A Real Find

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exbrit49

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Found this yesterday for a $100 from a private seller.
It’s a 1965 Colt Detective Special, Series 2 from 1965. 38 Sp caliber.
It’s got some carrying wear to the bluing but its condition over all is pretty darn good for its age. Mechanically its top notch and the timing is smack on. The seller told me her husband had carried it almost daily for over 25 years.
Had to take it down to the range to test it out and was stunned with the results. The full silhouette target was already up when I got to the range, someone had been practicing body shots. The head was unmarked , sooooooooooo I stepped back 10 yards and fired the first shot DA and the other 10 were fired single action. I was stunned to see the grouping and even more impressed with the little Colt. I had expected some muzzle blast and flash from that 2 inch barrel. It was a dream to shoot with my Hot reloads. The other thing I noticed was that this little beaut is a natural pointer, it almost places itself on target. When I looked at the resale value I was very pleasantly surprised, but I am not going to sell it! Going to put a couple more boxes of ammo through it to ensure reliability, If it passes all my tests, this will become my summer carry.
Just goes to show those beautiful old Colts and S&W are still out there! Will keep on looking for more bargains.
 

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I'm sure Jim K didn't type "you stole it" then deleted. Nope, no way. But then again that's what the o.p wants to hear, but then again maybe not. Wonder what's at the matinee tomorrow.....hhmmm..:rolleyes:
 
exbrit49

Nice bit of "bargain hunting"! Not much on looks but brother, can she cook!
 
To the right person more that the purchase price. During our lifetimes we may encounter gifts from the gods, we may not. Regardless of that IMHO and that of many others you have an example of the finest snubby ever made.

In the long and hallowed history of Colt, they have produced some true classics that stand the test of time and they have occasionally missed the mark. Some true Smith and Wesson fans (such as myself) would take such an example over any Smith snubby ever made for serious use.

YMMV
 
RIght on the money RSWartsel

I am also a a S&W nut when it comes to the older models. I also love the Dan Wesson's. The fit and finish on these classics is just not available on today's firearms. most of my collection is centered around these 1960s and 1970s things of beauty. The original bluing and the beautiful walnut grips are just not there on the modern firearms, these older models were made without CNC and were pretty much hand fitted and it shows in every respect!
Yes I also have modern semi autos but its these older classics that usually go along during my range time.
It wasn't the 100 dollars, it was the opportunity to own that Detective Special. Yes, its 50 years old but its still a wonderful shooter.
Cant help but wonder how many of the composites will be around fifty years from now.
Update on the reliability testing: Went down to the range again yesterday and put well over 100 rounds through it. Same results as the initial trial. I tried approx 30 rounds of my low pressure loads and 30 medium pressure and 20 of the high pressure loads and really couldn't see or feel much difference, used the same 10 yard line and all the shots were nicely clustered.
Yes I am one lucky son of a gun (pun intended) and consider myself very lucking in being able to add such a classic to my collection at such a moderate price.
 
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Great Find, ExBrit!

So I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but no one else has.

Colt revolvers go out of time with incredible rapidity. Right now, (not tomorrow) find a gunsmith who actually knows something about Colt DA revolvers and will work on them. Due to the waning of popularity of revolvers as self-defense tools, the skill level and availability of those who can do such things have dwindled.

But those are neat revolvers with solid history. It will probably grown in value in time to come. An alternative to the special gunsmith is to not shoot it much and keep it for special occasions and future value.
 
So I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but no one else has.

Colt revolvers go out of time with incredible rapidity. Right now, (not tomorrow) find a gunsmith who actually knows something about Colt DA revolvers and will work on them. Due to the waning of popularity of revolvers as self-defense tools, the skill level and availability of those who can do such things have dwindled.
Click to expand...

If my math is correct that Colt is 51 years old. I will venture that most of those on this board (my self included) & any gunsmith you happen to find right now will reach our expiration date before it will go out of time LOL! :D

Fine looking Colt & you did get a great buy!
 
I've owned a number of Colt revolvers: a New Service 45 from 1918 or 1919, a couple of pre-war 38 Special Official Police, a First or Second Issue 32 Police Positive, and several 4th Issue 38 Special Police Positives. I shot all of them. None of them were out of time when I got them, or went out of time when I had them. Just how much shooting does it take to get them out of time?
 
On the one hand I'd say only a very close friend would let a gun like that go for so little. On the other, I'd think one would be inclined to pay a very close friend a fair price...

Just so long as you didn't take advantage of an unknowing widow, I guess. Heck of a buy.
 
Nice!

Wow, I'd have trouble not tearing of my pocket to get out my wallet for that price.
 
For many years Grant Cunningham has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the foremost gunsmiths for dealing with vintage Colts. I'll use the article he posted years ago to address the urban myth of Colt fragility;

http://www.grantcunningham.com/2006/05/is-the-colt-python-revolver-delicate/.

With the number of rounds actually fired by the average user through a snubby, the regular maintenance described in the artcle is not by any stretch of imagination-
with incredible rapidity
Click to expand...

While the "fragility" of any Colt past the Lightning/Thunderer actions is largely the realm of myth, it is true that because it has been some years since the unique actions found in many vintage Colts have been in production, parts and qualified 'smiths are increasingly rare. You may indeed have more trouble repairing an abused example (either abused by excessive pressure loads or unqualified tampering). But "The hand – which is the easiest part to replace – will take the majority of the wear, and is expected to be changed when wear exceeds a specific point." in my experience can still be accomplished without too much pain or difficulty. I believe a worn hand may even be "peened" once without need for replacement. It may be many years depending on use before you come to this.

If currently in good repair and used according to common sense limitations regarding ammunition and handling, you may indeed expect it to outlast you as many, many examples in their second "lifetime" of use and beyond will attest. The finely hand tuned Python actions may require a bit more regular maintenance than the standard Colt, but they are hardly "fragile". These aren't Rohms or Saturday Night Specials of any brand.

P.S. My EDC is a later production DS and I consider it reliable and robust for the forseable future. Some more reliable info for you:
http://www.coltfever.com/Detective_Special.html
 
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I thought $200 Makarov from E. Germany was a good find, but you got me solidly beat. Congratulations on very good find.
 
How can you sleep at night, exbrit? :p I'm just jealous. Nice. Cop's widow? My Dad bought quite a few guns that way, when a member of the force died.
 
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