picked up a stray (Colt Officer's Match)

[Guillermo]

Been wanting a Colt Officer's Match for quite a while.

Unfortunately they have been "discovered" and perfect examples have gotten really pricey.

Being a shooter, not a collector, I have been looking for one with worn blue and good mechanics at a cheap price.

Well I found one at a fair price...not a steal. (I "stole" a Diamondback recently so I am ahead of the game and besides...they all can't be great buys )

Paid 400 ($25 shipping and $10 FFL) so I am into it at $435.

If I am reading Proofhouse correctly it was made in 1950 (serial number 781577).

Lock up is tight. Forcing cone looks great. Bore is perfect. Outstanding trigger (although not as light as I expected). Interesting that there is not much of a turn line but LOTS of holster wear. Could a cop or security guard have carried this but not shot it much?

Now the search for the .22 Officer's Match...

And...of course...I have to hide it from Old Fuff. He will cut the trigger guard off and chop the barrel down if I give him 1/2 a chance .

 

[MMCSRET]

Built in 1950, it should be marked as Officers Model Special, unless the barrel has been changed. The stocks look right, Coltwood, plastic for 1950. I have an OMS dated 1951 but my barrel is marked as such and my sights are different. My 1941 Officers Model has sights just like yours. Then again, it is Colt and sometimes things don't match up with the numbers in the books. Nice gun!!

 

[1KPerDay]

Looks like an Officers Model Target to me, and says so on the barrel. I have the "Heavy Barrel" version. Best trigger of any revolver I own.

Very cool. Congrats.

 

[Guillermo]

oops...I "misspoke"...you are correct...Officers Model Target

(Colts plethora of names can be confusing)

 

[1KPerDay]

The Targets are better looking anyway, to my eye.

 

[SaxonPig]

You did well. I love these revolvers.

Got this one a few months ago from GunBroker. Frame is from 1909 with all the deluxe features they used back then and the heavy barrel is post 1935 and was swapped on at some point. Paid $345 and it came with those 1950s Target stocks so it was a great deal.





Maybe 2 years ago I bagged this on GB for the $375 "Buy it Now" option. Refinished but again, the early Targets make it a good deal.





Saw this on GS table in 1992. Tagged at $200 I didn't even dicker. I just laid down a pair of Franklins and moved on. Came with 1970s era Python Target stocks but I like the early style better and got these off ebay for $15.





This was my very first Colt Target series acquisition. Bought it from a dealer (and paid too much although it is in about 97% condition) in the early 1980s. Still a favorite. Again, the stocks were picked up at a GS ($5 as I recall, this was before they became popular). I shot this gun in metallic silhouette competition for a number of years and won a slew of trophies in the revolver division.

 

[Guillermo]

Saxon,

You have an incredible gun collection.

And you seem to love them all so I am not jealous.

Well...not too jealous.

 

[Old Fuff]

Guillermo:

Well I see that you continue to be a trash collector.

I think the pictured piece of junk has a special-order heavy barrel, which makes it slightly more valuable then the usual run of such revolvers. At the request of some top 1930's target shooters, Colt took the barrel blank used on their .45 size Shooting Master, and modified the shank so it would fit the smaller Officers Model. It's sad to see that you have so much bad luck while picking guns...

The stocks may, or may not be replacements. I would expect the same, but in checkered walnut.

If it took a trip to the Colt factory it might come back with a lighter trigger pull. Out of the box, the factory made sure they would pass an NRA weight inspection at Camp Perry. Also some shooters ordered them to be the same as whatever .45 revolver or pistol they shot in the big-bore matches.

It appears that someone removed some minor rust on the barrel with fine sandpaper... :banghead: But this won't affect the way it shoots in the least. Adjust the front sight for elevation, and the rear one for windage.

You may find that it shoots center @ 25 yards, using a 6:00 hold on a timed/rapid bullseye target, and dead on using a center hold at 50 yards.

Hopefully, you can shoot as well as the gun can...

 

[Guillermo]

Hopefully, you can shoot as well as the gun can

fat chance

 

[Old Fuff]

Well don't cry on my shoulder...

Go find a box of .38 Special Mid-Range Wadcutters and find out if you aren't better then you think.

 

[CraigC]

Good lookin' old Colt! I've been eyeballing them myself. Last looked at one that languished in a shop for several years because it was very, very worn but wore a $700 pricetag. I see now that a really nice one can be had for $800-$900.

 

[Guillermo]

Go find a box of .38 Special Mid-Range Wadcutters and find out if you aren't better then you think

I have found that a great gun makes even a hack shooter like me look good.

