Colt Agent

[brutus51]

Went to the local range this morning for some target practice, had a great morning as I finally found the sweet spot in reloads for my CZ 85 combat
( it's been an ongoing battle with the powder shortage). As I was leaving I happened past the used firearm case, as I'm want to do, even though I know better. There in the case was a Colt Agent which I immediately dismissed as I confused it with the Cobra aluminum frame model, still my eyes kept being drawn to it. Finally I asked the clerk to see it. That's when I discovered it was an all steel DS with a pakerized finish. The lock work was as tight as could be, the bore perfect. I don't think the gun was ever fired. Trying to barter was useless as they would have no part of it. Needless to say come Wednesday I will be the proud owner of a Colt Agent. Think I may have paid a bit of a premium but it was in such pristine condition I couldn't resist. A quick check at Gunbroker has samples ranging anywhere from $400 to $800. Can anyone provide me with some info on this model?
Who makes holsters and speed loaders?
What's a good reload for target practice?
What's a good .38 special for self defense?
Can it safely handle +P loads.
This is my first snub nosed revolver and I've always lusted for a DS.

 

[VA27]

The Agent was alloy framed. If it says Agent on the barrel it should be alloy framed. If it says Agent on the barrel and it has a steel frame it may be a parts gun or some rare factory goof-up.

If it's steel framed and parkerized (and has a shrouded ejector rod) it's a version of the Detective Special called the Commando Special (not to be confused with the WWII parkerized Official Police called the Commando). It was only made a coupla years (84-86?). Do a serial # search and see when it was mfg.

I haven't seen one in years. It could be a great find! I'm jealous!

ETA: It will use any Detective Special holster and speed-loader (HKS).
Any wadcutter load will do for practice. Any quality factory load (even +P) will be fine for carry. I like the Rem/Win/Fed 158gr +P LSWHP or wadcutters from the same mfg's.

 

[brutus51]

Interesting, it has a shrouded barrel but is clearly marked Agent on the barrel.
The frame is definitely steel and the finish pakerized. I never saw anything like it and have been keeping an eye out for a DS for a long time.
Thought the aluminum alloy gun was called a Cobra.

 

[dfariswheel]

Colt made three guns that were all essentially variations on the Detective Special.

The Detective Special was steel framed.
The Cobra was the DS with an aluminum frame.
The Agent was an aluminum frame version that used a shorter wood grip. It was intended to be a deep concealment version.

If the gun you're looking at has an Agent marked barrel but the frame is steel (check with a magnet) it's a Detective Special that's been rebarreled.

This is often a point of confusion with Colt revolvers. The only place the model name was stamped was on the barrel, and most any barrel could be installed on most any frame.
This is why people are certain they have a rare, unknown factory Detective Special with an aluminum frame, or a Cobra or Agent with a steel frame.
What they have is a frame that's been rebarreled.

Also, since all the Colt "D" frame revolvers shared the same serial number ranges after the mid-1960's, even the serial number won't tell you what model it is.

Be assured, if it has a steel frame it's not an Agent or Cobra.

 

[Leanwolf]

Colt also made a Det. Special back in the 1980s called the "Colt Commando," .38 Spec. It was all steel and if I remember, it had a type of blackish "parkerized" finish. My brother bought one new at a gun store and still has it. It is his CCW piece. I haven't seen it for several years as he lives in a distant State, but I certainly remember it.

I have seen them on the gun store's shelf when I lived in Los Angeles several years ago. Wish I'd bought one when they were still available.

L.W.

 

[David E]

The Colt Commando was brought out to use up the existing parts Colt had on hand. Money was tight for Colt then and they needed an easy money maker. The Commando filled the bill by using parts already in stock. It didn't receive the fit (side plate not flush with frame) and finish (bead blasted then parkerized finish to hide flaws) of the regular guns. Despite these shortcuts, the action was fine and the gun was solid.

Sounds like this is what you have.

 

[dfariswheel]

The Colt Commando was brought out to use up the existing parts Colt had on hand

No.
The Colt Commando Special was a limited issue model made during the big Colt strike of the mid-1980's when they didn't have enough qualified polishers to do the high level polishing to all models.
Colt put what polishers they had on the Python and higher level models, and issued a series of revolvers with unpolished, flat black finishes.

The strike unpolished Detective Special was the Commando Special. (Again, not to be confused with the WWII Commando, which was a parkerized Official Police).

The strike flat black version of the Trooper Mark V was the Peacekeeper.

The Cobra was made with a flat black finish but retained the Cobra name.

The Agent had been made with a flat black finish since 1982.

As soon as the strike was over the Commando Special and Peacekeeper were discontinued and Colt went back to the polished blue versions.

 

[pinehtr]

My wife has a Colt agent parkerized She bought in the early 80s.the cylinder and barrel is darker than the frame. A magnet wont stick to the frame.
That gun has not had much more than 50 rounds through it.

 

[45crittergitter]

I have had both steel and aluminum framed Agents. I bought the steel one by mistake, thinking that all Agents were aluminum. Apparently steel Agents are not unheard of. Live and learn.

 

[royal barnes]

As has already been stated there is no such thing as an all steel Agent. Agents had alloy frames.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have had my hands on many Agents, but have yet to see one with a steel frame....The OP likely has a rebarreled DS previously stated.

 

[brutus51]

My mistake, once I got the gun home I quickly discovered it is an alloy framed gun. I was under the misconception that aluminum could not be parkerized. Still the thing is in mint condition and I really like it's light weight and handiness so I'm happy I bought it. Took it to the range the other day and was very pleased with it's performance. Only complaints, it wore a blister on the web of my hand and boy, that thing gets hot after sustained fire. Shot off 100 rounds of std. pressure 38 specials. Now with some brass to reload, this week I loaded up some 158gr SWC, 50 rounds with 3.2gr. of red dot and 50 rounds with 3.8gr of WW231. Going to the range today where I will chornograph the results. Let you all know what the results were when I get back.

 

[Gordon]

That run of Agents make the best pocket rocket ever IMHO, I am on my third I wore out the first blued one in mid 70s shooting +p+ treasury loads (issued), Second one was carried from early 80s to mid 90s and was shot all the time as it was handy. It was getting loose but still fully servicable when sold in 1998 . I found my present one the next year NIB so carry it and an old Flat Latch S&W model 37 in Mika pocket holster (either fits) depending on pants worn.

 

[george burns]

Many of those nice older guns won't take +p rounds.. You should check on which generation yours is, like with Detective Special models, only the last series were recommender for +p. You could probably get away with carrying them just as your carry load, but not a steady diet.

 

[Dframe]

Congratulations on your find. See posts from VA22 and Dfariswheel above for comprehensive accurate information about your gun. I have one just like it and it's accurate, light and very handy,(like all D frames).