How do Forum Members feel about 3rd Generation Colt Detective Special with wraparound

[bushmaster1313]

Was curious how those on the Forum feel about the Colt 3rd generation Detective Special compared to a Smith J frame 38 snubby

 

[BC38]

I like the idea of the 6th round on tap.
But they turn backwards and the cylinder latch works backwards too.

 

[824tsv]

To be fair you should ask the same question on the Colt Forum....

 

[RobertJ.]

My opinion: The DS is the perfect cross between the J and K frames. It's my favorite .38 snub, and near the top of my list as far as handguns in general.

My vote was Ford vs. Chevy

 

[JohnRippert]

The first firearm I ever pulled a trigger on was a Detective Special at the age of 8 or 9. I have very nostalgic memories of this handgun. Someday I will have one.

 

[sheepdawg]

I own both the J Frame, DS and a Cobra too boot. I carried the Cobra for years, replaced it with a 9mm. Shield.

I liked the Colts over the J Frame but voted Ford vs. Chevy.

 

[DWalt]

As a shooter, the third generation DS is probably as good as any. In the appearance department, the "combat" wraparound stocks and barrel shroud are an absolute abomination. There is no beating the post-WWII Colt Detective Specials (call them second generation if you wish), which I consider the ultimate personal concealed carry revolver, far better than anything from S&W. Lighter and more compact than the K-frame snubbies and more ergonomic, plus the sixth shot make it also vastly superior to the whole series of Chiefs Specials (J-frame) and their linear descendants.

 

[bushmaster1313]

I own both the J Frame, DS and a Cobra too boot. I carried the Cobra for years, replaced it with a 9mm. Shield.

I liked the Colts over the J Frame but voted Ford vs. Chevy.

Could someone please post a side-by-side photo

Edit:
I found one posted by a Forum member a ways back (36, DS and K)

 

[Grayfox]

My first legal concealed carry gun was a 3rd Issue Detective Special with pachmyer grips just like the one in the picture. I've always loved that gun.
I made the mistake of letting my wife shoot it and didn't get it back for over 20 years.
Colt DA revolvers always kinda bugged me with their ejector rod just sorta hanging out like they do. But the 3rd Issue DS solved that with its ejector rod shroud.

I've always had problems with J-frames. They're just too small for me to shoot well. By the time I put a set of grips on it that give me proper control, I've lost the advantage of their small size.
I'm a big fan of K-frame snubbies and have carried several over the years.
However, I consider the short barreled Colt D-frames to be the ideal snubbie.

 

[Texas Star]

T he cylinder-timing problem alone puts me off of Colts, and I can get an M-60-7 and have stainless steel, too.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I voted "very different." Ordinarily, the DS far outclasses the Chief. So do the Model 10 and Model 12. But usually none of the three will go into a pocket.

It doesn't take much thought to figure out that the Colt cylinder rotates correctly, the S&W the other way, but I don't think that there has been much of a problem with it. If the Colt cylinder latch is operated by hooking it back with the inside of the thumb knuckle (Mas Ayoob's recommendation), it is probably a bit faster and less disruptive of the grip than the S&W latch. The DA on the Colt is probably safer, the DA on the S&W may be easier to shoot well with. Either takes practice, and enough of it will perhaps overcome either shortcoming.

They're both good guns, but they are different sizes.

 

[da gimp]

I carry a parkerized Colt Agent as EDC, which is a direct lineal descendant of the DS... I prefer it over the blued Chiefs as it offers a much improved protective finish over the blued & does not have the unwanted glare of stainless or nickeled handguns...

Both the Chiefs & DS lines shoot equally well & hold up as equals too, most of the supposed perceived timing issues of Colts lies solely in the minds of their critics. You can find lemons in either of these brands... or in any design... Some folks who've never received training in the mechanics of working on the Colts pronounce them as unfixable...

S&W wisely taught police departments Armorer courses in repair & maintenance & made those courses and factory parts easily available to reputable gunsmiths, Colt screwed up by not doing the same...

