Colt Official Police

[Ironclad]

I'm looking at a Colt Official Police revolver in the local classifieds. They want 275 for it. The seller says it has a little pitting on the outside, but a shiny bore and it locks up tight.

The only thing is, it has a matte, parkarized looking finish. I'm thinking this isn't original. I'm not looking for a safe queen here but I'd like to make sure I would be able to get my money back out of it if I need to. How big of an issue is this?

 

[Ironclad]

I guess I should add that its a 6 inch barrel and .38 special

 

[Walkalong]

Assuming it has the original grips, and it does indeed lock up tight on all six chambers, I would at least take a look at it. It could be a very fine shooter for you.

 

[evan price]

Parkerized OPs were iirc purchased by the government and issued during WWII for US security forces in the States. Don't know if it's what your gun is, but if it has the "US" arsenal markings it may be one. I thought they were shorter barrel models though.

However it also probably may just be one of the gazillion Official Police revolvers that was owned by a working police officer, carried a lot, had holster wear and rust, and was stripped and parkerized because the pitting was too deep to polish out and reblue.

Mechanically these are great revolvers, they take up the slack in the cylinder upon pulling the trigger, Colt's "Bank Vault" lockup. You'd be advised to manually cock each chamber very slowly, to see if the cylinder take-up is in time. It's common to have the cylinder not quite make it to the notch and then click in place when the trigger is pulled. It's not a major problem, but requires some gunsmithing to address. Also look for pitting in the bore and forcing cone.

Price isn't terrible if it checks out.

 

[Old Fuff]

If you had the serial number (located on the frame, under the barrel so you need to swing out the cylinder to see it) the year it was made could be determined.

If the pits are under the Parkerized finish it was obviously refinished. If not, then the present finish might be original.

The long 6" barrel slightly detracts from the value because they are now less popular, but they make tack-driving shooters. If the revolver is in good condition (excluding the obvious) a $275 price would be reasonable.

 

[Guillermo]

$275 is "low market" now but unfortunately for those of us looking to buy them, they are being discovered and the prices are rising.

 

[rswartsell]

What Guillermo has said is my experience also.

 

[evan price]

Wasn't too long ago that you could still find old service 38's out there for under $200, sometimes around $100. Carry worn, still serviceable. When 357's were in demand nobody wanted 38's. Nowadays with $1500 Pythons and S&W N frames, and pushing $700 for Colt Mark III, Mark V and King Cobras, even old AS's, OP's and PPS's are getting pricey.