I've turned the corner on this troublesome Colt Agent

[Texas Star]

Well, I used to have a Detective Special in the .32 Colt New Police (that's the one interchangeable with the .32 S&W Long). Sometimes simply called the .32'Colt Police.

Traded it off, though, but here is a cool little Colt .32... My Xolt Pocket Positive. An older one, but I think made up til WWII.

Best Regards, Les

Les-

THANKS! The Pocket Positive was another gun that I thought Modesty Blaise might have carried, but I went with the Cobra in .32, as the books didn't begin until the 1960's.

If you like reading thrillers with a beautiful heroine, look for Modesty Blaise on the Net. You'll see plenty of pics, including the comic strip that ran in 57 countries, as well as the novels.

You can now buy bound editions of the comic strip, called "graphic novels."

In the US, only the Detroit Free Press ran the comic strip, as it was deemed too adult for most American family readers. And I think the Free Press censored some panels.

 

[Texas Star]

Isn't there an adage on the forum with out pictures it never happened ??

Aren't you seeing the photos?

If you mean the robbery I cited, it was in a foreign newspaper in the 1980's and I've long lost that clipping. But, The Johannesburg Star is a reputable newspaper, as much so as any newspaper really is. I don't doubt that the incident happened. Maybe one of our South African members will recall it.

We have one in Cape Town and I don't know where the other lives. But the event probably made the national news then.

 

[sigp220.45]

My little guy is blocking the Homer shirt, but note the Blinky hat and camo-themed Aloha shirt. I'm outside, so there's a gun there somewhere.

 

[les.b]

Nice photo!!!

I wouldnt do a single thing to that Colt except use it. I think it looks like it's all business, and you don't have to worry about wearing the finish off of it. Looks like a perfect holster, as well. I've found that my Agents (and other D frames) fit in the same pocket holster as my J frame magnums as well.

Perfect carry gun!

Best Regards, Les

 

[Texas Star]

Have you chronographed that 147 grain Federal round from a snub .38? Seen any other good tests?

I know it's Plus P Plus, but wonder if the drag of the metal jacket causes velocity less than the previous FBI load with 158 grain lead bullets.

I think the 147 grain JHP was to improve penetration in cars.

 

[les.b]

Hey, T-S, I don't know if you've seen them, and don't want to derail the thread any more than I have already, but check out the tests that Lucky Gunner did as a follow up to their semiauto ammunition tests of a couple of years ago. They have tested many of the commonly available .38 spl and .357 magnum defensive loads.... Really a pretty impressive amount of data here... Check it out: https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/revolver-ballistics-test/ .

They test from both a 2" and 4" barrel.

I don't want to get into a big brouhaha over test mediums, etc., just offering this for what it's worth. I've contacted Chris at Lucky Gunner about using this data, and have permission to do so. I reference it in one of my courses.

Best Regards, Les

 

[Texas Star]

Hey, T-S, I don't know if you've seen them, and don't want to derail the thread any more than I have already, but check out the tests that Lucky Gunner did as a follow up to their semiauto ammunition tests of a couple of years ago. They have tested many of the commonly available .38 spl and .357 magnum defensive loads.... Really a pretty impressive amount of data here... Check it out: https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/revolver-ballistics-test/ .

They test from both a 2" and 4" barrel.

I don't want to get into a big brouhaha over test mediums, etc., just offering this for what it's worth. I've contacted Chris at Lucky Gunner about using this data, and have permission to do so. I reference it in one of my courses.

Best Regards, Les

Les-

That's a superb list of loads and results, including some of my favorites. But it doesn't list the 147 grain Plus P Plus .38, in part, I'm sure, because it was never available to the public.

 

[Muley Gil]

So, what was wrong with the Colt Agent? I've worked on several Colt revolvers over the years and haven't run into any problems that I couldn't fix.

A friend bought one of the parked Agents back in the '80s and carried it for a number of years. I bought an older one without the enclosed ejector rod when I returned from Afghanistan in 2007. It gets pocket carried every time I leave the house.

