Help with Colt Officers .38

[cyclopsshooter]

A friend is looking for some info on a revolver of his and I am no expert on them. I have googled and used the search feature and found that the Colt Officers have spotty record keeping. I'll take what info you got but we are most interested in the date of manufacture and insurance value. Any trivia is welcome... And while I have you I thought I should throw in my Officers Model

We think my friends revolver dates to 1917 and seems to have the original finish which is no less than 98%- It is CLEAN. (very faint turn line) I have doubts about the sights though, the are made by Micro and they look "Post-warish" to me. Its serial number is 4958XX Last patent date of 1905

I believe mine was made in 1937, last patent date of 1926. Serial Number is 6186XX It is a Heavy Barrel and has Kings Adjustable sights and a Kings Cockeyed hammer. It also appears to be original finish but is not nearly as good as my friends 38.

 

[1KPerDay]

Nice!

 

[smkummer]

Your friends Officers model appears correct except as you say for the sights. The good thing is it appears the non-factory sights can be removed and the original style (either patridge or bead style) sight can be installed if desired. The wood stocks are correct for that year and are mint, they bring a nice dollar now and were changed to your style stocks about 1923. Your gun had some permament mods done but if it works for you then great! The workmanship on these pre-war guns was excellent and they really shoot well if you don't already know that. I also have to add a pachmayr grip adapter to my medium frame colts that don't have target stocks to fit my hand.

 

[mesinge2]

Damn beautiful guns. Seriously nice!

 

[TonyT]

Many years ago I used a Colt OM for bullseye centerfire it had a ramp front added with an undercut partride front and a Micro rear sight cut into a dovetail in the rear. It was converted to short single action and was a great shooter even in the rapid fire bullseye pistol stage. I sold it some time ago with some regrets. All of the Colt OM's were excellent target revolvers.
The only minus to the pre WWII and early post war models were the factory sights. The King conversion and the Micro rear/front sight conversion made for much easier sighjt acquisitiion.

 

[cyclopsshooter]

Any idea on values?

 

[1KPerDay]

http://www.gunbroker.com/All/BI.aspx?Keywords=colt+officers+target

 

[cyclopsshooter]

Yeah, I tried that but finding example such as these with "completed" auctions proved elusive..

 

[smkummer]

My .02

I have 5 different officers models; pre war 22 and 38, Officers model special 38(1949-52), Officers model Match 53-69 and an Officers Model Match MK III. A few years ago, one could snag one of these for around $400 on the auction sights. I have found several of these for friends with a winning bid of $500 or less just months ago. Today's asking prices usually start around $700 but still nice examples can be snagged for 5-600. The 22 appears to bring $100 more. The pre-war guns have a quality that is unmatched but the later modern Officer Model Match sights, hammer and stocks are also prefered by many shooters. The short lived Officer model special is unique and has the heaviest barrel of all. In short all appear to sell for the same amount.

 

[TonyT]

I sold my SA converted Colt OM with a ramped front sight and rear sight replaced with a MICRO sight for $400 - thus a $400-$500 range for the Micro sighted gun. In my view the King conversion pictured is a much neater job and should bring ca $100 more. A similar gun in original condition would go for ca. $700 or more.

 

[Checkman]

I purchased my OM Target (mfd. 1941) last November. It was priced for $550.00. The owner of that particular gunstore always has excellent older pieces for sale and his prices are typically in line with what the market is bringing in. It's a beautiful revolver I might add. The quality of work is very impressive.

 

[1KPerDay]

Nice! Wish I lived close to that store.

 

[Checkman]

Boulevard Gun & Pawn in Nampa, Idaho. I've also located a Colt Trooper (.38 Special) and a 1937 Smith & Wesson Heavy Duty with 5" barrel and a Colt Lawman Mk III snubbie at Boulevard Gun & Pawn. He also carries a real nice selection of rifles and shotguns if that is your thing.

 

[1KPerDay]

Cool... next time I'm up that way I'll have to stop by.

 

[cyclopsshooter]

Thats only about 5 hours away from me... hmm

 

[Checkman]

Boulevard Guns & Pawn
205 Caldwell Blvd #2B
Nampa, Idaho 83651

John & Dorothy Cox (owners/operators)
(208) 467-7299

No internet sight.

 

[TonyT]

Checkman,
That was a real bargain price for that nice old Colt OM!
Tony

 

[cyclopsshooter]

Tony, what price ranges do you expect?

 

[Checkman]

I was able to pay with cash so Mr. Cox dropped the price from $550.00 to $500.00. He's pretty good at working with you on trades as well. I was in the shop a few weeks ago. Among the notable pieces for sale at that time was a very nice Artillery Luger w/8" barrel for $2,000 and three Colt Pythons all with 6" barrels. Prices and conditions varied. There was also an Irish Constabulary Webley and a sweet little Smith & Wesson I frame Ladysmith revolver. An original Ladysmith not one of the contemporary models.

However he also has a healthy selection of Rugers, newer Smith & Wessons, Taurus, Glock, Berettas, and even some High Standards and Iver Johnsons and so on.