Feeling nostalgic this evening. Colt Army Special 38 mfg. 1922 / Colt Official Police 38 mfg. 1943

[whatnickname]

Back in the day the Colt Vs. Smith & Wesson argument kept the hot stove league in constant debate. “The Colt was a 41 caliber frame and therefore stronger and able to accommodate 38 Special high-speed loads.” “Colts never got out of time.” These were two of the arguments I heard when I was in grade school.

“The Smith & Wesson had a faster lock time and was much less complicated than the Colt.“ and on and on…
Smith & Wesson was more prolific than Colt and has withstood the test of time perhaps better. Both Colt and Smith were and are excellent revolvers today. It’s harder to come buy vintage Colts this age in good mechanical condition. Both of mine have holster wear…the Official Police more so than the Army Special. Both have shiny bores, perfect timing and tight lock-up. Don’t have any idea who the original owners were, but it’s clear these two revolvers were well cared for. As far as I’m concerned, the holster wear gives them character. Wish they could talk!

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Nice pair!

My last Army Special, 1927 (w/ Coltwood grips)-


And my current 1961 Official Police-

 

[whatnickname]

Nice pair!

My last Army Special, 1927 (w/ Coltwood grips)-
View attachment 1251098

And my current 1961 Official Police-
View attachment 1251099

Those are really nice!

 

[Riomouse911]

I only have one old Colt. I found a 1930’s Officers Model Heavy Barrel in .38 Special at my local gun emporium for $375 during Covid.

It had been worked over by King in San Francisco, who added a fully adjustable rear sight, widened the hammer spur and installed a trigger shoe.



These old Colts shoot veeeery well with the classic wadcutter 2.8 gr Bullseye loads.

Stay safe.

 

[whatnickname]

I only have one old Colt. I found a 1930’s Officers Model Heavy Barrel in .38 Special at my local gun emporium for $375 during Covid.

It had been worked over by King in San Francisco, who added a fully adjustable rear sight, widened the hammer spur and installed a trigger shoe.

View attachment 1251101View attachment 1251102

These old Colts shoot veeeery well with the classic wadcutter 2.8 gr Bullseye loads.

Stay safe.

King was famous for the work they did on revolvers.

 

[sgt127]

I started shooting when the Colt revolvers were waning a bit. In Texas, anyway, you would see more Smiths in duty holsters, by far. No department issued Colts anymore.

By that time, the Ruger Six Series were Smiths biggest contender. They never really made a big impact in LE sales. And most folks, including me, thought they were second tier guns compared to Smith.

I was wrong about that. Had Ruger been around 10 years earlier, they might have bumped Smith to second place. The Six series are ridiculously solid guns.

Any one of these would do nicely.

 

[Tallball]

I have one of those, too!

Great shooter. I really enjoy it.

Colt Army Special

• Tallball
• Mar 4, 2018

 

[Targa]

Very nice!! Mine was made in 1953.

 

[Armored farmer]

Mid 1920s .38spl Hand Eject.

 

[entropy]

1942 Offical Police. Government issued/supplied to the TVA. Carried much, fired little. Locks up like a Swiss bank vault. So far, I only have put six rounds through it, after I took it apart to ungunk it. It will see more come spring.

 

[whatnickname]

I started shooting when the Colt revolvers were waning a bit. In Texas, anyway, you would see more Smiths in duty holsters, by far. No department issued Colts anymore.

By that time, the Ruger Six Series were Smiths biggest contender. They never really made a big impact in LE sales. And most folks, including me, thought they were second tier guns compared to Smith.

I was wrong about that. Had Ruger been around 10 years earlier, they might have bumped Smith to second place. The Six series are ridiculously solid guns.

Any one of these would do nicely.

View attachment 1251120

Things were the same way where I grew up in Florida. Smith & Wesson revolvers were not as expensive to manufacture as Colts. The Colts had lockwork that was more complicated by comparison. Smith had the price advantage. I’ve also read that Colt was focused on government contracts to build the M16. I think it’s fair to say that Colt lost focus on its key product and mission. Advantage to Smith with the lion’s share of the law enforcement market. In the process we lost a true American icon. Of course Smith made the same error when they looked at a polymer frame pistol from Austria and concluded that the American market would never support a plastic pistol. The Austrian Government told the same guy to take a hike as well. Some folks learn by reading. Some folks learn by watching others and some folks just gotta pee on the electric fence.

 

[shoebox1.1]

I love these old colts but after my last bad experience I can’t do anymore. Yall got some nice ones for sure.

 

[5whiskey]

I started shooting when the Colt revolvers were waning a bit. In Texas, anyway, you would see more Smiths in duty holsters, by far. No department issued Colts anymore.

