Colt Army Special- have a question

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postalnut25

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So I have a cop buddy that works full time at the department's range. When other cops want to sell guns, he usually knows about it, because many get sold FTF between cops.

I'm deployed right now, so he emailed me thinking that I might be interested in a gun. There is another cop that is in some money trouble and is selling off most of his guns. My buddy emailed me to see if I would be interested in an old colt.

Here is what I have:
Colt Army Special
1924 manufacture
32-20 WCF caliber
$500 asking price
Approx. 80% condition

I don't have pictures or a serial number yet, as I am quite a distance from the gun. My buddy that works at the range is going to clean it up and check it out for me and get some pictures sent over.

I will most likely end up buying it anyway, because you help out the people in need, especially when it is for the reason he needs money. (I'll keep that private)

What I would like to know is if you think it might be a good buy, and anything I should look for.

Again, I don't have pictures yet, but hopefully soon.

Thanks in advance for your input and advice.
 
For a transaction among friends, it might be a little high...otherwise, probably an average enough asking price.

The hierarchy of Value when all else is equal, seems to be to favor the .41 Long Colt chambering, followed by the .38 Special chambering, followed by the 32-20 chambering.


These were very handsome and high quality Revolvers, only slighly smaller than the present day S&W 'N Frame', but larger than the S&W K 'Frame'...so they feel very 'right' in the Hand if one has medium to medium large Hands.

If it has had a lot of use, there will be a Holiday ( no Blueing left ) where the Cartridge Head sits against the Recoil Plate, and, similar Blueing loss where the Cartridge Rims sit in the Cylinder.

If timing and Lock-Up are still crisp, it should pretty well last forever.

If it is an older re-blue, worn to '80 percent', then of course, you might want to see what else he has.
 
The Colt Army Special is the gun that eventually became the Official Police. IMHO (and I own a couple so I am biased) they are pretty nice old Colts. They are a solid and long lasting design. iirc they made the OP all the way through the 80s!

Being a '24 it should have the black resin "colt" logo grips on it with the "C" around the screw. These are prone to breaking at the heel. Also look on the right side of the frame above the trigger. You'll see a screw and a pin that are in the same figure-8 shaped hole, one of the identifying features of the "E" frame. This screw should be more or less horizontal from the factory. As the gun wears the screw is tightened to draw the crane tighter. Guns with the screw nearly vertical up-and-down are common. It's not an absolute because no two guns are identical, but I've found that the position of this crane lock screw is a good indicator of how much wear the gun has.

One thing to bear in mind, the 32-20 is not a cartridge that you will find on the shelf at any old place that sells ammo. It's out there but it's not cheap.

The Army Special was also available in .38 Special and .41 Colt.

imho, $500 is a bit much to ask for that pistol but without pics it's hard to be sure. I personally wouldn't spend that much on one unless I had to have it and already had 32-20 in my reloading library. For $500 you can buy a lot of other guns that would be as much fun but cheaper to feed.

There's no great rarity to the Army Special, Gunbroker.com shows a dozen or so on any given time I search.
 
It depends on whether you want this revolver for a definitive purpose.

The old Colts were built like watches. I have a few that I enjoy simply opening and closing the cylinder because of the precision. But let's look at the pro's and con's and let's start with the con's.

The 32-20 is an old black powder cartridge although it was loaded with smokeless powder after the turn of the century. Ammunition is not available except through specialty houses at inflated prices. You can, of course, load your own. But even if ammunition were not a problem, the round itself is nothing to write home about. Even in it's day, it was underpowered. It is obsolete for a reason.

If you plan to shoot the gun much, you need to know that if it breaks or gets out of time, gunsmiths who understand Colt DA revolvers are few and the number gets smaller every year. Moreover, parts are hard to find and generally unavailable.

The price is about twice what I would pay, but I'm not a collector. And collectors are really few and far between. I'd be a lot more interested if it were a 38 special.
Understand, I'm talking about the desirability of the gun to me. It may be just what you are looking for.

For a shooter you would be much better off with any S&W K frame in .38 spec. And you can find dandies for much less than the asking price for the old Colt.
 
Nice gun and the same action that would eventually find it's way into the Python.
Old Colt DA revolvers are terrific, but when something goes wrong, it is very hard to find someone who can work on them.
.32-20 is hard to find ammo, but can be found. Load your own if you plan on shooting much. someone said that the .41 is is the most desirable, but I would rank the .38 first just because of ammo availibility. But that is just me. Price might be a bit high.
 
Thanks, guys. I agree that $500 might be a little high after doing some research. I'll probably buy it anyway, because the guy is in a bind. But I'll try to get the price talked down a little.

Thanks again for the input.
 
Dad's got one and while it's a fine sixgun, it ain't worth $500. In 80%, I'd say maybe $300.

The .32-20 is a wonderful cartridge and ammo, while not plentiful, is certainly available and from more than "specialty houses". Remington, Winchester and Black Hills still load for it. Any commercially available are safe for the Army Special. It is also an easy cartridge to handload for, if you take your time and pay attention.
 
Before you jump on it, have your friend very carefully inspect the barrel for a bulge.

A lot of old 32-20 WCF's have a dog knot in the bore due to the use of the old Hi-Speed jacketed rifle ammo being used in them.

The slow burning powder would sometimes not ignite fully, and the pressure leaked out the cylinder gap.
That left a jacketed bullet stuck in the barrel.
The next shot ringed the barrel.

rc
 
Ultramax makes a dandy .32-20 load though it's a tad smokey. Hits steel like a light 9mm. LOT of pop for a 'varmint gun'. Price is a bit high--(I think I bought my 1927 Colt Official Police for $275) but $350-400 would be reasonable.
 
Those 1920-1940 era guns are indeed well made and very solid. But they were so popular and Colt made so many that they don't have the dollar value that guns like the SAA do.

IMHO, $500 would be high; I just hope the seller appreciates what you are doing.

Jim
 
I had one made in 1923 and in very good condition. I sold it at a gunshow to a dealer for $400. LM
 
I was able to chat with the Deputy that is selling it. We agreed on $450. It's still a little high, but I'm helping his cause. I'm thinking that maybe paying a little more than I should for his gun, because he's in a bind, will result in some good karma for me if I get in a bind. I'm going to buy it, regardless, because it's for helping a good guy out, not getting a smoking deal on a gun.
 
Hi postalnut25,



Well, you will have a lot of pleasure owning and shooting it.


Get some Dies and Molds, and do your own Loading for it, and it'll be even more fun.


However good 'good' could ever get, these old Army Special Colt Revolvers are that 'good'.
 
^^^^
I was looking at ammunition prices, and I think that this might finally drive me to reloading. Plus, I fgure I can make some lower powered rounds for it so my smaller kids can shoot it.
 
Congrats on a fine revolver. Also you are a good man to help this deputy who is in a bind. Good Karma should come your way.

I personally own a .38 Special Official Police made in 1950. It is one of my favorites.
 
Dr.Rob said:
Oh and of course we DEMAND pics when you pick it up!
Click to expand...
That will have to wait a bit. I leave the sandbox during the first couple days of September-ish. It's not set in stone. I hope to be home by the 7th. And in a day of unpacking, sleeping off the jetlag, and becoming human again. So maybe the 9th or 10th. I'll definitly add pictures, though.
 
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