Colt Army Special

[Waveski]

An old friend of mine showed me an old Colt yesterday. The revolver has a lot of miles on her , the nickel finish is bad , but the mechanics feel good. I am looking for a source of information regarding the age of the venerable 38 special. I am providing a photo showing the serial # at the base of the crane. I am very impressed with the detail of the digits stamped , and I am quite curious about the less legible digits which are visible.

Any share of knowledge will be appreciated. 'Ski

 

[Lucky Derby]

According to proofhouse.com that S/N dates to 1913.
The Army Special would be renamed Official Police in 1927. This was purely for marketing purposes. No changes were made.

 

[Waveski]

Thanks , Lucky. Wow , 101 years old. I guess when I'm that old I'll look pretty rough too.

Anyone know the significance of the lighter digits?

 

[CajunBass]

Anyone know the significance of the lighter digits?

Looks like a reverse of the S/N to me.

Why they're there, I have no idea.

 

[kcofohio]

Waveski, on the frame, hidden by the crane when closed, is s/n stamped there also? And does it mirror the lighter #s?

 

[Jim K]

The "light numbers" are from the crane, where it was pressing against the frame and the numbers were "transferred" in reverse from crane to frame.

In that era, Colt moved the frame serial number from the butt to behind the crane, like that one. The Army Special was the successor to the New Army/New Navy series but used the updated Colt frame and lockwork. It continued the serial numbering from the A/N models.

Jim

 

[Waveski]

Yes , I believe that transferred is correct. This particular Colt has upwards of 80% loss of nickel plating. I suspect that 3 to 4 decades of storage in a leather holster had something to do with that. (see photo posted in "It's old , it's worn , I think it's beautiful" thread...)

I am thinking that whatever process which caused the nickel to disappear also played a role in the transfer of digits from crane to frame where the two surfaces met when engaged and locked. Or maybe it was the impact caused by discharged rounds.

Anyway , I put 50 rounds through the old girl today. To the best of my knowledge this Colt had not been shot in upwards of 40 years. The lock-up is not up to spec , there is a small bit of end play , but - like a true Colt - putting rounds on target was easy.

Monday I hand the 101 year old revolver back over to the owner. That will be a bit of a tug of war.

Damn ...

 

[Paul7]

According to proofhouse.com that S/N dates to 1913.
The Army Special would be renamed Official Police in 1927. This was purely for marketing purposes. No changes were made.

Not true. From Wikipedia:

"Colt’s marketing strategy was further fine-tuned by making a few superficial alterations to the Army Special revolver and then renaming it as the “Official Police” model.[1][2] The changes included adding checkering to the trigger and cylinder latch, matting the topstrap of the frame and widening the rear sight groove. Colt also upgraded the quality of the gun’s finish from a dull blued finish to a highly polished blued surface."

Recently bought this 1920 Army Special for $350. It came with the rare diamond pattern Colt factory walnut grips. Tight lock up, death on tin cans.

 

[Lucky Derby]

Not true. From Wikipedia:

"Colt’s marketing strategy was further fine-tuned by making a few superficial alterations to the Army Special revolver and then renaming it as the “Official Police” model.[1][2] The changes included adding checkering to the trigger and cylinder latch, matting the topstrap of the frame and widening the rear sight groove. Colt also upgraded the quality of the gun’s finish from a dull blued finish to a highly polished blued surface."

Recently bought this 1920 Army Special for $350. It came with the rare diamond pattern Colt factory walnut grips. Tight lock up, death on tin cans.

I stand corrected.
Looks like I should have said, No significant changes were made.

 

[Paul7]

I stand corrected.
Looks like I should have said, No significant changes were made.

Lucky, that Wiki entry wasn't completely true, both the Army Special and Official Police up until the end of WWII had a checkered cylinder latch. I like them much better than the plain ones.