colt official police 38

[illinoimike]

Can anyone here tell me what I have? Age and possible value?
It's a colt official police 38 special. It looks almost new with minor bluing wear from a holster at the end of the barrel.
Serial number is 8077xx. No model number that I can find. The grips are plastic but have the colt emblem on them.
Thank you to those that can help. Merry Christmas to all.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/attach...ent.php?attachmentid=95334&stc=1&d=1356385595

 

[Tin]

nice piece you have there...Check "ProofHouse.com' for Colt info as I think they can answer some of you questions... Tin..

 

[illinoimike]

Thanks....

 

[DFrame]

Your Official Police was probably made in about 1950. Kind of hard to see but it appears to be a dualtone model. They had highly polished sides and matt tops to the frame and cylinder flutes. The "Coltwood" stocks are another indicator since they were discontinued in the early 50s. Your gun is descended from the Colt "Army Special". Thousands of OPs served as primary police weapons for decades. Congratulations on a great gun.

 

[illinoimike]

I found that the serial number dates it to 1950-51.
Any one here know much about these?
I'm wanting to put it up for trade or sale.
Thanks.

 

[illinoimike]

Yes it is a dual tone. Bright polish sides but top and bottom are matt finished. Dang thing looks mint. You can tell by a bit of residue that it has been fired but maybe not much.

 

[moosedog]

Very nice "bread and butter" Colt.
I'd check GB or some of the other sites and see what they are asking, then reduce it by about 10-15% and post it here or on the Colt Forum.
Someone will really appreciate a stocking stuffer like that.

 

[Buford57]

The grips were called "Coltwood" and were discontinued shortly after your gun was produced. In this area it would sell in the $350 range. The action is basically that of the Python. I have owned a couple of these over the years. They all shot well.

This was, along with its different-in-name-only predecessor, the Army Special, Colt's competition to the M&P/Model 10. It is slightly larger than a K-frame and Colt claimed it could handle the old .38/44 loads.

 

[steamloco76]

The Colt Official Police is one of the quintessential law enforcement revolvers of the twentieth century. Well built, well finished and usually very accurate. They are one of the few products from the Hartford, CT factory that remain affordable to the average collector. As another poster mentioned, the Official Police has the same basic frame and action as the much revered Python. Take yours to the range, you might decide to keep it!

 

[David LaPell]

I had one a few years ago and it was a nice shooting gun. They really don't bring big bucks, I paid $200 for mine and the last one I saw looked just like yours and was in mint condition for $300 and it sat for a long time. They shoot good and they are a nice trail and even a CCW gun if so inclined.

 

[perrazi]

if you want to sell,send me a pm.

 

[Checkman]

You have a real clean OP there. Is that a 5" barrel? Nice revolver. I've been looking for an OP for a couple years (locally), but whenever I find one it's pretty worn out. On the other hand I have picked up a real nice Colt Officer's Model Target (pre-WW II) and a .38 Colt Trooper. You have a good revolver there and as others have posted it's one of the few Colt revolvers that is still affordable in the second-hand market.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

If it was good enough for Robert Stack and the other Untouchables it's good enough for me. One of Colts bread and butter guns like the Model 10 was for S&W. Those "coltwood" grips aren't only plastic, they are hollow. I can't see why they couldn't at least make them solid. And was there a tree shortage in the early '50's or somethin'. My 1953 Colt Cobra has those grips but I won't dare replace them. They've earned the right to remain on my gun. If yours haven't shrank a little (mine haven't) that's good. You have a classic Colt D.A. sixgun there. And the cheap a-- coltwood grips actually have a little charm now since they weren't used that long back then.

 

[gunfish]

Good grab. Getting thin on the ground around here for some time now.