.38 D-frames

I’ll play, from 1978.

I only had one Colt D frame in all of the handguns I have had over the years. I bought it new in the late '70s and it's fit and finish were impeccable. The bluing was exceptional and the gun itself spoke volumes as to how well Colt use to make them. And maybe that was the problem: I never gave any S&W J frame a second thought when it came time to carry it but for some reason I felt this Detective Special was just too nice to even think about putting it in a holster.

So for a number of years I kept it around as a sort of back-up for home defense duty. Then one day something else caught my eye (probably a self-loader), and since I wasn't using it at all, down the road it went. If I were to do it over again I think I would look for an older Detective Special or Agent; one with the old style exposed ejector rod.

Howdy

I don't have as many Colt 38s as I do Smiths.

Not as familiar with Colt frame sizes either, so this thread is a good learning experience for me.

I had to look up the SN on this Detective Special, so that was a good thing too. The blue is almost 100% but the grips are really worn.

1934.






A Police Postive Special from 1952. This is the third cartridge revolver I bought, in 1975, after my S&W Model 17 and Model 19.

It left the factory in 1952.






A real nice Police Positive Special from 1922.






Another Police Positive Special from 1932.

I received that Diamondback in my previous post as a gift. It was used, sitting in a pawnshop. Not trying to look a gift horse in the mouth, but just curious what it would have sold for new in 1978. Any idea what a 4” blue Diamondback.22 sold for back then?

J-Bar

Back in 1978, according to Gun Digest from that year, the retail price for a blued 4" barrel Diamondback, in .22LR or .38 Special, was $211.95. This was up approximately $15 from the previous year's retail price. A nickel plated finish, available in .38 Special only, would have cost you $4 more over the blued version.

bannockburn said:

J-Bar

Back in 1978, according to Gun Digest from that year, the retail price for a blued 4" barrel Diamondback, in .22LR or .38 Special, was $211.95. This was up approximately $15 from the previous year's retail price. A nickel plated finish, available in .38 Special only, would have cost you $4 more over the blued version.

Click to expand...

Thank you

And that's why I carried a S&W revolver, the Colts were almost 50% more. Never got that Diamondback I wanted, not enough money in the uniform and equipment allowance they gave us. lol

Cobra



Agent



Detective Special

New one.

I’ve wanted a last version 4” Police Positive (with the shrouded ejector rod) for years. Some day...

Colt's snubbies are still surprisingly affordable. Is pressure from J frames and LCR's keeping prices down?

I'm not in the market for a snubnose right now, but it sure is tough walking past those walnut grips and gorgeous blueing.

Purchased brand new a long time ago (came with the Pachmayr Presentation grips), for $279.99 from the White Elephant store in Spokane Washington. .22 lr, I foolishly traded off a 4" .22, as well as a mint 4" .38 Special.

Colts' D frame makes up most of my accumulation. I fell in love with it decades ago and the rest as they say is history.

I dont know anything about Colt frame sizes. I have this Army Special that's from 1921 or so, IIRC. Is it a D frame?

Your Army Special is an I or E frame. I forget which. . The I and E frame Colts are very similar. The Python is included in that series. I believe the only major difference is in the frame mounted firing pin.

It's a nice shooter. The trigger and sights are noticeably better than my Smiths from the same era.

My Colts include:

A Model 1849 pocket revolver
A Colt .25 Auto
A Detective Special (1950s-era)
A Woodsman, 1938
A Police Special (now in my oldest daughter's custody)
An M357 (basically a Python without the cosmetics)
A Single Action in .357
An Argentine M1927 (basically an M1911A1 made on Colt machinery, under Colt supervision)
A Colt Service Ace .22 conversion kit for the above
A Colt New Service in .45 Colt