Thinking of Adding a Colt to my Small Stable of S&W's -- Rampant Advice Needed

[Old cop]

My only Colt Cobra was purchased for off-duty carry in 1968 and still shoots great. I used my issued Colt DS to defend myself against armed robbery suspects in a 1974 gunfight & it did its job that night too.

 

[erikpolcrack]

I have both a 2-inch and a 3-inch Colt Cobra. I would consider one of the DS's lightweight brothers if I were you - provided you're OK shooting the lighter but very easy to carry gun.

 

[DWalt]

If it ain't steel, it ain't a DS.

 

[Ameshawki]

Dec Specials are slightly better to shoot than J frames but only slightly. In production for a long time, there are a number of variations out there. I've owned a few over the years. It's a popular model, finding a good deal is not easy. The Cobra (alloy frame) generally goes for a bit less.

I've owned both old and new style. Strictly from a cosmetic point, I prefer the later, shrouded barrel models. Functionally there is no difference. One caution; during the Colt strike era, a lot of guns left the factory with sharp edges, very sharp. I had a DS that would draw blood. When examining one the sharp edges are pretty obvious.

Can be surprisingly accurate things, more so than most J frames. The steel frame versions are generally considered safe for plus p, the alloy guns not so much.

 

[ZGrand]

It's all good, just find what you like.

.

Nice Parker. I have a few as well.

As far as Colts, the two I have are a birth year (1953) 1911 and a new stainless Python. Both are excellent handguns.

 

[DWalt]

I could never warm up to alloy framed revolvers - Colt or S&W. But if you are sort of a historical gun fancier, Jack Ruby used an early Cobra on LHO, thereby creating a 60 year old mystery. His had Coltwood grips, characteristic of Colt revolvers made during the WWII and postwar period up until the mid-1950s. You might be interested in one of those as a story gun.

 

[Greymann]

Colt DS second issue, great revolver.

.

 

[DWalt]

Colt DS second issue, great revolver.

As I said earlier, I also believe a postwar second issue is a very good choice for a DS. They are fairly plentiful and have that classic appearance as seen in 1940s-50s TV shows and film noir detective movies. There were dozens and dozens of those. To me, a barrel shroud just does not look correct (at least to me) on a DS and I have passed on buying several of them at good prices just because of their having a shroud. An earlier DS is certainly OK, but I like the long extractor rod because it is more effective. I shoot mainly (handloaded) .38 Short Colt cartridges in my DS as they eject completely. The DS can also be found chambered in .32 S&W Long and .38 S&W (aka .38 Colt New Police). Both are collectible, but the .38 S&W version is scarce as compared to the .32, as fewer than 400 were made. I wish I had a DS in .38 S&W. I did have one in .32 L some years ago but sold it.

 

[heeter3]

bushmaster1313 congrats on retirement for collectible of course its LNIB,but for me I love to shoot them and they all have their various charms.My 1952 cobra has the longer butt frame and just has that old time feel to it my72 cobra is like the 52 in looks but with a short butt and feels a little different than the 52 to shoot. MY 74 detective special with the closed ejector rod shoots like the 72 cobra.For looks at least for me it's the ones with the enclosed ejector rod,but as far as putting them away its just not the way I imagine my revolvers ,I just gotta shoot them
to really enjoy them.Not trying to tell you how to spend your money but to thoroughly appreciate the Colt D frame if you can, get a shooter with your collector and shoot the heck out of it.

 

[bushmaster1313]

Were the grips numbered to the frame?

 

[local_dirt]

bushmaster, As a modest collector myself, I would stick to looking at only very good condition guns. Thank me later.

Been there done that with the project guns when I was younger. Just not interested in that route anymore.

 

[Hawg Rider]

Most of us here on the Forum are dyed-in-the-wool S&W collectors, but we also tend to step out of the box occasionally and buy something else. I only have a few classic Colt revolvers- an 1862 Pocket Police (ca. 1866), a 1952 Detective Special (2nd Issue), and a 1980 6" Python. None of them are true collector grade revolvers, but I enjoy handling and shooting the DS and Python. I picked up the DS off of GB with the box and papers for ~$700 a couple of years ago. It is in really nice condition, and looks like it was carried much more than it was shot. You can't go wrong adding a classic Colt to your collection.

 

[kevin in nh]

I have both the Detective special and Cobra both with hammer shroud. I perfer the DS, just a touch heaver, but it feels better when shooting

 

[2152hq]

As far as the timing issue with the orig style Colt lockwork goes, yes many are out of time. Many are just plain worn out and need repair/rebuild. Lots of S&W's are out of time as well.
Colt parts are very hard to find,,good condition to NOS ones are.

Many parts you get from places like Numrich are those stripped from those Worn Out guns. So you are just buying that. You can't expect much in doing so.
There are some new mfg Repro parts being made now for certain frame sizes. They are expensive, but at least oversize and 'require fitting' which is good.

But a lot can be done to rebuild what you have and bring them back. It isn't the same work as is done w/a S&W. They are just different mechanisms that's all.

Check the timing as you would any other revolver. It either is or is-not in time.
Many Colts will fail the carry up by just a very small amt. But then upon actually pulling the trigger to fire the gun, the cylinder is pushed the needed extra degree or two and falls into position and locks just as the hammer is falling.
Do not fall for the often stated 'That's the way they are designed to work'.
No they are not. In that condition they are Out of Time.

 

[THREEDFLYER]

I personally have only a few Colt's in my stable.....but the two I really like to shoot are a couple of 6" Police Positive Target Models chambered in .22 LR and .22 WRF. They are the "M" frame in Colt, similar to the "I" in S&W

Of course I have couple of SAA's tucked away in there someplace as well.

Good luck with your research!

**NOTE** The photo below is a Detective Special that I have been trying to get a friend to sell!!

 

[ggibson511960]

I have two DS's and like them both. For my hand they are better shooters than any J-frame, perhaps heresy in this group. The carry up problem is real. My 2nd gen. has it, but my newer 3rd gen. does not. I can make it short stroke by slowly and carefully cocking in single action. It won't do it double action as everything is moving too fast and the cylinder rotates into lockup. The cause is well known, a short hand, probably from wear, as is the fix, very carefully peening the lateral sides of the hand to slightly lengthen it. For me it's not worth fixing. I know it has it and know not to slowly cock it single action. Even if I did short stroke it the misalignment is minimal and the cylinder will get indexed by the bullet entering the forcing cone, albeit rather abruptly. I suppose if I were to habitually do this the locking recesses and/or locking bolt would get battered, but these are not personal defense or competition weapons for me, but shootable collector pieces with terrific looks. No plastic or rubber grips. If you come across a high condition DS that has carryup problems in single or double action you could negotiate a discount withthe seller if you're willing to live with it. I would unless it was severe. I found it on mine after reading about it and carefully, very slowly, cycling the action.

 

[kennyb]

My first handgun was a detective special. I sold it in 1974 to a friend.42years passed, I went back to said friend and repurchased the very one. So yes, I like em!