Colt Detective Special & Colt Agent value

[charlieclark]

I am trying to determine the value for a Colt Detective Special and a Colt Agent. Both are blued with the 2" barrels. Both were made in the 70's. The DS has a shroud around the ejector rod and has wood grips w/o a colt Medallion. The Agent does not have a Shroud around the ejector rod and has wood grips with a Colt medallion. Both are in 98% condition. Thanks.

 

[BSA1]

I just brought a Colt Police Positive Special blue finish 70's model (same your D.S. only with 4" barrel) in similar condition for $ 450.00. I think it was $50.00 too high but they are hard to come by.

 

[Starter52]

Your Detective Special sells for $450-$550 in most areas. The grips are correct for that model. The unshrouded Agent sounds like a pre-1970's edition. Did you check proofhouse.com for DOB?

 

[rswartsell]

Charlie,

We are at the moment in a part of the rapidly escalating Colt DA inflationary curve that says that good of an example of the DS (98%) would be a very good deal at $ 500.00. Perhaps a bit more depending on the area of the country. You won't be stealing them at that price but many will go for more right now.

The Cobras will generally command more than an Agent (and be on a relatively even scale with the DS) as they were a bit "higher finish". On the other hand Agents are found less frequently than Cobras and certainly less frequently than DS. The collectors trying to fill out the Colt set may spend a bit more than expected on the Agent but I would want it at a lesser price than the DS. There are "snake gun" collectors among these Colt-o-holics that are trying to posses an example of every Colt with a snake name. The Agent (and to a lesser degree the iconic DS) lack that additional inflationary "push".

Hope that helps and any estimate with good Colt DAs is a very perishable commodity. They are going up that rapidly, and they won't get cheaper with time.

 

[MagnunJoe]

How much would u pay 4 this puppy? From early 80s, I rate her @ 96%

 

[rswartsell]

I don't like the bright line of the side-plate edge above the thumb-piece. The edges of the side-plate all around say refinish. That line should be all but invisible. Even with that MagnumJoe, I wouldn't doubt for an instant that you could get the $500.00 previously stated.

 

[rklessdriver]

$450-$550 around here on both.

I have a couple DS's and couple of Cobras that I have bought over the past 10yrs in the $400-$500 range. I have passed up buying a number of Agents because they were all the dull ugly finish... In the future I might not pass up another nice one in that price range.

They are getting harder to come by these days but IMO none of the D Frame COLTS are valuable as anything other than a great carry peice.
Will

 

[lowercase]

Anything Colt goes for big money where I'm at in Western WA.

The last Detective Special I saw at the LGS was a late 1970s model in about 98% condition for $750. It sold the first day it was displayed.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

The last Detective Special I saw at the LGS was a late 1970s model in about 98% condition for $750. It sold the first day it was displayed.

Yeah, but that's because a guy like me spotted it and was overcome and shelled out the money.... I have better luck shopping when they are just pictures - there is little to compare to these older hand finished Colt revolvers. With modern revolvers and pistols set side by side with a well kept example of an older gun many gun lovers simply get verklempt and *have* to have it even if they pay $200 too much.

That would be me.... My mother in law owns an '80's Colt DS id very nice condition. I want to buy it - she says no.

VooDoo

 

[highpower]

I bought this DS (1977 model) for $500 a little over a year ago. I don't think I paid too much at all. It was the first one I had seen for sale in over three years.