S&W also made sure that police officers received a near wholesale price or even lower price for any duty & off duty S&W handgun they chose to buy.. the average American saw more S&W's in holsters & the bought similar pistols for themselves.. again Colt screwed up by not offering the same deals to officers...

You didn't offer a choice of considering them to be equals, so I didn't vote.

 

[bmcgilvray]

The J-Frame is where I part company with Smith & Wesson in favor of the Colt Detective Special. I just can't gen up the enthusiasm for the J-Frames that I have for other classic, "traditional" Smith & Wesson revolvers. I tote a Model 649 with some frequency but prefer the Detective Special for use as a compact snub .38 Special. The Detective Special is the perfect snub. It hides as well as a J-Frame, shoots like a larger service revolver, and holds six rounds. The J-Frame is comparatively inferior. I don't even like the feel of the J-Frame action.

The J-Frame is almost as overrated as the Glock.

 

[iPac]

Both the Chiefs & DS lines shoot equally well & hold up as equals too, most of the supposed perceived timing issues of Colts lies solely in the minds of their critics. You can find lemons in either of these brands... or in any design... Some folks who've never received training in the mechanics of working on the Colts pronounce them as unfixable...

S&W wisely taught police departments Armorer courses in repair & maintenance & made those courses and factory parts easily available to reputable gunsmiths, Colt screwed up by not doing the same...

At least not everyone blindly believes the Colt problems just because they heard it from this guy who heard it from this guy that heard it from a gunsmith, that doesn't understand Colts.

It is all in how you care for the gun. A Colt will last a lifetime for a normal shooter that doesn't abuse it. So will a S&W.

Colt's V spring action design versus S&Ws coil spring action design? Well, that's a no brainer. The Colt of course. That's the main reason I will never buy a J frame, even though I considered one for my wife. Will pay the extra scratch and get a Detective.

Although in order to decide for yourself, you have to try both. Asking other people IS exactly like Ford vs. Chevy.

 

[DWalt]

T he cylinder-timing problem alone puts me off of Colts

Can you explain your personally-experienced problems with cylinder-timing?

 

[sw44spl]

I have 3 detective specials and 2 cobras and 10 J frames. I stopped carrying my 638 when I finally found a used 1961 cobra. The cobra goes every where with me for the past month. now on the flip side my favorite J frame in my 32 long snub.

 

[ralph7]

As a shooter, the third generation DS is probably as good as any.
In the appearance department, the "combat" wraparound stocks and barrel shroud are an absolute abomination. There is no beating the post-WWII Colt Detective Specials (call them second generation if you wish), which I consider the ultimate personal concealed carry revolver, far better than anything from S&W. Lighter and more compact than the K-frame snubbies and more ergonomic, plus the sixth shot make it also vastly superior to the whole series of Chiefs Specials (J-frame) and their linear descendants.

Just goes to show how different people view things.
To me, the barrel and shroud are light years ahead in looks compared to the goofy unsupported ejector rod that is just begging to get bumped bad enough to bend it. (Earlier versions)

 

[Brian in Oregon]

After a bitter experience with a Diamondback, I will never own another Colt double action revolver. While the trigger pull is arguably "better" than the S&W, it's also needlessly complex to make it so. This causes issues with timing, spring fatigue (the main problem with my Diamondback) and other problems. Personally I like the double action feel of the S&W better anyway.

 

[medic15al]

My favorite EDC is a Colt Agent or short grip framed Cobra with a Factory hammer shroud and either Pachmayr or Tyler grip adapter.

Currently it is one of the parkerized early 80's Agent set up like so. Always thought that this combo was an ideal snub setup.

 

[petepeterson]

The J-Frame is almost as overrated as the Glock.

I think that could be taken as a compliment, too...

I have a pristine 3rd Gen DS and an older Cobra that don't see much daylight, and a knock-around Cobra that I've carried some. It has some finish wear, and the grips are banged up, but it's a great carry piece.
It would take care of all of my snub duties, but I like the J-frame trigger better. Just a personal preference, but enough to sacrifice 20% of the payload. I also prefer no exposed hammer.