[Skofnung]

Hey folks.

I picked up a little gem yesterday. It is a Colt Detective Special, serial # range 96XXXX with no letter prefix that I can find. By using the search function both on this forum and over at TFL, I have found that this is an oddity. Any ideas on why this is and when this beauty might have been made?

The finish on the gun appears to be in the 95% range anf the DA pull is like BUTTER. By butter, I mean Smooooth. It has the exposed ejector rod and old style checkered walnut stocks. I can't wait to take her out and see how she shoots.

What are your experiences with this type of gun?

So far I have been a die hard (old) S&W fan, (as in "Em Colts 'er backards!") but depending on how this baby holds up, that may change.

[Edit]
Also, I am looking for a carry rig for this piece. I think that I want either a crossdraw, frontside IWB, or a shoulder rig of sorts. Any one that I get, I would like to be "classic" looking. Any suggestions?

[GrandmasterB]

Looks like it may have been made in 1966.

Congrats on a great revolver!

[Thirties]

Click the "Colt Serial Numbers" link on this page:
http://www.proofhouse.com/
Looks like yours is 1966 -- check in the DA revovlers section on th left frame.

Does this photo look like your gun? Belongs to a friend of mine. A very sweet shooting pistol indeed. I've got my eyes one one of these as well.
http://jellison.50megs.com/images/names.jpg

[Vern Humphrey]

I have, shoot and carry a Detective Special much like yours. Mine also has the exposed ejector rod and has a parkerized finish, serial number 84XXXX. It was apparently "carried a lot and shot a little."

This is a great gun -- I have a foot square rock in my pond, about 100 yards from the porch, and that rock has lead splashings all over it from this little snubby! :p

[Smythe77]

I also have a Colt Detective Special with rnd butt & extractor is guarded by a shroud. Looks almost idential to the one above to even an early set of the Pachmary grips ('77).

Its trigger pull was snagging a bit, at the top, & sent it to a pistolsmith that noted a small error & corrected it. Now it is a super smooth 6 lb trigger pull.

Fact is I was showing my best shooting friends THIS board, saw this Post & the 2" Colt Det Spl. That reminded him that I use to shoot mine at the range though I do around once a month on an evening when he is not shooting.

Hand made under-arm holster rig, a strong arm side by who ever made them for Cdn RCMP & a lovely small of the back made by Horseshoe Leather in the UK. Perfectly molded to that specific gun.

At 74+ yrs of age I do not have the strength in my arms as 10 yrs or farther back still at 15 yds & at a 20 yd target I can basically dump six rounds into the black.

Mind you like a Colt Diamondback DO NOT load Plus P loads in the gun. Still I like the 6 shot in preference to five of the J frames of S&W though I am a strong believer in S&W as being the best when it comes to a revolvers.

[surfinUSA]

I've got a 1969 Detecive special and gave my younger brother a 1961 (long grip) detective special. These are great guns. As you know they carry 6 rounds and fit in most 5 shot S&W J frame holsters. I've never known why colt let this market slip away. Witht he number of shall issue CCW states increasing I can't imagine why they let S&W grab this market.

[kennedy]

I have a 1952 2nd issue that shoots to point of aim, my house gun, and a 1973 3rd issue almost flawless finish, thats sit in the gun safe looking pretty

[Vern Humphrey]

Quote:
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I've got a 1969 Detecive special and gave my younger brother a 1961 (long grip) detective special. These are great guns. As you know they carry 6 rounds and fit in most 5 shot S&W J frame holsters. I've never known why colt let this market slip away. Witht he number of shall issue CCW states increasing I can't imagine why they let S&W grab this market.
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Colt management is a good example why if you're going to hire the handicapped, you should restrict those with mental handicaps to jobs that don't require them to make important decisions.

[Standing Wolf]

...the DA pull is like BUTTER. By butter, I mean Smooooth.

Once upon a time, Colt made the very best.

[Bart Noir]

The DS will also fit rather nicely into a leather holster made for a Ruger SP101. The cylinder flutes don't line up (5 versus 6 issue) but the frame size is so close it works well. Probably same thing with kydex, but I'm not sure, since there isn't the same sort of "give" to the material as with leather.

Bart Noir

[Vern Humphrey]

Here's a picture of my DS -- you can also see the edge of a home-made holster with it -- I prefer to make my own.

