Bankers Special

[Shorty 45 MK2]

bmcgilvray, thanks for the very informative write up!

 

[Cyrano]

I have one too, but mine's in 22 caliber. SN dates to 1934. It has some rust freckles and the box is sorta ratty but I'm real happy with it. So far it's running second in the Internet Snubby Match this month, shooting CCI pistol match ammo..

 

[bmcgilvray]

OOOooo... a .22 Bankers Special! Very nice!

Thanks for posting the photos.

 

[GatorFarmer]

I remember seeing one in the case at a pawn shop in SC last summer. It seemed solid enough, but had ghastly plastic pseudo stag grips on it. Still, now after this thread, I wish that I had bought it.

 

[smith17]

A guy walked into a small show this last weekend with a few revolvers and one was a well-worn Banker's Special in .22LR. He wanted 2 grand for it.
Ed

 

[les.b]

Just saw this thread.... I've posted this on another thread, but here is what I believe to be a 1931 Boston Police Department Bankers special...



And the backstrap marking:



I have not lettered this gun, got the date from Proofhouse, and have seen verified Boston guns with identical markings. One of these days I'll letter it, but I have so many guns that need letters, that I could buy another gun in what it would cost me to letter them all!!! It was good to see others who enjoy these little treasures.

 

[RJJ 1971]

lots of nice pics on this thread!

 

[Captain O]

Very nice, I like them all!

You can send all your unwanted Banker's Specials to me!

 

[ACP230]

I stopped at a gun and lawnmower shop while on the way to the old
Second Chance Bowling Pin Shoot years ago.
There was a Banker's Special in .22 LR in the case.
I handled it but didn't have the cash.

What I had with me was earmarked for side matches and commercial
row buys at the shoot.
Never seen another in any caliber.

 

[M3Stuart]

Wow. Now I want to be a banker.

 

[brokugin]

Nice snubby and a good cartridge! It served LEO very well in the past. Some say the 38S&W isn't up to par with the modern cartridges, but it's just as deadly today as it ever was.

 

[.455_Hunter]

A fine choice for defensive carry- regardless of era...

6 rounds of .38 S&W will put the hurt on anybody.

 

[MSGAIS]

Very nice. Thanks for sharing it. Use it in good health.

 

[ralph7]

I stopped at a gun and lawnmower shop while on the way to the old
Second Chance Bowling Pin Shoot years ago.
There was a Banker's Special in .22 LR in the case.
I handled it but didn't have the cash.

What I had with me was earmarked for side matches and commercial
row buys at the shoot.
Never seen another in any caliber.

That place ought to be in our little neighbor town, Cut and Shoot, Texas.

 

[Xfuzz]

That place ought to be in our little neighbor town, Cut and Shoot, Texas.

Either there or North about 40 miles
to Point Blank, Texas.


sorry for the drift...

 

[H P Bushrod]

Love seeing these old bankers specials. I really never knew much about them...now I may need to get myself one.

I've always wanted a Banker's Special (I'd REALLY like to find one in .22LR...those are really scarce). One day I'll turn one up. Thanks for sharing the pics guys.

 

[Captain O]

My father always derided the "Banker's Specials"...

because he viewed them as "underpowered". It has been otherwise illustrated that, when properly loaded, the .38 S&W (a.k.a. .38 Colt New Police) could be, (and frequently was) quite effective when it came to "stopping the action".

Today, so much emphasis is placed on "hyper-velocity, whizz-bang" performance, when a good, moderately heavy, LSWCHP at decent velociies will penetrate sufficiently enough to disrupt a person's vital functions.

There's a lot to be said for the old Colt's "Banker's Specials" and S&W "Terriers"... enough to fill more than a few morgues!

 

[Captain O]

So-called "+P" efforts with the 200 grain bullet in the Colt


3.3 grains Herco

767 fps MV
261 ft./lbs. ME
31 fps ES
15.1 SD

This load makes perfect sense for Personal Defense. (Hey. that rhymes)!

Works for me!

 

[Photoguy991]

Dective special

Nice. I like the old Colt and Smith .32 and .38 S&W revolvers.

I have a Colt Detective Special 38 that I have had since 1966. Shoot fine. don't us +P ammo, just straight 38. It's in great shape since it spent 40 years in a lock box and only went out a few times. Paid $50.00 for it brom a brother-in-law who ran out of drinking money when on leave.