Colt Revolver ID

[Squidward]

I have a Colt Official Police .38 (6 shot) with a 6 inch regular barrel. The serial number is 602XXX. It has wood grips and is about 80% (i'm guessing) in wear. The cylinder locks tight and the timing appears to be good.A groove for a rear sight and a blade front sight with a gold colored dot.

The Colt website indicates it was made in 1937, but I'm at a loss for other information.

Would anyone be able to tell me the value of this revolver? And what type of .38 ammo I can safely fire from it?

Thank you!

 

[larry starling]

As you have all ready stated you have a prewar official police. Its value in 80% condition is appx $325-400 dollars. And it should be safe to shoot with any .38 spc ammo I would stay away from the +p or +p+ stuff though.

 

[Old Fuff]

If I am reading the first post correctly, the revolver in question is an Official Police, not a Police Positive or Police Positive Special.

The Official Police model was built on their .41 frame, and chambered in .38 Special. Because it's on a larger frame then the Police Positive Special it can stand up to limited use of Plus-P ammunition. For plinking & play I would feed it a diet of .38 Special Cowboy Action Shooting loads with 158 grain lead bullets. It should shoot to the point of aim, and with this load last forever.

The value depends on where you are, but a revolver in 80% shape is worth on average, $250 to $300.

 

[RON in PA]

Just bought a 4" Colt OP two days ago with some holster wear and frekling, but excellent bore and lock-up, vintage 1943-44 for $225. For some reason prices on OPs have not gone through the roof like other Colts.

 

[Old Fuff]

So far the Army Special/Official Police models haven't attracted much attention from collectors. That leave shooters, who seem to prefer S&W revolvers in this class. Part of it has too do with the problems related to finding parts and qualified gunsmiths to service them, and the Colt's not-always-justified reputation for going out of time quickly.

Another issue as I understand it, is that the company has not encouraged writers that would normally be writing research books on the now discontinued double-action revolvers. A almost total lack of research material has not fanned any flames among collectors. On the other hand it is not particularly hard to find all kinds of information on the cap & ball and single action guns, as well as most of the 20th century automatics. There as you say, prices have gone through the roof, but for the most part it is collectors, not shooters, that are paying those prices.

 

[Squidward]

Thank you all!