SW Feature Tip Colt Officer Model Not Working In DA

[James K2020]

I recently looked at a Colt Officer Model Match that appeared to be in VG+ condition however it would only function in Single Action. When pulling back the trigger in DA, the hammer would rise slightly and then fall back with the trigger going completely limp.
My first thought was the mainspring was damaged/broken but a member on another forum indicated he had a Colt lettered OMM stating it was made for SA only. Was not aware of that and does that sound plausible? Is that the way it would function in DA with the hammer bumping up slightly?
If so, it may be a very interesting Colt.

 

[James K2020]

Sorry, I don't know what the SW Feature Tip is about.

 

[wcwhitey]

I recently looked at a Colt Officer Model Match that appeared to be in VG+ condition however it would only function in Single Action. When pulling back the trigger in DA, the hammer would rise slightly and then fall back with the trigger going completely limp.
My first thought was the mainspring was damaged/broken but a member on another forum indicated he had a Colt lettered OMM stating it was made for SA only. Was not aware of that and does that sound plausible? Is that the way it would function in DA with the hammer bumping up slightly?
If so, it may be a very interesting Colt.

I have heard of that! Not sure how one would verify it without a letter though!

https://www.collectorsfirearms.com/...th-issue-single-action-38-special-c17517.html

 

[Rule3]

https://coltfever.com/officers-model/

 

[James K2020]

How interesting.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Sounds like a damaged sear (or broken trigger nose). Trigger would go limp until it is released (then the rebound lever would push it back down).

NVM - match model. May be SA only.

 

[BobWright]

As I recall there is a lever on the hammer that is engaged by the trigger sear for DA firing. On single action only revolvers that lever is absent. That means the trigger should never partially lift the hammer in a DA attempt. Sounds to me that some part is broken. I think that DA lever is called the Double Action Fly? But again, as best as I can remember, the trigger should never go "limp."

Bob Wright

 

[James K2020]

I saw an old factory picture showing that the single action model was also a short stroke, and the hammer does not come back as far as the standard Colt OM Match. I may look at it again and see if it is; if not I'm not sure I want to roll the auction dice unless it goes cheap.

 

[dfariswheel]

The Colt factory made single action-only versions on special order as far back as the 1930's and possibly before.
Also some custom gunsmiths and companies like King's Gun Works did them after market.
These were usually also conversions to a short action with a shorter hammer fall to give a faster lock time.

Some shooters did their own conversion by simply removing the double action strut from the front of the hammer.
These still had the long action, long hammer fall of the standard models.

With a single action-only conversion or alteration by part removal, if the trigger is pulled the hammer will not move but the cylinder will rotate.
If the trigger is pulled and the hammer is moving at all, something is broken or otherwise "off".

 

[Mizar]

Completely unneeded clarification, but I cannot help it... The hammer will move slightly, but to the front as the rebound lever and hammer block disengage.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

I was told some years back that for a very brief period, during the last gasp of the pre-CZ Dan Wesson company, they sold California versions that did not have the hammer nose installed. This made them SA only and therefore exempt from one of many stupid regulations here. Same source told me that the end user could then install the hammer nose after purchase without committing an offense.

Can't confirm this was true, but I like the story.

 

[Riomouse911]

I was told some years back that for a very brief period, during the last gasp of the pre-CZ Dan Wesson company, they sold California versions that did not have the hammer nose installed. This made them SA only and therefore exempt from one of many stupid regulations here. Same source told me that the end user could then install the hammer nose after purchase without committing an offense.

Can't confirm this was true, but I like the story.

My FFL tells me he sells “off roster” SA only-modified DA guns like that all the time. They can’t sell the unaltered DA models, but after it’s made a SA only gun it comes with all the DA guts. You take it home and make it right on your own.

As for the old Colt, I will agree that it was probably an aftermarket altered SA gun. (Too bad Colt croaked as I doubt one can get letters anymore.) My 1930’s era Heavy Barrel .38 was improved for Bullseye shooting by Kings, who installed a trigger shoe, machined in rear sight and a welded/checkered thumb piece on the hammer. But, it retained all of the DA/SA functions. (It’s an oldie, Kings closed in the early 1940’s. I only shoot it SA and with target-loaded wadcutters only.)

If it’s anything like mine I bet it’s a shooter .

https://americanhandgunner.com/our-experts/pre-war-perfection/?gf_protect_submission=1

Stay safe.

 

[dfariswheel]

Colt Archive service still has all Colt records from the very late Civil War on up.
Most prior records were lost in the big Colt fire of the Civil War, but some survived.
They can still tell you what year any Colt was made in from 1836 on.

https://www.colt.com/page/archive-services

Some people did a home brew SA-only conversion by simply removing the double action strut from the front of the hammer.

If the gun was a Colt SA-only conversion it would have also been altered to a short action..... a shorter hammer fall for a faster lock time.
If the trigger on a real SA-only conversion is puled in a DA mode, the hammer will not move but the cylinder will rotate.
If the hammer does move, it's either not a SA-only conversion and/or the action is broken or otherwise defective.

 

[Tall]

I recently looked at a Colt Officer Model Match that appeared to be in VG+ condition however it would only function in Single Action. When pulling back the trigger in DA, the hammer would rise slightly and then fall back with the trigger going completely limp.
My first thought was the mainspring was damaged/broken but a member on another forum indicated he had a Colt lettered OMM stating it was made for SA only. Was not aware of that and does that sound plausible? Is that the way it would function in DA with the hammer bumping up slightly?
If so, it may be a very interesting Colt.

You can get a letter (for $100) here: https://coltarchives.com/