A disturbance in the Force...

If you like the Dectective Special that NIGHTLORD40K was lucky enough to get, you might also like the Police Positive 4th Issue, which is the same gun with a 4 inch barrel and longer grips:

ColtPP4th.jpg (thumbnail)

It's harder to find than the equivalent Detective Special because Colt only made it for about a year until they realized they could make more money by just making more Diamondbacks, which is the same gun with a Python treatment. But to me, they are one of the best looking revolvers ever made, and they are a delight to shoot because the grip fits my hand perfectly.

The aluminum framed version, called the Viper, is even rarer. I think the equivalent aluminum framed DS was the Agent.

PS - This is not my picture. I got it from post #13 of this Colt Forum thread: https://www.coltforum.com/threads/update-i-got-it-police-positive-4th-issue.391746/
 
Mark_Mark said:
P-38 is the Coolest Modern Gun out there!

I’m looking for one too! & a C96 & a Black Widow
Click to expand...

I have a C96 Bolo in 9mm (it has a Red 9 on the grips). It is a cool gun but not a fun shooter. My P38 is a great shooter and much more fun. The genetics of so many modern da/sa pistols are so evident in it. Especially Beretta.

index.php


I am not familiar with Black Widows?
 
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MikeInOr said:
I have a C96 Bolo in 9mm. It is a cool gun but not a fun shooter. My P38 is a great shooter and much more fun. The genetics of so many modern da/sa pistols are so evident in it. Especially Beretta.

index.php


I am not familiar with Black Widows?
Click to expand...
they had a C96 Bolo in 30 Mauser or Luger a few months back! I should have bought it. But the bore was completely done
 
Mark_Mark said:
they had a C96 Bolo in 30 Mauser or Luger a few months back! I should have bought it. But the bore was completely done
Click to expand...

My C96 had its barrel re-lined before I bought it so it is no collectors item. It does shoot straight. There just isn't much room in the trigger guard for my finger in front of the trigger. It also doesn't make cool Star Wars "PewWooo" sounds when I pull the trigger like it is supposed to.
 
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Pat Riot said:
Congratulations @NIGHTLORD40K. You made a good deal.

My Colt DS was made in ‘82 and it was the primary carry gun of a Detective Sergeant on the Monterrey County, CA Sheriffs Dept.
It has some scratches and wear which, to me, makes it look great.
I traded @Gordon a Glock 26 and a few mags for it. I think I got a good deal on that trade. Actually, I got a great deal on that trade. 😁

here it is pictured with my S&W 36
View attachment 1194162
It shoots great with my wadcutter loads. I didn’t get it for carry. I got it because i had wanted a Colt DS since i was a little kid watching “cops & robbers” shows and movies. I have this corny joke my wife rolls her at, but the Colt Detective Special that even Superman is afraid of. He ducks when one is thrown at him. 😄
Click to expand...
Nice pair!
 
MikeInOr said:
My C96 had its barrel re-lined before I bought it so it is no collectors item. It does shoot straight. There just isn't much room in the trigger guard for my finger in front of the trigger. It also doesn't make cool Star Wars "PeeWooo" sounds when I pull the trigger like it is supposed to.
Click to expand...
my shop had 2 C96 (bolo and normal) they were both sold to Star Wars Collectors
 
Mark_Mark said:
my shop had 2 C96 (bolo and normal) they were both sold to Star Wars Collectors
Click to expand...
You just reminded me…A few years ago I was in my LGS (it was a tactical shop, mostly) and a guy came in and was talking to one of the clerks. I heard the clerk say “I will have to get John.” John was the owner.
I noticed the guy had a wooden display box.
John came out and he’s talking to the guy. The guy, who looked very much out of place in a gun store, opened the box and pulled out a nice looking Mauser broom handle pistol.
That got my attention.
John took the gun, looked at it and said “This pistol is in great condition. Are you sure you wamt to do that to this gun?”
The guy said “Yes”
John handed him his gun back and said “Nope. We won’t do that work here. Why don’t you sell that one, buy a junker and make that your toy?”
The guy got mad and left.
The guy wanted a Mauser in very nice shape turned into a cosplay Han Solo blaster. John sent him packing.
He went up quite a few notches in my book that day.
 