How old are those +P+ rounds? IIRC, when the +P+ round was introduced in the 1970s, it was recommended that they only be shot in .357 revolvers. It was a way to get .357 power into police hands while politicians were able to say that their officers were only armed with .38s, not those vicious magnums!

 

[Texas Star]

No std. specs on Plus P Plus, as it was loaded to each ordering agency's needs and they had to sign waivers attesting that they knew it'd cause premature gun wear.

S&W reps conducting a product announcement/demo when the L-frame guns appeared told me that much Plus P Plus was so hot, it caused greater gun wear and more chance of cracking barrel throats on K-frame magnums than did the very hot 125 grain .357 loads! They said that Plus P Plus was a prime reason why the larger L-frame guns were designed.

I think the FBI version was among the milder examples.

 

[Richard Simmons]

Congratulations to the OP on resurrecting his Agent. I picked these two up years ago with the intention of replacing my S&W M38 for CCW, figured the extra round of capacity couldn't hurt. Unfortunately or perhaps fortunately they've remained NIB. Actually had the smooth stocked one in my range bag once but changed my mind before I left the house.

 

[rwt1405]

I'm a terrible photographer, and mine are no where as nice as the others shown, but here are my two Detective Specials.

 

[Bubba2014]

Those old Colts are nice guns, and will never be made again.

 

[rogerwnuss]

I bought one of the Colt parked snubbies back in the eighties, but I could swear it was called a Commando, rather than Agent.....

 

[sigp220.45]

I bought one of the Colt parked snubbies back in the eighties, but I could swear it was called a Commando, rather than Agent.....

That was the steel framed version of this gun, made at the same time. Not to be confused with the WWII version, which was also called the Commando but was a parkerized and slightly simplified Official Police.

 

[99bob]

I bought one several years back and called the LGS when I got it home. I said "Hey! this Colt is missing the Rampant Colt Logo". He laughed and said yeah, it wasn't there when you looked at either. I learned all about the strike era Agents. I wish I still had it. They are great carry guns. Don't have to worry about beating them up. My favorite was and still is an 1967 early version with the short stocks. I added a T Grip, bobbed the hammer and still carry it from time to time. The finish was already distressed.

 

[CA Escapee]

sigp220.45,

I've sent you an IM regarding an Agent in Thornton.

Bill

 

[crazyphil]

Here is my Colt's Agent. I had the hammer spur and single action
notch removed for DAO. The extended boots are by Craig Spegel.

Agent has slightly shorter grip frame than the DS or the Cobra.
It has the Parkerized matte finish.
Because of the alloy frame, Colt recommended it be checked if
over 1,000 rounds of +P are shot through it. So, I only shoot
standard pressure in mine, so no worries about stretching the
frame. Commando was basically the same as Agent except it has
a steel frame.

Personally, I think it's a thing of beauty, but what do I know?

Second from left with the gator trim holster by KD.
Third is a lizard high ride by Black Hills.
Fourth is a 120TS (Tension Screw) by Price Western Leather.
Fifth is a Gaylord style speed scabbard by Thad Rybka.
(This one is shown with the original Colts grips)

Believe it or not, I have 9 more holsters for the Agent.

To enlarge just click on the photo once or twice.

 

[raljr1]

Well, I used to have a Detective Special in the .32 Colt New Police (that's the one interchangeable with the .32 S&W Long). Sometimes simply called the .32'Colt Police.

Traded it off, though, but here is a cool little Colt .32... My Colt Pocket Positive. An older one, but I think made up til WWII.

Best Regards, Les

Cool, Les. I had a pair of those, but sold them off to someone here.

 

[Abbynormal]

My 2nd gun ever bought was a Colt Commando. I saved up for 4 months in 1982
to buy it and on it's first range experience, it locked up! God was I mad!

I wanted a 6 shot BUG that was concealable, so I sent it back to Colt, with a letter
describing my requirements for the gun. It returned with a tuned trigger, lighter pull and 100% reliability.

I carried it for 20+ years and only sold it when I came across a 70's new in box
Detective Special. Haven't looked back since!