Colt Official Police Question for you Colt guys

[Radjxf]

I've been a long-time Colt 1911 guy, and my revolvers have all been S&W. I'm considering purchasing an old Official Police for two purposes: my own personal shooting pleasure, and as a home defense weapon for my wife. I'd like to hear any personal opinions on these old revos good or bad.
And yes, I've been warned by the internet experts that "no one can work on these anymore" (any truth to that?), no parts available (might believe that) and trigger is inferior to a S&W.
One particular Official Police I'm checking into is a post-war nickel (any factory nickeled OP's?), nickel looks very good, lettering is nice and crisp, and has the "Coltwood" plastic grips with 4 inch barrel. Thanks

P.S. Yes I'm a Barney Fife fan!

 

[dfariswheel]

In order:

Depending on the age, Colt will still repair the Official Police and there are at least two other companies that are Colt-Qualified, so you CAN get them repaired.

Parts:
The Official Police and an earlier version, the Army Special were made almost unchanged from 1908 to 1969.
The parts from a 2004 Colt Python will largely interchange with a 1927 Official Police.
There are MILLIONS of parts available, most used, but many new.
The only parts that may be tough to find in new condition are cylinders and barrels, and you can usually find usable used ones.

The trigger is DIFFERENT than a S&W. It's not inferior, it just feels different.
The Colt trigger tends to "stack" or get progressively heavier as it's pulled double action.
The "trade-off" is, the Colt has the smoothest trigger of them all.

The Official Police was available in bright nickel through out it's production life.
WWII to early 1950's models had the reddish plastic "Coltwood" grips.

The Official Police was THE "official" police revolver from the early 1900's to the mid-1960's.
It still delivers the goods, and you could do a whole lot worse for a defense revolver.

You can look up the age of your OP in this data base:
http://proofhouse.com/colt/

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Since the lettering is crisp, the plating is surely factory. (Most aftermarket plating will fill up the letters and make them appear blurry.) I'd jump on it myself if I had any money.

 

[Standing Wolf]

The good folks at http://www.cylinder-slide.com are competent to work on Colt revolvers. I didn't say they're quick. I didn't say they're cheap. I said they're competent.

 

[SaxonPig]

I consider the OP a wonderful revolver but be aware it is a large frame gun and the grip may be large for the average woman's hand to hold comfortably. The Police Positive Special is a smaller gun more suited to small hands.

 

[Radjxf]

Thanks guys. Reassuring to know parts are still out there and a few guys can work on them if need be.
I may try to snag that nickel OP, but man, don't know if I can stand those Coltwood grips! Price ($350) seems a bit steep as well. I'm guessing the condition at 80+%, no box or papers. Too high?

 

[aspen1964]

..if not sure..look some more for one with walnut grips..they made hundreds of thousands of them...I have owned several Official Police models and they remain one of my favorite 38s...Barney Fife used one, yes...about 34 oz. of weight...so be sure that isn't too heavy for your wife...solidly built...I occasionally shoot Hi-Speed 38 loads (they move at about 1050 fps)...a first-rate revolver as a shooter and home-protection gun...

 

[Doug.38PR]

I sent my 1944 OP earlier this year (that's action has been worked and smoothed down the stacking sometime in the past) to cylinder & slide because of cylinder end shake, binding against the force cone and to smooth out the force cone a little.

I'm supposed to get it back (REBLUED) sometime next month Just around the corner

 

[slabsides]

I see the OP as a man's gun, with its rather robust trigger action. My sister and later her daughter preferred the smoother action of a pre-war round-butt S&W Military and Police model that had belonged to her cop Father-in-Law. The slightly smaller and lighter frame of the M&P fits a woman's hand a bit better than the burly grip of the .41 frame OP Colt. Just my HO, and limited experience with only two examples...