Pat Riot said:
You just reminded me…A few years ago I was in my LGS (it was a tactical shop, mostly) and a guy came in and was talking to one of the clerks. I heard the clerk say “I will have to get John.” John was the owner.
I noticed the guy had a wooden display box.
John came out and he’s talking to the guy. The guy, who looked very much out of place in a gun store, opened the box and pulled out a nice looking Mauser broom handle pistol.
That got my attention.
John took the gun, looked at it and said “This pistol is in great condition. Are you sure you wamt to do that to this gun?”
The guy said “Yes”
John handed him his gun back and said “Nope. We won’t do that work here. Why don’t you sell that one, buy a junker and make that your toy?”
The guy got mad and left.
The guy wanted a Mauser in very nice shape turned into a cosplay Han Solo blaster. John sent him packing.
He went up quite a few notches in my book that day.
Click to expand...
SMH
My Dad has a really rough C-96, which is just barely restorable, but would require a barrel chop and swap (among other things) to be shootable again. IIRC, he paid $25 for it at a show in the early 80s. I used to run around in the woods, playing Han Solo with my friends and making "pew pew" noises with it.
I aquired all the bits necessary to do a good blaster replica conversion, but he wouldn't let me drill on it, so I had to use hot-melt glue and spray paint. I actually cosplay carried it at a couple conventions, a movie premier, and several Halloweens. Nobody questioned that the 12yo Han Solo might actually have a (legally) real (non-functional) handgun. I'm hoping to get it restored someday....

My buddy is a manager at a large local theater. Their policy is that cosplayers may mingle and and take pictures outside, but any fantasy weapons are collected at the door, photgraphed, logged, signed for, and returned when the guests leave. Some high-quality replicas are worth hundreds of dollars, so it protects everyone that way.
He was showing me the picture files one day and I zoomed in on one that began life as a full-auto Astra A-902 before someone converted it to a Han Solo blaster. It may have had a fake upper, but the lower receiver looked complete and was either a registered MG or totally contraband!
 
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NIGHTLORD40K said:
SMH
My Dad has a really rough C-96, which is just barely restorable, but would require a barrel chop and swap (among other things) to be shootable again.
Click to expand...
According to the guy I bought my C-96 from (at a gun show) the original barrel was bored out and a new 9mm barrel liner was soldered in. It might be an option for your fathers C-96
 
MikeInOr said:
According to the guy I bought my C-96 from (at a gun show) the original barrel was bored out and a new 9mm barrel liner was soldered in. It might be an option for your fathers C-96
Click to expand...
His .30 barrel is really badly pitted on the outside- I doubt there is enough material left to do a 9mm liner.

Another common repair for these back in the day was to cut the barrel off in front of the chamber, then bore and thread the upper for a screw-in 9mm barrel. Ive seen several of those conversions and the quality ranges from terrible to almost factory produced. There used to be an outfit in Miami that specialized in that work, but doubt they are still around. Still, it's a simple enough procedure for a skilled machinist.
 
Last edited:
Pat Riot said:
You just reminded me…A few years ago I was in my LGS (it was a tactical shop, mostly) and a guy came in and was talking to one of the clerks. I heard the clerk say “I will have to get John.” John was the owner.
I noticed the guy had a wooden display box.
John came out and he’s talking to the guy. The guy, who looked very much out of place in a gun store, opened the box and pulled out a nice looking Mauser broom handle pistol.
That got my attention.
John took the gun, looked at it and said “This pistol is in great condition. Are you sure you wamt to do that to this gun?”
The guy said “Yes”
John handed him his gun back and said “Nope. We won’t do that work here. Why don’t you sell that one, buy a junker and make that your toy?”
The guy got mad and left.
The guy wanted a Mauser in very nice shape turned into a cosplay Han Solo blaster. John sent him packing.
He went up quite a few notches in my book that day.
Click to expand...
Good for that dealer… But you know the Star War person found someone that hacked it for them. Hopefully… no, it’s gone man.

