What is the best "vintage" in a Colt Official Police?

[aterry33]

Say you're looking for a basic 4" Official Police. When was the high-water mark for these? I.E. when were the fit, finish, etc. the best?

I am trying to figure out what range to target. And how would you pick one out, by serial number range?

 

[dmar]

In my opinion, the pre-WWII guns are the best; 1920s/30s. You can go to proofhouse.com to find serial numbers for that era. Don't get me wrong, the post WWII guns are also nice, but the earlier ones just seem better to me... Try to get your hands on some examples from both eras, and you'll probably see for yourself.

 

[Andy Griffith]

Early 1900's- at least they had the nicer grips, deep dish logos too.

 

[gunfish]

Tough question. I think the finish quality was highest early in it's history and the metalurgy was best late in it's history.

Post war.

Pre war .22

 

[feralmerril]

As a lockheed guard we were issued the colt 4" OPs. I estimate we had maybe 250 to 275 and over 35 years I handeled dozzens of them. The numbers I checked looked like most if not all were from the early 50s, probley bought durring the korean war. A lot of them had plastic grips that I didnt like, but many were wood too. Far as fit and finnish, I saw no flaws from the factory. Ours were marked LAC with a company numbered on the butt. Like LAC 251. (Lockheed aircraft company). They were mostly sold off in the early 70s and replaced by speed sixs and S&W 586s. We did have a few kicking around yet when I retired in 2000, and I was about the last guard that seemed to want to pack one. The newer younger guys liked the newer stuff. Since we were issued .38 ammo instead of .357, I didnt see the need to carry the heavier guns. Except for grips, I didnt see how the workmanship on the era guns we had could have been any better with the older guns.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Im far from an expert on the Colt revolver's but I couldent pass up this reblued five inch 1944 vintage OP. I like the half nickel front sight and the five inch barrel cinched the deal. It shoot's well too.

 

[reddogge]

Here's a couple of Commandos that went to war (well maybe not in combat, but stateside). They were basically Official Police militarized.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

I don't know what era of production was the best. But thus far, my 1937 vintage .22 has been my favorite.

 

[cmort666]

Tough question. I think the finish quality was highest early in it's history and the metalurgy was best late in it's history.

Post war.

I had one of those when I was in the Army in the early '80s. I think it went as a partial trade for my 4" 29-2 or my PPK/S. I wish I still had it. It was a nice gun.

 

[Onomea]

Here's another vote for the 1930s. In the link below, which is a discussion of the Model 71 Winchester, there is a paragraph which, to paraphrase, comments that in the mid 1930s several factors -- improved steel, factory machining, and a skilled work force -- came together in a marvelous equipose for a tragically brief moment in time.

Winchester 71 Info

 

[feralmerril]

The great depression years were 1929 to 1940. Durring those years I suppose there wasnt as many guns made as other years. I also suppose the workers that were kept on at the factorys were the best most experianced craftsmen available. There probley wasnt a union to protect the sluggards and sloppy. I have guns from that era and never really thought about it like that untill I just now wrote it! Personaly, I have read and noticed quality seemed to drop off in the 60s. We always are looking for pre 64 winchesters for instance, and many people generaly are looking for "pre war" guns. For guns that have been in production forever where the machinery has been set up forever, as in the colt offical police, I dont think there was much differance in quality between a 1920 one and a 1954. Just eyeball the darn gun and if looks flawless and the action feels right buy it! In most cases NEW MODEL GUNS that came out in the later 60s and 70s up came out as shortcut engineering ideas were dreamed up and cheaper wood etc. When the gun companys felt they needed to replace the older standby models with new models, I doubt they improved them, just found cheaper ways of makeing them with less man hours! That, and to convince people that had guns that they needed to replace their "outdated" gun!

 

[Muley Gil]

I have a 5" .32-20 OP, made in the 1930s.

It's a fine old gun

 

[AirCommando]

I have this 5" Police Positive that is really nice. It is the only Colt revolver I own. Only got it because I didn't have a gun in 32 caliber, and I had this box of 32 S&W. Later I found out it shoots 32 S&W Long, so I got the correct caliber ammo for it. It is from 1920.

 

[monet61]

Vintage OP

Here's my '35....

 

[CajunBass]

I used to hear about how you could buy police trade in 38's for $99.00. (I used to hear about Jeeps packed in cosomoline too, but that's a different story) I never found one for $99.00 but this old Official Police is about as close as I ever came. According to proofhouse it was made in 1950, but I've been told apparently the barrel was changed by someone using a pipewrench, and the grips aren't standard, but it's a good shooter.

 

[AirCommando]

Check out my newly acquired Colt Officer's Target, 1917 vintage.
The grips are really cool!...

 

[C&R Bill]

ABSOLUTELY LOVELY!!!!!!!!

Even if it's not a S&W........

I have this 5" Police Positive that is really nice. It is the only Colt revolver I own. Only got it because I didn't have a gun in 32 caliber, and I had this box of 32 S&W. Later I found out it shoots 32 S&W Long, so I got the correct caliber ammo for it. It is from 1920.

 

[Stevie]

I own an OP that my serial chart dates to 1944..(you'da thunk they would be producing 'Comando's' in 1944?).

well used and in need of a tune-up...I tinkered it back to shootability and it shoots great.

Were Colt OP's well made in 1944?....Well seems like it to me...Colts being Colts and not Smith&Wessons...really no big deal or unusual for a well used one to need a tune and maybe a hand or bolt.

 

[Thuer]

Here is mine pre war made in 1937. I love the details on this revolver. The broad sighting channel and frontsight. The checkering on the topstrap. The fitting of the crane in the frame. (sounds like a poet)
The quality is absolutly great. I don't like the modern one's after 1967.

 

[David LaPell]

I had a 1950's vintage Official Police that once belonged to a NYPD officer who had an inlay of his badge in the grip. It shot very well.