By that time, the Ruger Six Series were Smiths biggest contender. They never really made a big impact in LE sales. And most folks, including me, thought they were second tier guns compared to Smith.

I was wrong about that. Had Ruger been around 10 years earlier, they might have bumped Smith to second place. The Six series are ridiculously solid guns.

Any one of these would do nicely.

View attachment 1251120

The Ruger is quite a robust revolver, though the Smiths DA trigger wins hands down for me. That said, my 6" security Six in .357 is a very accurate revolver now that I've tuned my loads to realize it's potential. Even shooting DA at 50 yards, I've hurt some feelings with it in friendly shoot-offs.

Shooting close and fast, though? The S&W wins by a good margin, even when shooting 38s from both revolvers (which should be a slight advantage to the Ruger as the weight makes even +p 38s recoil feel closer to .32long). At least for me, ymmv.

 

[bannockburn]

I still kick myself for passing on a very mint Colt Commando that I came across some years ago. It was priced at $300 but I probably could have got it for a bit less. But I was in my semi-auto buying mode back then and passed on it.

 

[Rodfac]

Just a comment on the Smiths vs. Colts debate....Though I love my Smiths for their DA and SA triggers (and hate their management for the $)#(%)%* infernal lock), I have to admit, it's easier to shoot a Colt with its stock, factory, duty stocks/frame. At least in my hands, the Colt's frame extends downward behind the trigger guard, allowing a reasonable firing grip.

S&W's have a much higher arch there, and that produces 2nd knuckle rap with the added indignity that the gap makes retaining a uniform grip, shot to shot, virtually impossible. A set of Smith's Target grips helps, but they're blocky and for the most part overly large.

All of my Smiths have, as a result, custom stocks that allow me to retain a uniform grip, and reduce that dredged 2nd knuckle whack. I hate to admit it, too, that rubber grips, particularly those called "Monogrip" from Hogue, are the answer; but the rubber grips currently supplied by S&W are a close 2nd; both types are FUGLY (functional but fookin' ugly).

YMMv, Rod

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I am a S&W man but I do have a couple old Colts, a 1910 Police Positive in .32 Colt New Police, and a 1932 Shooting Master in .38 Special. An Army Special or Official Police is on my to-buy list. Haven't decided if I want to get one in .38 Special or .32-20.

 

[Jim Watson]

1942 Offical Police. Government issued/supplied to the TVA.

Their tradeins were pretty common in the area.
Wish I had bought that Reising Gun.

I worked for TVA Chemical Development in Muscle Shoals, Ala.
A visit to the Public Safety office there - a couple of the officers were enthusiasts shooting in local clubs - got me a look in the Gun Closet.
The assortment was amazing. Things like Winchester 97 and 12 riot guns, lever action and WSL rifles leavened out Reising and Thompson.
Then there were the sporters seized from Bubbas who thought they could hunt the 1250 acre reservation.
But one day they loaded all that neat stuff up and traded it in on a uniform battery of Remington 870s and Ruger AC556s.

 

[sgt127]

As a quick aside. The Colt OP in my pic of the three revolvers came to me with the grips on it.

I have since ordered some Altamonts. Just outstanding grips. For anyone needing “factory” replacements.

 

[Pat Riot]

the hot stove league

That right there is funny as all get out!

I recall my Dad taking me and my brother to the big gun store in town and there was always a few older gents sitting in a circle near the stove, coincidentally, talking about guns and the Colt’s vs Smith & Wesson debate was standard fare for discussion.

I do not own any old Colts or S&W’s. My only Colt is a Detective Special made in ‘82 and my oldest S&W is from 1978, so I will humbly bow out and let you gents continue.

 

[James K2020]

Love my Colt Officer Models. Hard for me to like S&W over Colt or vice versa. Have no issues going back and forth between the two.

 

[Outpost75]

As a lad I learned on the Colt Official Police. I inherited Grand Dad's duty gun and great Grandpa's .38 New Service.

 

[Walkalong]

1941 Official Police - .38-200

 

[James K2020]

Some Smith K frames in .38 special and .22 plus 2 early M&Ps known as Model 1905 4th Change in both square and round butt.

K Frames

1905 4th Change

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

I'm planning to take my Police Positive in .32 New Police to the range later this morning.

I used to have an Army Special in .41 Colt, but it needed action work and I sold it on long ago. The frame of the AS/OP makes the PP look quite dainty by comparison, and even my .32-20 Police Positive Special (top) seems much more substantial.

 

[vanfunk]

Just have to trot out my 1927 New Service in .45 Colt.





I am actively looking for an early (1909 or before) Army Special .38 in 90-95% condition with the fire blued hammer back, trigger sides and screws. You see one, you let me know, ok?