Is the Colt Detective Special still a viable CC revolver?

[PALADIN85020]

The Colt Detective Special had a long run (1926 - 1970s) as a police undercover arm, and as a discreet carry option for civilians. While I'm definitely a S&W fan, I will always give due respect to Colt firearms from their "golden age."

While showing just a mite more bulk than S&W J-frames, The Colt had one big advantage. Instead of five .38 Specials, The "Dick Special" has always provided six. In addition, the cylinder rotated to the right, forcing it into the frame instead of out, and the hand maintained pressure on the ratchet throughout operation, giving no wiggle to the cylinder at the moment of ignition. Alignment was always a precision thing. You will not see a cylinder drag line on many of these despite extensive use, as the cylinder stop activation was at the precise right moment. In short, it was a quality arm with careful hand fitting.

I admit that the internals were a bit more complex, making corrective gunsmithing know-how for these a rare thing now. In fairness, though, I have never found one to be out of tune.

As a "seasoned citizen" now, I'm married to the memory of many fine firearms from some time ago, and so I acquired this rather nice specimen. It dates to May, 1959, making it nearly 62 years old now. At the time, these guns were still going strong and very popular with police plain clothes detectives. They were accurate, concealable and unfailingly reliable.

So I ask the question - is the classic Detective Special still a good choice for discreet personal protection?

John

 

[smithra_66]

Of course. These are great guns functionally, and they also have that "second kind of cool" that only a classic, blued/walnut gun from the golden age of American firearms can provide.

These things are all steel and can handle modern 38 defense loads. They are fantastic guns to shoot.

I have a Police Positive from 1928 that I shoot regularly. Same gun as a Dick Special except with a 5" barrel. It's as tight as a drum and shoots quite well.

Use it with confidence. I actually prefer the additional heft and capacity of these over the 5-shot J-frames. They also have the v-spring action which I feel is nicer than the coil spring action of the J's.

I'd also suggest a Kramer belt scabbard in horse hide if you are going to carry it regularly. You will not be disappointed.

 

[Rpg]

They certainly are great guns.

At the risk of being thought an apostate, I believe that the Colt D frame guns are easier to shoot well than Smith J frames.

 

[AJ]

If you can reasonably conceal it and get to it if needed without a lot of fuss. Then why not carry it. The biggest question is.....do you feel confident with it? From your post I would say you do. So carry it!


AJ

 

[smithra_66]

If you can reasonably conceal it and get to it if needed without a lot of fuss. Then why not carry it. The biggest question is.....do you feel confident with it? From your post I would say you do. So carry it!


AJ

Bingo. Shoot it a lot, get proficient with it at up to 10 or so yards, and then I suggest carrying a speed strip too...practice reloading with that after you've mastered placing the first 6 shots.

 

[Absalom]

The pace at which the Chiefs Special swept the Detective Special aside as the nation’s and then the world’s favorite snubby in the decades after the 1950s is almost breath-taking.

But it certainly had nothing to do with any defects or shortcomings of the Colt. I suspect it was mostly a collateral effect of S&W taking the LE market in service-size revolvers away from Colt after WW II.

I think the DS is the perfect medium, being compact in size and offering the six shots of a K-frame snubby without the bulk. No reason why it should not perform that duty equally today as last century if you favor revolvers for CCW.

 

[sigp220.45]

I carry a Colt Cobra about 90% of the time. Six shots, nice usable sights, and grip that is just big enough. It is so light I hardly know its there.

 

[smithra_66]

I carry a Colt Cobra about 90% of the time. Six shots, nice usable sights, and grip that is just big enough. It is so light I hardly know its there.

Very nice gun and the 1st of all the "snake" guns made by Colt. The Cobra pre-dated the Python by about 5 years.

 

[AJ]

Bingo. Shoot it a lot, get proficient with it at up to 10 or so yards, and then I suggest carrying a speed strip too...practice reloading with that after you've mastered placing the first 6 shots.

Good point, practice reloads. Both with a speed strip and a speed loader. You can not get to be to proficient in reloading.

 

[SRG]

I also have a 1959 vintage Detective Special. If I chose to carry a small revolver, it would be my choice.

 

[rockquarry]

The exposed ejector rod snub nose Colts are classy and different and don't look boring like the small carry guns that I see virtually everyone shooting at the range nowadays. They give up very little to the more modern snub nose guns, but I wouldn't shoot anything but standard pressure loads in any of the older Colts.

Some find these easier to shoot well than the J-frames, but I can't really see any difference.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Dad had one as his off-duty gun and primary as a Captain.

For me while the Detective Special just a little bigger than a J-frame..... for the trade off I went directly to the 2 1/2" 19.

