Colt Det Spl grip question - old fluff.

[Topknot]

I apparently have a 1967, 3rd generation (and by Old Fuff's description, short butt) specimen. Ser # 952XXX (there is no "D" preceding the numbers).

Here is where I came to the above conclusions:

The third generation starts in 1966 when Colt made a big change by cutting off the lower part of the handle and went to stocks of the same shape, but the wood wrapped around the bottom of the metal. This became the so-called “short frame” version. Other then the frame and stock changes these guns were identical to late production 2nd generation revolvers. - Old Fuff

I am not at all accurate with it and a local shooter recommended some sort of grip filler device, or a whole new set of larger grips be installed to allow for better/more comfortable hold.

I see all sorts of grips available out there for Colt DS's and particularly like the smooth, wooden grips, like the Hogues for concealed pocket carry.

Just want to make sure I buy the right one as I'll be ordering it online without the benefit of a "fit check".

Thanks in advance for any help, gents.

 

[Fat Boy]

A thousand pardons....but I think you mean, Old Fuff...

Nice looking Colt, BTW; I like to see guns with a little wear as I think it gives them character.

Welcome to THR!!!!

 

[dfariswheel]

Not many companies still make the older, long butt grips, so most anything you buy will be for the newer short butt frame.

The Hogue Mono-grip is excellent and will fit your gun.

Here's the frame differences:

 

[krs]

No you have the longer butt, and your serial nnumber does not compute.

Old Fuff must have refered to the changeover that included the shrouded ejector and enclosed butt within the grip that is considerably shorter than yours.

The reason I said that your number doesn't compute is that the numbers without a "D" prefix ended at 899999 (presumably) andthe D prefix began with number D900101 in 1967. You number should have the D, and your pistol the shrouded ejector, shorter butt, and enclosing grip.

Can you check that number?

(or did I miss a generation?)

 

[Topknot]

KRS - I was confused by that too, but there is no D preceding the serial number.

It has the short butt like the picture on the right, posted by DFaris.

 

[Elm Creek Smith]

Get a Tyler T-Grip adapter and use the stock grips. It won't cost much and will make a tremendous difference in the feel and control.

http://www.t-grips.com/

ECS

 

[rklessdriver]

+2 on the Tyler T Grip.

Stop in and check out the range report I did on my Colt Cobra. The Colt D frames are capable of very good accuracy once your comfotable with them.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=424926

The T-Grip is a big help on my Cobra, espc compared to shooting it without....
Will

 

[krs]

Topknot,

Are we talking about the DS that pictured above, 'cause I'd swear it looks to be the long butt version of the old days, unless there was another that was even longer than mine shown here:


Were there three butt lengths? I do seem to have a memory of having seen an outlandishly long handles snubnosed revolver somewhere.

 

[Old Fuff]

The Old Fuff (a nickname hung on him by a pair of teens ) is a bit late because of some computer problems yesterday, but anyway...

Colt went to the "short frame" on Detective Special's in 1966, at around serial No. D900,101 but the "heavy barrel" wasn't introduced until 1972. So there are Detective Specials that have the short frame but older style pencil barrel. It should have the letter "D" but it may be stamped under the number, or Colt might have goofed and left off the "D", but this is highly unlikely.

Anyway, finding stocks for the older guns is difficult, as dfariswheel says, but finding what you want for the short-butt frame shouldn't be difficult. Grip adapters of various makes will work on either frame so long as they have the original grips or others of the same exact shape. Larger stocks made for the Diamondback model will also fit.

Telling if you have a long or short butt frame is easy. Look at the bottom of the butt, and if you can see the steel (or aluminum as the case may be) you have the older style frame. If you can only see wood it is a short frame, provided that the grips are not aftermarket ones.

 

[Topknot]

Thanks all!

I'm going to buy a pair of the Tyler T-Grips, recommended by Elm Creek Smith. Those are the extensions I'd seen but could not find anywhere.

ps - mine is, without a doubt, a short frame. I've had the grips off and it's exactly like the one on the right in this picture.

 

[Topknot]

Just for fun, I just took a few pics of the serial number, and the frame:

 

[Storm]

I ran into this exact same situation recently having bought Franzite and original Colt plastic grips not realizing that mine was a short frame. My fix will be to fit a shaped gap filler made of plastic (acrylic) between the open bottom portion of the two grips. I work extensively with plastics so this will be a fairly easy fix for me. I should be able to attach the filler onto one grip which should later allow for its removal if I wanted to use the grips for a long frame gun. I hav some older plastics from that era that may even be a fairly close match.

 

[krs]

Now I'll have to go find where I've stashed that Colt because I don't remember if I could see the frame at the bottom of the grip or not.

Tsk........it's always something.

It's a 1934 issue though, so it ought to be the long, no?

 

[Old Fuff]

If it was made in 1934 and has the short-butt frame you a very rare and valuable collector's item. Dont let it get away...

 

[krs]

Really?!...........I've got a couple of hacksaws.........do you think anyone would buy my new one off 1934 short framed detective special for lots of money? I could use some money.

Thanks fuff, that's what I thought.

 

[Storm]

Above I wrote about the idea of creating a gap filler for some Franzite long frame grips that I mistakenly bought for my short frame Detective Special. I also bought long frame Colt production plastic grips, but decided to do the modification to the Franzite grip not wanting to risk the Colts.

I work extensively with plastics so I knew what could be done. I cut a piece of black acrylic so that it would just slip in between the two grip halves held in place by friction. Next using a scribe I traced the outline of the grip onto the acrylic. Using a Dremel with sanding drum I was able to shape the acrylic to the grip. I was able to get the acrylic right to the shape of the grip and frame with a very practiced hand, but the first concern was to do no damage to the grip or the frame. Normally this would require continually taking the plug in and out doing very careful fitting, but I was able to take more direct route using a very careful hand, but the results were the same. After the fit was perfected the outer edge of the plug was sanded and buffed with just a bit of final fitting. Then the one side of the plug was lightly coated with epoxy, as well as the corresponding part of the grip, and the plug was slid into the gap and lined up, and excess epoxy wiped off. Once the epoxy set the grips were removed and the tiny bit of excess epoxy was removed from the inside.

The end result is the plug attached to one grip, with a perfect fit to the other grip, requiring one to really look to figure out what has been done. This is a shrouded ejector version and I really didn't want to go with the stock grips, the target style, so this gives me the type of grips that I want so that I can use a Tyler T-Grip. Should I ever want the Franzinte grips back as they were, removing the plug will be an easy matter.

After I figured out what needed to be done the whole project took me right around an hour to accomplish. This could be done with a wood plug just as easily.

 

[Old Fuff]

Very neat job, and a good answer to the problem.

 

[Storm]

Thanks Old Fuff. Imagine my frustration when I had two sets of grips and neither were the right fit for the gun. My exposed ejector DS also has a short frame (and original grips in very nice condition) so I couldn't even use them on that. I hate wasting money.