Was at the range with my Diamondback and my buddy was amazed at the groups I was shooting. (they were not really that impressive but he was having a bad day...made me look better)

I can't wait to get this old girl to the range.

 

[Lucky Derby]

"Could a cop or security guard have carried this but not shot it much?"

That is certainly a possibilty, although I think that is more common with the Official Police models. It also could have been carried by a hunter, fisherman, lumberjack or other outdoorsman.

In any event, that is one nice Colt revolver. Congrats.

 

[Old Fuff]

I see now that a really nice one can be had for $800-$900.

About 3 years ago, a friend -on my recommendation - picked up a 1935 edition that was literally like brand new, off Gunbroker for $400, and there were no other bidders. Those days may be gone forever.

Anyway, be very careful about those in well worn condition. If the wear is indicative of much use, rather then just extensive carry, some repairs may be necessary - that turn out to be costly. What has to go for "fix'n" might have better gone toward buying a revolver in better condition in the first place.

Keep in mind that those used by target shooters were usually carried around in a kit or box, not a holster - and as such shouldn't show much finish wear. Also a diet of mid-range wadcutters didn't cause any strain to the system.

These observations should apply when buying any of the older hand-ejector Colt's unless one knows what exactly to look out for. I don't believe Colt will work on any that pre-date (around) 1956 because they don't have parts. A little quick math tells me that 1956 was 55 years ago.

Time flies...

 

[Guillermo]

What has to go for "fix'n" might have better gone toward buying a revolver in better condition in the first place

That is good advice.

Looking back on the guns that I bought over the last couple of years, I have been very fortunate considering that I am a "bottom feeder". I don't mind wear but want mechanical excellence. The 4 diamondbacks have all been mechanically excellent as has this old girl, all bought via the internet.

But like all bets...sometimes you lose.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Interesting that there is not much of a turn line but LOTS of holster wear. Could a cop or security guard have carried this but not shot it much?

That wasn't unheard of.

 

[Guillermo]

That wasn't unheard of

seemed an odd gun for a duty side arm but hey...who knows.

as Old Fuff pointed out, some dork used some fine sandpaper and "polished" it...probably to remove some inconsequential rust.

Actually I should thank them...they ran the value down for me.

 

[Old Fuff]

On the barrel at least, the "holster wear" appears to have come about when someone used a fine abrasive paper to clean off what was probably minor rust which came about when the gun was stored. This is not too unusual.

That said, between the 2 world wars a fair number of folks did buy and carry the target revolvers. Occasionally one turns up with a holster, and Colt made some with 4 and 5 inch barrels.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

A fair number of Pythons were used as service revolvers in the 1960s and '70s, and have the holster wear to match. (If you watch the film Magnum Force you can see one of the contestants in a police combat match using one.) It would not be unreasonable to assume that an officer might privately purchase an Officer's Match to get maximum accuracy. Six-inch barrels were common in police service during the time this revolver was made.

 

[Old Fuff]

Guillermo:

I have an idea..........................

Did you know that Charles Askins once wrote an article explaining how he took an Officers Model and converted it into a FITZ SPECIAL!?? It was a little big for the purpose (pocket gun) but it worked! Probably the only FITZ with (sort of) adjustable sights.

You can't be first, but you just might be second to have one...

 

[CraigC]

Anyway, be very careful about those in well worn condition.

I just couldn't have pulled the trigger on the well-worn one anyway. That was one of those shops that automatically doubles the price on anything with a pony on it, regardless of its market value or condition. I've seen them list used Colt Cowboy's for SAA prices. Had it been closer to $300, I probably would've coonfingered it a bit. It sat there for at least four or five years. Probably still there. Nope, I'll end up spending the $800-$900 for a nice one.

 

[Guillermo]

You can't be first, but you just might be second to have one

Fuff...I love you like the strange uncle that wears cowboy boots and shorts, drinks tequila though a "crazy straw" with tiny Yosemite Sam clinging to it and giggles like Walter Brennan as he burns ant hills with gasoline but

...KEEP YOUR BENCH GRINDER AWAY FROM MY COLTS!!!

 

[Old Fuff]

But... But... Well consider, you might be the one to have the very first Heavy barrel Colt Officer's Model / FITZ conversion!

Think about how famous you'd be, and what you could sell it for!

 

[Guillermo]

*Head in Hands weeping silently*

(if ever I have the pleasure to meet Old Fuff I have to carry a Glock)

 

[Old Fuff]

if ever I have the pleasure to meet Old Fuff I have to carry a Glock)

That could be interesting...

I don't like square-front trigger guards anyway, so it would go, and then we could get rid of that useless little lever in the front of the trigger...

Plastic is so easy to cut, and you can even melt it...