[sevenbark]

Could someone tell me the pros and cons to this gun, 3rd-Issue, Blued, mfd. 1976, S/N M33xxx. It is being sold for $395 Thanks

[kennedy]

all good, no bad

[Cosmoline]

IIRC that date puts it in the post Mark III generation of Colts with the new mechanism. There should not be any timing issues with it.

[sevenbark]

So does the 3rd issue one have timing issues? The dealer says this gun is Third issue, maybe off on his date. Is there a web site to check against serial#?

[Standing Wolf]

There are only two drawbacks to the Detective Special:

1. It's a .38 special rather than .357 magnum revolver.

2. It's not rated for regular shooting of +P loads.

In all other respects, it's as close to a perfect revolver as anyone's ever made.

[BozemanMT]

damn fine gun
nice fit, nice size, and well, it's pretty.

[sevenbark]

Gota love the new guy, sorry for the incomplete original question up front! what is the make up of this gun, are they are steel? And would it be ok to put a few +p through it and carry. I think it was a S&W m37 I had years ago and I did not know any better and it seemed that the cylinder got loose due to +p at about 100 rounds. Thats all I could stand would have rather held firecrackers in my hand and set them off.

[Croyance]

Proofhouse (http://www.proofhouse.com) says it was made in '76.
I happen to not like the stacking in Detective Specials, but that is me. Other than that it is a good gun.

[Whitewolf 508]

I have been carrying mine on a regular basis for about 2 years. My only 2 complaints were that speedloaders would not work with the stock wood grips and that the hammer spur was razor sharp. I got Pachmayer compacs to solve the first problem. I used a dremel to round the edges on the hammer spur to eliminate the second.

The gun shoots right to point of aim and I can get 3 inch groups at 7 yards unsupported. To me, that is worthwhile. I use Aguila standard 158 gr for practice and carry the 135 grain Federal +Ps for defense.:)

[Standing Wolf]

I happen to not like the stacking in Detective Specials, but that is me.

Much of the stacking can be alleviated with good gunsmithing. I still don't care for it a lot, but the crispness of a Colt revolver trigger hasn't been matched by any other revolver trigger I've ever pulled.

[Croyance]

That's why I point out it is a taste thing. But who do you really trust to play with a Colt's internals?
And I understand the arguement for stacking, but I don't think it applies to a self defence/service pistol.

[dfariswheel]

sevenbark:

The Colt Detective Special is THE classic "snubby" revolver.
It's 100% steel, and the version you're looking at was factory rated for "up to" 3000 rounds of +P ammo before possibly needing a new frame.

These days, the gun is out of production and there ARE no replacement frames, so the less +P you shoot, the better.
Most people practice with standard .38 Specials, and load up the +P for "business" use.

The Detective Special is about the perfect snubby in that it's just big enough to get a good shooting grip on, but small enough to conceal well.
The sixth shot can be a life-saver.

The DS is famous for it's accuracy, almost always better than any other snub revolver, and it's always been a definite step above all the other snub guns for quality, fit, and finish.
Due to the larger cylinder of the DS, the offset cylinder locking notches, and the beefier frame, the DS is the strongest of the .38 Special snubs.

About the only "downers" are the higher price, and the "different" feeling Colt double action trigger.
People "raised" on S&W or Ruger DA's often take some getting used to the Colt "stacking" trigger which gets slightly heavier as the trigger is pulled in double action.
This is purely a matter of personal taste, and it's something that you just adjust to.

From 1927 to the mid-1960's, the Detective Special was the "Gold standard" in small revolvers, and just about every detective and off-duty cop owned one.
Like the 1911 auto it still "delivers the goods" when needed and does it with a certain amount of class and style no other snub ever quite matched.

[defiant73a]

dfariswheel -

Cosmoline wrote (#3):
IIRC that date [1976] puts it in the post Mark III generation of Colts with the new mechanism. There should not be any timing issues with it.
Didn't a 1976 Detective Special still use the "classic" Colt lockwork not the Mark III lockwork?

A modified Mark III lockwork wasn't used until the SVII, DSII and Magnum Carry--NOT that the "classic" Detective Special was subject to any "timing issues."

[sevenbark]

I do not know if this is corret to put in the thread for whatever reson but the gun I am looking at is GunsAmerica Stock # 976661815. I am going to do more research when I return from a weekend trip.I do not know the product line but would like to get a ccw and a piece of history at the same time. Buying online is scary, only because of the cost of shipping back if I reject the gun. Thinking of gun shows past hind sight well you know the story. Well lets get on the road and thanks to everyone has been great as always.

[dfariswheel]

defiant73a:

You're right.
The Detective Special used the old Colt action right up until it was discontinued in the mid-1990's and replaced by the entirely new SF-VI, later known as the DS-II.

There is no "Mark III" small frame Colt. Possibly the poster meant the Mark III guns like the Trooper Mark III/King Cobra, of which the SF-VI/DS-II/Magnum Carry are a modification.

[kennedy]

I have one for sale, if interested e-mail me