Star War nutz have more disposable income and need validation more then use gun people can ever dream. Disney had/has a $5,000 a night SW theme Hotel!
 
Nice Detective Special!

I briefly owned one of these in my mid 20's:
SF-VI/DS-II were 1997 - 1999/2000

I first saw a 4th gen at a Gun Show in Minnesota in 1996. I was in college at the time and an out of stater from Illinois. I didn't think I could buy anything knowing Illinois' gun laws. I then watched a guy walk up to the table, grab the Colt DS, hand the seller cash, and walk away. No paperwork.

It blew my mind!
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
SMH
My Dad has a really rough C-96, which is just barely restorable, but would require a barrel chop and swap (among other things) to be shootable again. IIRC, he paid $25 for it at a show in the early 80s. I used to run around in the woods, playing Han Solo with my friends and making "pew pew" noises with it.
I aquired all the bits necessary to do a good blaster replica conversion, but he wouldn't let me drill on it, so I had to use hot-melt glue and spray paint. I actually cosplay carried it at a couple conventions, a movie premier, and several Halloweens. Nobody questioned that the 12yo Han Solo might actually have a (legally) real (non-functional) handgun. I'm hoping to get it restored someday....

My buddy is a manager at a large local theater. Their policy is that cosplayers may mingle and and take pictures outside, but any fantasy weapons are collected at the door, photgraphed, logged, signed for, and returned when the guests leave. Some high-quality replicas are worth hundreds of dollars, so it protects everyone that way.
He was showing me the picture files one day and I zoomed in on one that began life as a full-auto Astra A-902 before someone converted it to a Han Solo blaster. It may have had a fake upper, but the lower receiver looked complete and was either a registered MG or totally contraband!
Click to expand...
I have nothing against Cosplayers at all. Heck i dressed up like an late 1800’s Cowboy and shot at imaginary steel bad guys for years. :rofl:

I really don’t mind someone modifying some old useless gun to use as a prop, but a very nice looking collectible kind of grinds my gears, but i am always saying “Your money, your gun. Do as you please.” so I guess I am a selective hypocrite. :confused: I should remember my own words sometimes.

I don’t recall if the owner of my favorite gun store at the time tried to convince the guy he could use something else. I do know he said he offered to buy it at a hefty price, but I don’t recall the details. I was there to buy a gun and filling out docs so my attention was on that.
 
MikeInOr said:
I have a C96 Bolo in 9mm (it has a Red 9 on the grips). It is a cool gun but not a fun shooter. My P38 is a great shooter and much more fun. The genetics of so many modern da/sa pistols are so evident in it. Especially Beretta.

index.php


I am not familiar with Black Widows?
Click to expand...
DWM/NIN P08 9mm $1650

what do you think? I have a 70’s Mauser in .30 Luger, looks way unfired. And an Artillery 9mm Luger.

Or should I hold off for a C96 and/or P38??

Thing is, I’ll eventually move away from these honey hole shops and I know these gun will be impossible to find in the wilds
 
Mark_Mark said:
DWM/NIN P08 9mm $1650

what do you think? I have a 70’s Mauser in .30 Luger, looks way unfired. And an Artillery 9mm Luger.

Or should I hold off for a C96 and/or P38??

Thing is, I’ll eventually move away from these honey hole shops and I know these gun will be impossible to find in the wilds
Click to expand...

I think the P08 is the coolest of the 3. The P38 is definitely the most shootable of the 3. I am SO out of touch with prices I have no idea what things are worth these days.

Personally, a lot of the enjoyment I get out of these classic firearms is being able to experience how they function, how they are put together and what firing them is like. So I have never felt the need to have multiples of the same pistol. Even though I "should" have bought multiple $79 Nagants and $99 CZ-52's. If you already have a couple P08's will you enjoy another one as much as a different classic pistol, even if the new P08 is a different model?
 
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