Colt New Army 32/20

[raylesworth]

Who can tell me about Colt New Army .........32-20, a direct competitor to the S&W 32-20 series?

 

[Muley Gil]

Who can tell me about Colt New Army .........32-20, a direct competitor to the S&W 32-20 series?

Are you talking about the Colt Army Special, that later became the Official Police?

The New Army was chambered in .38 and .41.

 

[DWalt]

I believe you are referring to the Colt Army Special, which was available chambered in .32-20. It was the immediate predecessor to the Colt Official Police model. There is very little difference between the Army Special and the Official Police beyond the model name. I have a very nice .32-20 Colt Army Special. Not often seen.

 

[rockquarry]

I had an Army Special .32-20 with 5" barrel made in the late 1920s just before the name change. In pristine condition, I was disappointed in that I could never get it shoot with any degree of accuracy using several cast bullet designs, powders, and different bullet diameters. Never found the problem, but I think my situation was the exception and certainly not the rule. I'd buy another if I found a nice one.

 

[glenncal1]

The Army Special is very similar to the K-frame Smith's in .32-20. Good guns, Colt triggers which are a little than a S&W in D/A. IMHO .32-20 is a great caliber, it has gotten difficult to find and pricey when you do. I don't think Colt ever produced a .32-20 target revolver like S&W did.

 

[raylesworth]

Thanks for the correction, yes Army special, sorry. I should never speak or write without checking . The one in my care was my Grandmother's, and sat next to her bible (reading every evening) and a claw hammer on top of the closed bible. Not a good place to break in, or steal gas from on our farm back in the day! The S&W H E's in 32-20 were a separate range, was this also true of the Army Special, and if any other calibers (presuming 38 spl for example) were made in this gun. Mine is 6" blue #3410XX. Was this serial number part of a bigger series?

 

[pawncop]

Not to hijack the thread, I have a Colt Official Police from 1937 in 32-20. It is a fixed sight revolver and is a tack driver. 5 inch barrel and a joy to shoot. As others have mentioned, ammunition is scarce and pricey.

 

[Buford57]

My recollection is that the Army Special did not have separate SN runs by caliber and the standard calibers were .32-20, .38 Special and .41 Long Colt.

 

[Muley Gil]

I also have a 5" Colt OP in .32-20. I shoot it better than my S&Ws in .32-20, due to the better sights.

Plus, I have a 4" Police Positive Special .32-20. It is another good shooter.