Weird Colt Detective Special

[NCBeagle]

I've seen quite a few old Police Positives wearing shrouded Agent barrels down here in NC. As mentioned above, barrel swaps were common back in the day.

I've had the "no, it's not a solid steel Agent" conversation with pawn shop owners too many times. Some will look into it further, others just leave it in the case with an Agent label.

 

[2152hq]

Colt made a 'Commando Special' for a short time in the 80's during the strike.
It was just a Parkerized finished Det Spcl gun as they had lost all their good finishers and polishers at the time. These were the 3rd issue guns of course.
But I'm wondering if a person had sent in their earlier D/S for a rebbl and refinish to the Service Dept during the same time if this is what they would have gotten back from them.

What ever the story on it, it's a neat looking D/S IMO

 

[K Frame Keith]

Cool gun. I've got two old colts, handed down from my dad, with the retro Jay Scott grips. I like them that way. Don't listen to those who say you paid too much or that the gun isn't original. It's a cool and a great piece of history.

 

[sigp220.45]

I like it, and would have gladly paid what you did. Congrats on a cool and unique gun.

 

[iPac]

If the gun is as nice and tight as you say it is, then it should be mechanically sound. Hopefully. On a gun that has been refinished, the question of how hard it was rode comes to mind, but that may not always be the case.

The good thing though is parts are relatively cheap nowadays thanks to ebay, and the fact Jack First is making reproduction parts for all the old V spring action D/E/I frames. At one time parts may have been expensive, but the past few years have been cheap. I've amassed an amazing stash for pennies and dollars.

As to the serial numbers, I see mention of a "D" prefix in my bluebook pocket guide, and another member here. I don't think the actual guns got stamped with a D though, and this was merely done in the book to signify the universal short grip frame change. My '68 DS and the spare crane/cylinder a few thousand digits lower I have for it doesn't have a D stamped near the serial, and the OP didn't mention a D with his 914xxx range.

The only odd thing about the OPs is the later shrouded barrel and the finish. The short grip frame is correct for the '66 production date, and the hollow hammer pin is also correct for the '66-'68 time frame you usually see them on D frames. The barrel could be anyone's guess though. Maybe they returned it to Colt for a barrel issue and a new one got installed. Chances are it was changed when the finish was done, so not factory. As long as it was done right I wouldn't worry. My '68 is the old barrel and I have considered installing a shrouded just because, but I wanted to keep it original as it was on old LEO gun. So people do stuff just because. The overall condition is what matters, and since you only paid $370 it could be worse.

The only D frame I have been seeing locally for under $500 are REAL Cobras. They pop up in nice condition for around $400-$450. Detectives are usually asking $500-$700, but that's for that classic steel frame. It has been a few years since Detectives were under $500, probably since I bought mine for $325 and it's been awhile.

I forgot about the +P capability. I'm almost certain Colt never certified their D frames for +P until the advent of the shrouded barrel versions, so '73ish. With that was a servicing statement after so many rounds. However, the D frames prior to that, I wouldn't hesitate to load +P in anything '60s and later. Some might even go earlier than that, but I would never go pre-war2. I have shot +P in my '68 and even shot +P+ after some careful testing. Wouldn't do it all the time, but if one wanted to carry it for defense and maybe shoot on occasion to be familiar, it probably wouldn't hurt with a good condition gun. The older alloy Cobras are another story though.

 

[Loyaljeeper]

I would like to think everyone for their wisdom. After continuing to hold it, and looking it over, I am really impressed with it. While it has been altered, it really looks like a professional did the work. I really hope it turns out to be a great shooter, but nothing about it makes me believe that it will not be.

So, what was the reason behind putting the 3rd issue barrel on the 2nd issue guns?

 

[sigp220.45]

So, what was the reason behind putting the 3rd issue barrel on the 2nd issue guns?

I think some of it was cosmetic - I prefer the look of the later shrouded barrels.

I suspect some cops preferred the protection afforded to the ejector rod by the shroud. Sometimes revolvers were used as skull softeners, and nobody likes a bent ejector rod.

 

[Texas Star]

What Colt did about Plus P when it appeared about 1972 (along with shrouded barrels) was to advise returning light alloy guns (Agent, Cobra) to the factory for inspection after firing 1,000 rounds of Plus P. Steel frame DS and PPS guns were to be returned and inspected after 3,000 rounds. I didn't get this off the Net. Colt said that.

To complicate the matter, after S&W introduced the .38-44 Hi-Speed ammo in 1930, Colt listed it among the ammo suitable for pre-war DS and PPS guns. See Haven & Belden, A History of the Colt Revolver, 1836-1940. The plates illustrating the current guns had Colt's own data.

I'm sure that Colt didn't mean for the small guns to be fired extensively with such hot loads, but they were safe to fire.

The advisory about returning the guns to the factory was to check for timing problems and for frame stretching, etc.

As for the shrouded barrel, I think it came in 1972, not 1973. Its purpose was to protect the extractor rod and to give a little forward balance to the guns, to keep them on target better in rapid DA fire.

 

[Texas Star]

Now, this: Colt has had a longstanding problem with not getting barrels on right, and shots may be well off from where the sights say the bullets should be going. I'm speaking primarily of fixed sights, although I had an issue with a Diamondback that wouldn't allow enough sight adjustment to compensate.

Charles Askins told me himself that when he was head of the USBP marksmanship program in the late 1930's, he ordered Colt New Service .38's and had to slightly turn the barrels of most to get the sights on target.

He told me this in person, at the Ruger 30th Anniversary luncheon in 1979 in San Antonio, during the NRA Convention. He added that S&W reps were snobs and he preferred the Colt men, so didn't order S&W Heavy Duty .38-44's.

I got lucky with a Colt New Service .45 made about 1935-36. The sights were dead-on and the gun was v
ery accurate. Maybe a prior owner had had the barrel turned?

Anyway, if the OP doesn't mind the rough gray finish and if his barrel doesn't need adjusting, this gun should be very effective, as small .38's go. Check cylinder timing very carefully; Colts wear sooner than Rugers and S&W's in that regard.

IF the work was done well, the gun is worth the price.

Let us know how it shoots. Just fire Plus P when really warranted by the need, and the gun will last well.

 

[Loyaljeeper]

Well, I shot her today, and things got even weirder. It shoots point of aim with my 158 gr standard pressure reloads. It shoots as much as a foot high at 15 yards with some lighter 135 gr loads that are still pretty close to standard pressure. I had one failure to fire, or weak primer strike out of about 60 rounds. I am not too worried about the weak primer strike because they were reloads, and I don't remember which primer I used. It did fire the same round on the second strike.

Don't lighter rounds normally shoot lower instead of higher? She also got a new set of shoes. I knew where there were some generation appropriate grips for $10 that looked like new. Anyone want to make an offer on the old Jay Scott faux stags?