[saaman]

http://www.gunpix.com/gallery/Handguns/Double_Action_Revolvers/det%20spl.jpg
This one was circa 1960. I also have a pristine gun from 1975, but like this one better for carry because the worn blue on the sights makes them easier to see and hit targets.

[Skofnung]

saaman,
Other than the "Tgrip" and the worn finish... That's my gun!

Thanks for the replies so far guys.

I think that I want to get an OWB (or IWB?) crossdraw holster that will be worn at the 10:30 or 11:00 position. Any good makers out there?

[Vern Humphrey]

Note that both guns show use of speed loaders -- that's the wear right above the right grip.

I make my own holsters -- much cheaper, and you can experiment with what you like.

[saaman]

Vern, thanks for that information on the wear pattern--I had wondered what caused it. Like you, I make my own holsters and have a lightweight crossdraw for this one.
I was lucky when I bought the gun about 15 years ago. The pawn shop said the action was broken and sure enough it would not cycle. I bought it extra cheap, figuring the repairs would bring my investment even-steven. When I got home I sprayed it thoroughly with wd-40 and let it set overnight. Next day it functioned perfectly, and still does to this day. With the side plate off I could see where it had ben gummed up with cosmoline.

[Vern Humphrey]

Quote:
------------------------------------
The pawn shop said the action was broken and sure enough it would not cycle. I bought it extra cheap, figuring the repairs would bring my investment even-steven. When I got home I sprayed it thoroughly with wd-40 and let it set overnight. Next day it functioned perfectly, and still does to this day.
------------------------------------

The first step in any problem is to clean and lubricate.

My wife has a Chevy Tahoe, with the clamshell doors. We live several miles down gravel roads. She was complaining that her back doors wouldn't unlock, and after several attempts, got them open, and then somehow managed to trip the latch so they wouldn't close again.

I shot brake cleaner into the mechanism, and then let it dry. The next day, it worked fine. I drenched the mechanism in WD-40, and give it a periodic shot every now and then -- and no more problems.

[prezzz]

I bought a Colt DS about 3 weeks ago. Serial range 578,XXX which makes it a 1951 model. Got it for $250.00 I absolutly love this gun. Best snubby I've ever had and I've had many! Sweet gun!

Does it have collector value?

http://members.cox.net/rtset/Colt%20DS.jpg

[sm]

I carry my '28 DS from time to time. Only problem I had was getting used it being "backwards"...I grew up with S&W's. :p

Great Shooter and POA/ POI is spot on. I'm still using the old black hard stocks...has character.

[Vern Humphrey]

Okay, I admit it -- I'm a Colt man. I love my Colts. Here in the Ozarks, we have about 6" of snow, and sitting inside I got bored, and took my old Colt New Service out on the porch and punished a head-sized rock, about a hundred yards away in the pond -- and actually hit it more than once from a standing, unsupported Weaver position.

Yep, I'm a Colt man. :p

[Bullet Bob]

http://www.fototime.com/ED426538D2E73E1/standard.jpg

[Thirties]

Took the plunge yesterday — bought a 1966 Colt Detective special. It came with very large Pachmayr rubber grips, which I'm replacing with Pachmayr Compacs.

What infected me with the DS strain of gun virus was handling and shooting the .38 Sipowicz pictured earlier in this thread. But my friend wouldn't trade or sell his 4th issue.

So now I have my own 2nd issue. But now that I've read up on snub nose .38s, I realize Andy Sipowicz actially carries a Smith Officer's Special So maybe I need to change my name for this gun . . . naw, I like the name.

Will let you know how she shoots.

[Bullet Bob]

What's a Smith "Officers Special"?

[Cosmoline]

Maybe you mean a "chief's special" Model 36 S&W?

[Standing Wolf]

Any good makers out there?

As long as you've got a fine revolver, carry it in a fine holster: http://www.mitchrosen.com

[Thirties]

Sorry guys. I meant Chief's Special as Cosmo said.

[Bronco45]

For a period holster that will conceal but at the same time look retro check Suguaro Gunleather. He's been written up in a couple of gun rags making cool holsters for Fitz Specials.

Having owned several DSes, use +P ammo sparingly and shooting standard pressure 38s for almost all of your practice. Carry the +Ps for Personal Defense. Colts that I have and have shot usually prefer the heavier 38 rounds due to the faster twist bbl.