Colt Diamondback .38 Special

[Snake Plisskin]

I just got this real nice 1973 vintage Colt Diamondback .38 Special. I replaced the originals for safe keeping and added these Herrett Coco Bolo Grips.

 

[Dframe]

Beautiful little revolver. I Loves me some D-Backs. Just like I love ALL D-frames.

 

[22-rimfire]

That is a real nice Diamondback. Congrats.

 

[chez323]

Very nice Colt you have there. A Diamondback is on my short list, love the Colt revolvers. Thanks for sharing.

 

[bannockburn]

Always thought the Diamondback was one of the most stylish looking revolvers in .38 Special. Love the Herrett grips.

 

[03fatboy]

Good looking diamondback, nice grips also.
Looks like it hasn't been shot much if any,good find.

 

[Cleveland48]

Beautiful wish I had one just like it to go with my python.

 

[Gordon]

Diamondbacks are going crazy in pricing and selling too, just look at Gunbroker. They just put out a 6" .22 Diamondback blued in a LGS for $3000
I sold my .22 Magnum Diamondback for that a few years back but that was VERY rare.
So I am selling my 98% 6" .22 for $1500 opening bid . Don't want to be greedy , triple my investment in 15 years is OK with me.

 

[Hometeached1]

Very nice Colt.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Nice one. It looks like my most recent one I picked up last year. My original (nickeled) has been with me over 35 years now. Great gun and my first centerfire.

 

[stiab]

Very nice handguns, but I just cannot force myself to keep Colts when I find them, too easy to sell, and S&W shoots better IMO. I found one identical to yours for $500 a year ago, flipped it at the gunshow next weekend for $700, and the buyer got a great deal. Sold all my Cobra's and DS's and Python too, including a rare 3" barrel model DS. Cool guns, but if you want to shoot them they can't compare with S&W double action.

 

[rs7]

Sold mine. Really didn't do anything for me. Traded for a 27-2, 4" like new. Box and docs.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I bought a 98% 4" nickel 2-3 years ago and stuck it in the safe. Back then, I thought I paid too much at $900.

 

[Morgo]

Very nice

I had a 4" Diamondback .38 as my first revolver, only sold it less than a year ago

 

[Peter M. Eick]

My 4" Nickeled (shown above in the picture) was also my first centerfire gun and handgun. I got it back in the late 70's used and have had it ever since. For over 35 years now I have routinely shot my Dback and really enjoyed it. Either I got particularly good ones, or I have shot mine so much that it wore itself in, but it has an excellent trigger that is near perfect. I can't complain a bit about it and I actually like the way the trigger stacks during the pull on DA. It allows one to stage the trigger to near SA type breaks while shooting reasonably fast DA.

My only real complaint with the gun and Colt's in general are the grips. They just shred my hands up pretty quick with the original factory grips. They just don't fit my hands well. Put some Pachmeyer (spelling?) rubber grips on them and I am really pleased and shoot it extensively.



Here is an example of a mornings shooting with the Dback.

The Diamondback is a small cylinder and framed gun so I have dialed back loads for it. It is not like they are getting more common so treat them nicely.



Here is my little Dback next to a 38/44 Heavy Duty showing how much more steel S&W puts into a similar sized gun. Yes the 38/44 HD is oversized for the 38 Special, but as a 38/44 Collector it is one of the guns I shoot the most. The 4" just hangs in the hand really well with Magna grips.

 

[dscampbell]

A diamondback worked well for John Wayne in Branagan, as a Chicago detective sent to London to extradite a criminal.

 

[stiab]

Here is my little Dback next to a 38/44 Heavy Duty

A couple of beauties there Peter, thanks for sharing...

 

[J-Bar]

A diamondback worked well for John Wayne in Branagan, as a Chicago detective sent to London to extradite a criminal.

...as well as Steve McQueen in Bullitt.

 

[Hardtarget]

In the early/mid '70's I bought a D-back in .38 spec.(4"), and .22 lr (6"). Both of my sons learned pistol shooting with these Colts. They go to the range nearly every trip. I should have bought a Python back then. I do regret that oversight.

Mark

 

[bikemutt]

That's a beauty snake, very nice.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Diamondbacks are great revolvers.

 

[Ky Larry]

WARNING: Snakes are highly addictive. As they grow in number, your wallet will grow thinner. Ask me how I know.

 

[silicosys4]

Not as nice as the ones above, but here's the only diamondback I've come across for sale, bought it last year from a LGS that had it on consignment and pretty much stole it for $375. In my defense I did tell them it was worth considerably more, and they said they told the consignee the same thing. Made for a fast sale though, lol
1967 .38spcl diamondback...same year and barrel length that Steve Mcqueen carried in "Bullit"



I really want a 4" to match, all the 4" diamondbacks shown on this thread are gorgeous. OP, I like those grips.

 

[Snake Plisskin]

What a sweet deal you got, I never seem to find those deals maybe one day, lol