sipowicz
Member
I love DS's...this is my friend's 1934. Shot it yesterday at the mobile range...21 feet, rapid fire....Enjoy your new toy! 
The colt that got away? **updated**
- Thread starter revho
- Start date
Armyphotog
Member
Yes, I have a wife like that! She has sneaked and bought me several guns over the years, and yes, paid too much for a couple of them. She even sends me off to gun shows with an admonition not to come back without something.
gregintenn
Member
Remind her that Christmas is coming up, and I might produce an aluminum framed brother to your birthday present.
They are nice revolvers.wraco
Member
Great wife and a nice D/S. .
They don't make these Colt revolvers anymore and a nice one like that is worth paying a tad more. It appears in pretty nice condition. Ask the guys over at the Colt Forum if you paid too soon:Colt Forum.
Don't let the guys spook you on the Colt timing issues. Yes, the S&W's have far less problems but I've had Colts for years and never had any trouble. They lock up like a vault, meaning at the end of the index cycle the hand and the rachet lock the cylinder tight just before the hammer falls. Hard to beat a Colt Python for accuracy.
I like them both, but I like my S&W's more.
Regards:
Rod
They don't make these Colt revolvers anymore and a nice one like that is worth paying a tad more. It appears in pretty nice condition. Ask the guys over at the Colt Forum if you paid too soon:Colt Forum.
Don't let the guys spook you on the Colt timing issues. Yes, the S&W's have far less problems but I've had Colts for years and never had any trouble. They lock up like a vault, meaning at the end of the index cycle the hand and the rachet lock the cylinder tight just before the hammer falls. Hard to beat a Colt Python for accuracy.
I like them both, but I like my S&W's more.
Regards:
Rod
My answer to these Colt versus Smith & Wesson timing discussions is that, yes, double action Colt revolvers do go out of time with extended use, but double action Smith & Wesson revolvers are always out of time!
The common Colt double action design (as introduced in the 1898 New Service and the 1908 Army Special, and finally ending with the Python in 2006) is such that, as the trigger is pulled, the cylinder is rotated tightly against the cylinder stop, eliminating ALL play in the cylinder at the moment of firing. The hand is what applies the pressure to the cylinder to hold it against the cylinder stop (the bolt), so the shock of firing causes wear on the hand. The wear on the hand will slowly progress to the point that the hand will not rotate the cylinder into final lockup if the hammer is cocked slowly. However, pulling the trigger will always force the cylinder into tight lockup at the moment of firing, so the worn hand really has no effect on function of the gun at the moment of firing. Inertia from more rapid cocking will also carry the cylinder into preliminary lockup with the bolt in the cylinder stop notch even before the trigger is pulled and the hand applies pressure to the cylinder.
On the Smith & Wesson double action design as introduced on the Military & Police in 1899, the hand does not lock up the cylinder at any time, and does not take the shock of firing. The cylinder is free to "float" at the moment of firing, held only by the bolt in the cylinder stop notch. The amount of play in the cylinder varies from gun to gun. (Older Smiths tend to have less play.) The only Smith I have that does not have play at the moment of firing is an early Triple Lock, which is about the finest fitted firearm I have ever seen of any brand. The cylinder on every other Smith revolver I have has some play at the moment of firing. The Colt Mark III/V action is like the Smith action in that the hand does not apply pressure to cylinder at any time after rotating it into firing position. (The Colt Mark III/V action is actually more like a Ruger action since it uses a transfer bar ignition system.)
This lack of play in a Colt at the moment of firing is said to be the reason for the generally superior accuracy of a Colt revolver. Replacement of the hand on a Colt from time to time is the price paid for the Colt "bank vault lockup" system. A Colt hand can be "stretched" by peening and, if done properly, can double or triple the life of a Colt hand.
The common Colt double action design (as introduced in the 1898 New Service and the 1908 Army Special, and finally ending with the Python in 2006) is such that, as the trigger is pulled, the cylinder is rotated tightly against the cylinder stop, eliminating ALL play in the cylinder at the moment of firing. The hand is what applies the pressure to the cylinder to hold it against the cylinder stop (the bolt), so the shock of firing causes wear on the hand. The wear on the hand will slowly progress to the point that the hand will not rotate the cylinder into final lockup if the hammer is cocked slowly. However, pulling the trigger will always force the cylinder into tight lockup at the moment of firing, so the worn hand really has no effect on function of the gun at the moment of firing. Inertia from more rapid cocking will also carry the cylinder into preliminary lockup with the bolt in the cylinder stop notch even before the trigger is pulled and the hand applies pressure to the cylinder.
On the Smith & Wesson double action design as introduced on the Military & Police in 1899, the hand does not lock up the cylinder at any time, and does not take the shock of firing. The cylinder is free to "float" at the moment of firing, held only by the bolt in the cylinder stop notch. The amount of play in the cylinder varies from gun to gun. (Older Smiths tend to have less play.) The only Smith I have that does not have play at the moment of firing is an early Triple Lock, which is about the finest fitted firearm I have ever seen of any brand. The cylinder on every other Smith revolver I have has some play at the moment of firing. The Colt Mark III/V action is like the Smith action in that the hand does not apply pressure to cylinder at any time after rotating it into firing position. (The Colt Mark III/V action is actually more like a Ruger action since it uses a transfer bar ignition system.)
This lack of play in a Colt at the moment of firing is said to be the reason for the generally superior accuracy of a Colt revolver. Replacement of the hand on a Colt from time to time is the price paid for the Colt "bank vault lockup" system. A Colt hand can be "stretched" by peening and, if done properly, can double or triple the life of a Colt hand.
Wheelgunner840
Member
It's a beautiful gun, and you have a very thoughtful wife! My early model Det. Spec (no ejector shroud) is one of my favorites. It shoots a whole lot better than my model 36. Sights are much better too. You will not be sorry that you (your wife) bought it.
Best of luck with a great little gun.
WG840
Best of luck with a great little gun.
WG840
