Colt DS: "we will not make this a double action only revolver"

[Dolomite]

I have a 1969 Second series blued Colt Detective Special that suffered a broken firing pin. About 7 weeks ago I sent it home to request repair and to get a quote on getting a bob job on the hammer.

(I've always been fascinated with Fitz Specials, but they belong behind glass. I could never carry a gun with a cut away trigger guard. A regular framed 2nd Gen with a bobbed hammer is about as close as I'll ever get to a J. Henry FitzGerald. This is what I want, except for the trigger guard:

)

Anyway, today I get the Repair Order in the mail with a quote to bob the current hammer, - but they state: we will not make this a double action only revolver. Does anybody have an idea why?

I'll probably still get the hammer bobbed because I have a 2.5" S&W 19 that has a flat DAO hammer that is incredible - but why not convert the DS to DAO?

I don't have the Kunnhausen shop manual for the Colts - is it difficult to convert a 2nd gen DS to DAO?

I'll probably give Colt a call tomorrow to ask myself - but I'm interested to hear what others have to say.

 

[Jim K]

If you want a DAO revolver, you shoot it DA only. There is nothing special you need to do to it. A lot of folks who bob hammers groove them on top so they can be cocked if one wants to do so.

Jim

 

[Dolomite]

True - and I could do that - but if I ever have to try and sell the gun, I'd be sure to let them know that the hammer was bobbed at the factory, and, if someone halfway savvy finds that its not DAO... well, I wouldn't believe it was a factory job if I was that buyer.

Also - I don't want someone that isn't as experienced as me (or someone that doesn't have strong hands like me) to ever try and safely lower a bobbed hammer that's been cocked back in single-action.

As an aside, (since the operation is back up and running) I ordered a Tyler T-grip to go with these factory grips and they were a game changer! It's now a natural pointer. Again, not my gun:

 

[SleazyRider]

Could it be that they feel that bobbing the hammer would weaken the area around the firing pin pivot, or perhaps it would reduce the inertia that the hammer could provide to the primer? Just guessing here.

 

[Guillermo]

by "sent it home" I assume you mean "Colt".

They used to do custom work and DAO the DS all the time.

But Colt is a mere shadow of what they used to be. Perhaps they don't have the capacity anymore.

As to the cutaway trigger, I have no problem with it.

Old Fuff keeps asking to make one of my Diamondbacks into a Fitz.

 

[sidheshooter]

I am of the opinion that it is a bad idea to bob the hammer and *not* remove the SA notch internally, rendering the gun true DAO.

But then, I don't work for colt. I think their response is moderately insane, but it's not my business.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Anyway, today I get the Repair Order in the mail with a quote to bob the current hammer, - but they state: we will not make this a double action only revolver. Does anybody have an idea why?

IMO the only way to get the correct answer is to ask Colt why, no?

 

[22-rimfire]

I suspect that as a manufacturer, Colt wants to keep the gun in its factory firing condition for legal reasons. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any Colt revolver that was ever DA only from the factory.

 

[Old Fuff]

To my knowledge, Colt never cataloged a DAO revolver, but they used to convert guns to that configuration on special order. I have no idea why they don't want to now, and would like to know.

Anyway I have been personally involved in two incidents where someone else got a bobbed hammer cocked and managed to fire the gun while trying to lower it. Both individuals were law enforcement officers.

So I will not bob a hammer without converting the revolver to DAO. In my book if one wants to keep the single-action feature they should leave the hammer spur along and carry the piece in a holster that in some way covers the hammer so it won't snag on a covering garment.

Incidentally I have carried a home-made Fitz Special with a cut-away trigger guard and had no trouble doing so. The purpose is to reduce the bulk of a pocket gun, and make it easier to get a finger on the trigger while the revolver is still in the pocket. The supposed safety issues are mostly a myth. It should be obvious that the Colt Company would have never made them - even on special order - if the cut-away guard was truly a hazzard.

 

[Dolomite]

Spoke with a nice lady in Customer Service this morning - of course, she doesn't know why that line was written on my repair order - but she could send an e-mail up to her managers to inquire (I really don't expect to hear back).

I know things are tough all over - but based on my experience with Colt's customer service so far (and I only have Kel-Tec, S&W, and Glock to compare them to), I would have to think long and hard about whether or not I'd ever buy one of their new guns.

 

[dfariswheel]

Colt did catalog a couple of DA-only Detective Specials late in the production life.
One was simply the "Bobbed Detective Special". It was DA-only, with a night sight insert in the front sight, a tuned action, and in hard chrome or blue finish.
While this was a Custom Shop model, it was in the 1996 catalog.

I have no idea why Colt won't convert this DS. The only thing i can think of is the age, possibly they don't have a spare hammer if something goes wrong.

If you don't hear back, call and ask to speak to Brent. He's the Custom Shop manager, and I think, the production scheduler for Colt.
He's extremely good about addressing issues.

 

[Guillermo]

I would have to think long and hard about whether or not I'd ever buy one of their new guns.

I can't think of a new revolver that I want.

As a revolver guy, that is a very sad thing.

 

[bikemutt]

I can't think of a new revolver that I want.

As a revolver guy, that is a very sad thing.

Guillermo, I know this is a stretch, but I came across a Ruger GP100 "Wiley Clapp" last week I had to have. I went over this thing with a fine tooth comb and I'm here to tell you it's a very nice piece of work. The attention to detail is remarkable. I have it on layaway and hope to pickup later next week.

Will report back, over.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

I think their response is moderately insane, but it's not my business.

That's funny.


Thanks for the updates on this. I think it's odd too.

 

[Guillermo]

bikemutt

I hope you enjoy your new toy.

 

[vicdotcom]

nevermind read the post wrong.