the M432 -- also a 6 shooter.

6 rounds of 32 H&R mag are pretty close to 6 rounds of 38 special -- and you can go to the 327 Federal if you want to approach 357 Magnum level.

32 is the new 38.

 

[Richard Simmons]

>>
If you have an aversion to the 5 shot revolver there is always the 2" 327 from Smith and Wesson. However that is an 8 shot, 357 Magnum revolver weighing in at 21.6 ounces.<<

I don't have aversions to any guns and my most carried gun is a Model 640 no dash in a Sparks Summer Special 2. I find N frames to be too big and unbalanced for my taste.

The diameter of a J frame cylinder is approximately 1.3". The Colt D frame is about 1.4" and the S&W K frame is 1.45". Small differences but the Colt and the 640 carry/conceal better than the K frame. Some of that might be due to the K frame having a thicker frame than the other two.

I don't think anyone is building a 1.4" diameter 6 shot cylinder today, Charter's cylinders are 1.45 but their guns are light possibly because of at least partial alloy frames. And their frames might also be thinner than K frames, Rossi also, but I don't have measurements for their frames or cylinders.

I sometimes carry a 2" model 10. They run about 29 ounces. The standard magna grips are difficult for me to conceal. I find the thinnest and best grip to be the Pachmayr Compact Professional.

The original Model 12s had a thinner frame. I guess S&W recognized the advantage especially competing against the Detective Special.

My Detective Special is in good mechanical shape but carrying a blued gun next to the body in Florida leads to corrosion problems even with careful maintenance. So finding an alloy or stainless replacement would be nice, and that's the reason for the search.

Bill

How about a refinish of your DS in something that will handle the corrosion issue? Just a thought. It already fits the bill and getting it refinished should cost less than a new gun that isn't quite what you want any way. In know it would ruin the collector value but at this point it's really about what you want and need today versus what someone else may want tomorrow.

 

[Derry 1946]

DS is a hard package to match, much less beat. For the sweaty summer months, a 642 serves well. A DS "equivalent?" I think not.

 

[Dot_mdb]

How about a refinish of your DS in something that will handle the corrosion issue? Just a thought. It already fits the bill and getting it refinished should cost less than a new gun that isn't quite what you want any way. In know it would ruin the collector value but at this point it's really about what you want and need today versus what someone else may want tomorrow.

I thought about going that route. Figured hard chrome would be the way to go. Problem is the time it would take to get it done and the possibility of the gun not being put back together properly. I am not concerned about collector value for this gun.

Anybody know what the finish was on the sides of the hammer on the DS Third Gen? Whatever it is I am getting some rust coming through the finish.

Bill