[customfret]

It shoots GREAT and seems to be surprisingly accurate even with it's 2" barrel. I'm confused about if it's a 1st or 2nd issue, however & haven't been able to find any list of serial #'s on the web to indicate date of manufacture. It's a 38 Spl. cal. with bottom wrap wood grips, no ejector shroud & ser # A30XXX. Can anyone give me any more information on this nice little revolver? Date of manufacture perhaps?

I'd been looking for a "J" frame Smith, but this Colt is almost as small & holds 6 rounds. I also shot smaller groups with it today when I tried it out, than I did with my S&W M15-2, which I've been practicing with regularly. :)

[Hkmp5sd]

If it doesn't have an ejector shroud, it is a 1st Issue. One of the changes with the 2nd Issue was an ejector shroud.

[Old Fuff]

According to my listing your Detective Special was made in 1969. I'm not sure, but I believe the short butt/unshrouded barrel is the second model. The original Detective Special was introduced in 1927 and was the first .38 Special snub-nose to be offered as a cataloged item.

[Kahr carrier]

Congrats on your new Colt.:)

[Hkmp5sd]

Old Fuff,

You may be correct. I'm not sure. One reference I have states the 1st Issue didn't have a shroud. It says that the 2nd Issue had the ejector shroud and the other change was the addition of wrap-around checkered walnut grips. This one has no shroud, yet does have the wraparound grips. They made the 1st Issue until 1972.

[Gordon]

Old Fuff is (always) right. First issue DS were pre war. Second issue had no ejector shroud and non wrapped stocks until 69.69 to 71had wraped stocks. Third issue from 72 until the DSII had ejector shrouds and some stock (rubber) changes and serrating differences but had same lock work ect. I think with out going to Colt book yours was made 69-71. These are some of the finest DS's with modern metalurgy and real good finish. Some of the later 3rd issues can get spotty for quality but usually shoot real good . I love the small frame post WWII Colts and have quite a few.I missed the Magnum Carry and dont think I will ever get one.:(

[Lone Star]

1926-31 Det. Specials had square butts. 1931-1958 had rounded butts, but short extractor rods. After 1958, longer rods. After 1972, shrouded rods.

Don't know precisely when the unshrouded guns went to short butt frames like on the Agent.

Lone Star

[Gordon]

I forgot those difference Lonestar , thanks, like I said I am a post 58 man for DS's and agents and Cobras and Police Positive specials, and Diamond backs. Did Colt ever make this frame in .22WRF?I wouldn't mind a pre WWII one of those if they did!:confused:

[Lone Star]

.22 WRF? I checked a couple of books for you just now, and they don't show it. BUT... a friend told me a couple of years ago that he'd seen one in a store and was puzzled because he couldn't locate a reference to it. I think it was a Banker's Special. I believe him.

Some guns just don't seem to be "listed". And some may have been special order, non-catalogued pieces.

The Diamondback was, I think, once available in .22 MAGNUM rimfire, but that's a different round.

Lone Star

[Gordon]

Thank you sir. I too think I saw a police positive target for sale 10 years ago in .22WRF and of course I should have bought it but it was $300 as I remember.I have a 1890 Win in .22WRF I enjoy shooting occasionally.

[ruger357]

Good luck, nice gun. I've been looking forone myself.

[Old Fuff]

The Old Fuff is gratified by some kind remarks that have been made on this thread, but must point out that he operates from a base of over a half-century of experience combined with an excellent reference library. While he is often right he is not always so, and if you separate him from his books – which sometimes happens – he may flounder a bit.

The Colt Detective Special is an interesting subject. Unfortunately no one has yet written a definitive history about it and various authorities have assigned classifications to different periods of manufacture which don’t always agree with each other. Hence the confusion over what is a “First Model, “Second Model,” etc.

I would suggest that we might barrow a page from Smith & Wesson’s book and refer to a few basic “types” that are sub-divided into different “issues”. Perhaps the following might suffice. If not anyone who wishes can expand on it.

First Type = Those made before and during World War Two.

Second Type = Those made with a “full-butt” frame following World War Two.

Third Type = Those made on the “short-butt” frame.

Third Type, First Issue = Those with a round barrel.

Third Type, Second Issue = Those with a shrouded barrel.

Fourth Type = Those with recent lockwork that incorporated a transfer bar safety.

Of course everyone is invited to kick all of this around. The Old Fuff is well aware that he in not any kind of ultimate authority.

It should also be remembered that not all Detective Special’s had 2” barrels. Some were made with ones’ running to 3 inches and in many ways they were more practical weapons then the true “snubbies,” defined to mean those with barrels running 2 inches and less. (Yes, a few were produced on special order with barrels under 2 inches). In any case those with the 3” length are much scarcer then the “snubs” and if you should happen to find one you’ll have a good shooter with a potential collector’s value sometime down the road. Rest assured that the Old Fuff has his eyes pealed.

While they don’t always come this way, an experienced pistol-smith can do wonders with the action – which is similar to the famous Python but scaled down. A light, small revolver is at best difficult to shoot accurately and a good action job can make all the difference. (The Old Fuff highly recommends Cylinder & Slide in Nebraska for this work). In his younger days the Fuff was known to dump 6 shots into the center of a police silhouette target at a measured 100 yards with a tuned “Dick Special” and his friends and associates never regarded him to be a particularly good shooter.

[Poohgyrr]

Congrats on your DS

I stumbled onto a used one a few years back and was able to snatch it up before anyone else. These are nice, and need to be reintroduced.

[customfret]

Thanks so much for the DS information! I have the Standard Catalogue of S&W, so with a little reading have been able to locate & identify where all my Smiths fall into the grand scheme of Smith history...but I didn't have a clue with this Colt. I did happen to spot it in the display case of my local dealer when I went in for some bore brushes. It was very clean...95%-98%.... lockup was very tight, & it just looked "right". The gun shop owner told me he had just bought it from a guy needing money & had run the numbers through the state database to make sure it didnt' "hit" on the hot list. I don't know much about Colts, but it did have that archaic looking non-shrouded ejector rod & I figured I better not spend too much time time thinking about it or that choice would be made for me....so I bought it.

YAH-HOO! Loaded up some wadcutters this mornign & this little sucker groups a full inch tighter than my 4" M-10, 2" M-15 & 3" M-65 Smiths from 25 yds off a bench rest!
Pretty doggone amazing little revolver!

[Standing Wolf]

My Detective Special (circa 1981) is an amazingly accurate little pistol, and very well made inside and out-. I can't imagine Colt would ever reissue the model, since it would cost a fortune to manufacture.

[10-Ring]

Very cool! I've run into one too, but it's a consignment gun and he price tag is $600. Everytime I walk in, I offer them $400. Maybe one day, they'll take the offer.
Congrats!

[Hkmp5sd]

Thanks for the information, Fuff! Do you happen to have a list of serial number ranges for the assorted type/issues?

[customfret]

YIKES!

So......$329 was an "OK" price???