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

Yes, but my only concern would be the ‘what if’ factor. Heaven forbid that I actually need to legally use it and defend myself the gun will get impounded and thrown into an evidence locker for how long. Unless it’s a total beater I would rather have my 10 year old Jframe [which is also a beater] impounded than my 50-75 year old Colt [I have several].

 

[AJ]

My only concern would be the ‘what if’ factor. Heaven forbid that I actually need to legally use it and defend myself the gun will get impounded and thrown into an evidence locker for how long. Unless it’s a total beater I would rather have my 10 year old Jframe [which is also a beater] impounded than my 50-75 year old Colt [I have several].

All things are a chance. You have to do what you feel comfortable with. If taking a chance on having your gun in an evidence looker scares you, then get a beater. " You pays your dime and you takes your chance!"

AJ

 

[ContinentalOp]

Just gonna add my voice to the choir and say that as long as the gun is in good shape, reliable, and you can shoot it well, I see no reason not to carry it.

 

[teletech]

Years ago I had a alloy Colt of similar format and found it more accurate and faster to shoot than my J-frame. I sold it because the J-frame has sentimental value and didn't want it to get jealous and I just knew I'd favor the Colt if I kept it!
Would a modern tiny-9 be a better CC choice? Based on it's specs, sure. Based on familiarity and comfort if you are a seasoned revolver shooter, nope.
Carry and enjoy that righteous arm.

 

[ContinentalOp]

Yes, but my only concern would be the ‘what if’ factor. Heaven forbid that I actually need to legally use it and defend myself the gun will get impounded and thrown into an evidence locker for how long. Unless it’s a total beater I would rather have my 10 year old Jframe [which is also a beater] impounded than my 50-75 year old Colt [I have several].

That's certainly something to consider. My EDC is a Series 80 Govt Model. I rarely carry my Series 70 Gold Cup not just because it's a nicer gun, but mostly because I inherited it from my dad. However, I do carry it from time to time. While the possibility of losing it to a police evidence locker is a concern, I also feel like my dad is with me, in a way, looking over me when I carry it. I'd like to think that if that gun ended up saving my life, or maybe the lives of others, that he'd be proud his gift did its job.

But there's nothing wrong with wanting to carry something that's easily replaceable or doesn't have sentimental value. If I'm carrying one of my snubs, it's going to be my 642-1, not my 642ND.

Just my opinion.

 

[xfarfuldog]

In my years as a police officer (pre semi autos), I carried a Python on duty. A DS was my off duty and backup gun. I was the head firearms instructor for my department and our basic police academy.

We had a lady who was I believe a probation officer come through the firearms class. She had many problems qualifying with her J frame. I loaned her my DS and she was able to pass all phases. She promised to sell the J and buy a DS. It wasn't anything wrong with her Smith, just the DS was easier to shoot.

 

[smithra_66]

The exposed ejector rod snub nose Colts are classy and different and don't look boring like the small carry guns that I see virtually everyone shooting at the range nowadays. They give up very little to the more modern snub nose guns, but I wouldn't shoot anything but standard pressure loads in any of the older Colts.

Some find these easier to shoot well than the J-frames, but I can't really see any difference.

Interestingly all of the old steel frame Colts, including the Police Positive (from which the Det. Special is based) were rated for +P ammo back then (the 38/44 type of ammo).

I don't think I'd have any worries shooting higher than standard pressure ammo in an all steel D frame Colt...I might even trust it more than a modern scandium or whatever the latest whiz bang material is!

Here's an old ad from the '30s where Colt even advertises using the DS with the 38/44 and 38 hi-speed loads of the day. They are solid chunks of steel!:

 

[AJ]

We had a lady who was I believe a probation officer come through the firearms class. She had many problems qualifying with her J frame. I loaned her my DS and she was able to pass all phases. She promised to sell the J and buy a DS. It wasn't anything wrong with her Smith, just the DS was easier to shoot.

That reminds me of when I was the Chief Firearms Instructor at Naval Station Long Beach. I had responsibility for qualifying all the Naval Security Personnel and Civilian Security Personnel. The Chief of Civilian Security came out to qualify with his S&W Model 36 (more of a status symbol). He fired the course and failed to qualify. I came over and asked to see his 36 and he handed it to me. I put it in my gun bag and handed him a S&W Model 10 4 inch. Then told him to reshoot the course and he did and qualified. Asked me for the 36 and I told him he had to carry the 10 since he could not qualify with the 36. Ended up in the office of the Navy Officer in charge of Naval Station Security. Each of us had our say and it ended up the Chief could not carry the 36 until he could qualify with it. Took him two weeks to get proficient enough to qualify with it. He had to carry the 10 until he did. Was not a happy camper.

AJ