Dick Special

[HarryRod]

I just picked up a 3rd Gen Detective Special.
I got it for $300. It has some holster wear but I think I am going to have it refinished anyway.
I have a couple of questions.

The serial is S441xx
Can anyone tell me when this was made.

Under the serial is the letter W.
Anyone know what this denotes?

Also. Has anyone here had a royal blue refinish done by Colt? I want to have this done in it but I am wondering what the cost will be.

 

[SnWnMe]

Oh I just got one last night. Mine is 856XXX. Shrouded ejector. I think it's a 90s Dickie. Came in a blue plastic box. My friend threw in 100 rds of assorted FMJ. $250.00 for the whole shebang. Someone at the Colt forum said I stole it

 

[dfariswheel]

HarryRod
Your Dick Special was made in 1980. The range started that year at #S27029. In 1981 the range started with #S62978.

The "W" is an inspector's mark.

Colt has info on re-blues on their web site at: http://www.colt.com

SnWnMe
The serial number you listed shows as a 1964-65 model. This can't be valid for a post-1972 shrouded model gun. Are you sure there are no letters included in the serial number?
A shrouded DS in a blue plastic box would be a late 90's gun.

Both of you got GOOOOOD deals on your guns.

 

[Wanderer]

Your name, your topic title....

 

[HarryRod]

The Colt website doesnt give prices. Anyone had one done there?
You really thing that $300 was that good a deal? That was actually the most expensive one that they had except for a lightweight that was going for $340. They had another rev. 3 that was $299 and several 2nd gen for the mid to high $200's.
Anyone think I should try to snag one of the other ones?
They also had a PRISTINE Diamondback in .38 that they had $544 on and a nice looking 6" Python for $744.
Wasnt sure about the prices on those but I know that Dback was attractive.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I'd sure like to see prices like that where I live! The last third generation Detective Special I saw was snapped up at $475 or thereabouts.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Wolf, the last tanner show I went to (where I spied the magnum carry I later bought for $450) I saw numerous little Colts: Detective specials AND SF IV's for around $300. You just have to be patient and have cash. In fact I almost bout a 70's era nickled one used (99% light cylinder tracking), but in the box for $325 when I found the magnum carry.

My blue book doesn't go past 1978 for DS's. Is it possible that SnWnMe's Colt has been rebarreled?

Wouldn't be the first time.

 

[BigG]

I think they made the snubbys in the 80s and 90s but they were shrouded ejector rods. I have seen Agents IIRC with shrouded ejector rods. Quite recent manufacture and matte finish.

 

[JimC]

The Colt website doesnt give prices. Anyone had one done there?

I had my '65 vintage DS reblued by Colt just this past April.

The standard blue job [$165.00 + shipping/insurance] of today looks like the top of the line Python blueing that they used to do back in the '60's.

Mine looks so good, I haven't fired it since it came back.

Give Colt CS a call at 1-800-962-COLT [2658]

 

[jar]

I do like the DS with the shrouded rod. I carry mine in a Lou Alessi Pocket Holster. Works great, the larger grip gives me better control than with a J frame and 6 instead of 5. Hard to beat.

 

[KahrKarrier]

Colt Detective Special, one of the true fine handguns.
My advice to anyone who has one: Keep It Forever. They were made to last a lifetime and if you ever sell yours, like I did, you will spend the rest of your gun luvvin years kicking your self in the butt.----Jed

 

[Al Thompson]

Good advice KK. Three bills is a bit low for 'round here. One of these days I'm sending mine to Bob Coogan for a HC job.

 

[Poohgyrr]

Congrats on your DS. They are great little .38's. I had a chance to buy a second one a few years back and passed it up.. :banghead:

 

[SnWnMe]

Okay maybe I am doing something wrong here. I open the cylinder and look in the frame's crane cutout and there are numbers. Just like on a Smith. On the crane itself are the same numbers. 856XXX. My friend gave me the sales slip yesterday. He bought it in 1995. Wow they cost quite a bit even back then! The same numbers on the receipt. I see no other numbers on the gun. I checked the grip frame also just in case. The gun doesn't appear to be rebarreled. It also came in a plastic box which I think gives a clue to it's vintage.

It's interesting though. The good folks at the Colt Forum also dated this DS to the 60s but it definitely looks 90s. Bah! maybe Colt messed up their numbering system.

 

[dfariswheel]

The problem is, Colt serial numbers and production dates aren't available after 1985.

My guess is, Colt began using numeric-only serial numbers again after 1985. The last of the early numeric ranges for the Detective Special ended in early 1966.

So, about the only way to be sure is to try calling Colt. They have been giving production dates over the phone.

Given that your gun has the shrouded barrel and is in a blue plastic box, it can't be a 1960's gun.

 

[JimC]

Give Colt CS a call at 1-800-962-COLT [2658]