Saw it and fell in love + Colt Detective Special! Price?

[Mr. Tettnanger]

I was at my local FFL picking up a revolver. As I was getting ready to leave, he showed me a Colt Detective Special that he is selling for one of his customers. It is in really nice shape and has the original box. He dates at a 1972 model.

I instantly fell in love with it!

The price is high in my opinion at $800. I am trying to come with some cash to make a fair offer, but I do not know current values on these.

Is $800 about right or is there wiggle room?

 

[Paul7]

As always, Gunbroker completed sales of similar guns.

 

[entropy]

It's always worth a shot to haggle; most dealers set their prices knowing most will haggle, and if they get a 'flop' (someone who flops their checkbook on the counter and says "I'll take it!" well, they are happy with that, too.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Ive seen pristine 1st Gen examples go for that, even a bit higher.

The shrouded 2nd Gen guns seem to command a bit less.

Condition is everything here, since many were carried and show appropriate wear and tear. Value drops off significantly between a 95% gun and a 85% gun.

Also, if you plan to shoot it, confirm the chambering too. They did make some in ..32 and .38 New Police (.32 S&W Long and .38 S&W) as well as the more common .38Spl.

I just bought one sight unseen for $400. Figured I couldnt go wrong at that price.Turned out to be an 85% 1st Gen in .32NP. What I saved on the gun, Im paying in higher ammo costs, lol. Still, its a nice piece, and overall I'm happy with it. Definitely not a target pistol, though!

 

[Mr. Tettnanger]

As always, Gunbroker completed sales of similar guns.

I am unfamiliar with how to search that? Could you explain please?

thanks!

 

[Pat Riot]

@Mr. Tettnanger
That is the price I would expect here in California for that revolver. Perhaps even a bit more. Used guns here that are not on “the roster” sell higher here, if that helps in any way.

 

[Reinz]

$800 for one in nice condition is not overpriced. My local Ganders Outdoors has a handful of real beater 1972 Cobras that are at $600. Was standing next to guy who bought one 3 days ago. I personally wouldn’t even consider $600 for those trashed out Cobras, but would easily cough up $800 for a nice one.

 

[Monac]

Ive seen pristine 1st Gen examples go for that, even a bit higher.

The shrouded 2nd Gen guns seem to command a bit less.

Condition is everything here, since many were carried and show appropriate wear and tear. Value drops off significantly between a 95% gun and a 85% gun.

Also, if you plan to shoot it, confirm the chambering too. They did make some in ..32 and .38 New Police (.32 S&W Long and .38 S&W) as well as the more common .38Spl.

I just bought one sight unseen for $400. Figured I couldnt go wrong at that price.Turned out to be an 85% 1st Gen in .32NP. What I saved on the gun, Im paying in higher ammo costs, lol. Still, its a nice piece, and overall I'm happy with it. Definitely not a target pistol, though!

I have never been clear on when the 2nd Generation Detective Specials started. Would a 1972 gun be a 1st or a 2nd?

 

[Pat Riot]

I have never been clear on when the 2nd Generation Detective Specials started. Would a 1972 gun be a 1st or a 2nd?

Good info here: https://www.rockislandauction.com/riac-blog/what-issue-colt-detective-special

My Colt DS has a serial number that put the frame as being manufactured in 1972 but it has the shrouded barrel of the Gen 3 that was released in 1973.



Such a cool gun. Thanks again @Gordon

 

[Riomouse911]

I am unfamiliar with how to search that? Could you explain please?

thanks!

Go to “advanced search,” click the “completed auctions” tab, put in Colt Detective Special and hit search. It’ll show what prices were fetched for completed sales, and it’ll also show auctions that closed and didn’t sell because the seller was asking too much.

Stay safe.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Go to “advanced search,” click the “completed auctions” tab, put in Colt Detective Special and hit search. It’ll show what prices were fetched for completed sales, and it’ll also show auctions that closed and didn’t sell because the seller was asking too much.

Stay safe.

Dont you have to be a registered member to see completed auctions as well?

 

[Pat Riot]

Dont you have to be a registered member to see completed auctions as well?

Pretty sure you do.

 

[SwampWolf]

The shrouded 2nd Gen guns seem to command a bit less.

In my neck of the woods, quite a bit less. Everything else being equal, a shroud will fetch a hundred or a hundred and a half less. Nothing wrong with the shroud, I think collectors value the "classic" configuration more. There's sometimes simply no rhyme or reason as to why or why not some things just are.

 

[Riomouse911]

Dont you have to be a registered member to see completed auctions as well?

I’ve been on there so long I forgot, but I also think you’re right. Registration is free and easy, even if you never buy or sell anything on that site it is a decent resource to find out real-time approximate values from recent sales.

Stay safe.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Unless that gun is near mint and wearing the original grips, I wouldn't pay more than about $600.00.

 

[Mr. Tettnanger]

Good info here: https://www.rockislandauction.com/riac-blog/what-issue-colt-detective-special

My Colt DS has a serial number that put the frame as being manufactured in 1972 but it has the shrouded barrel of the Gen 3 that was released in 1973.

View attachment 1004381

Such a cool gun. Thanks again @Gordon

That looks almost exactly like the one I was looking at! The one I saw had far fewer blueing/wear marks though.

 

[Pat Riot]

That looks almost exactly like the one I was looking at! The one I saw had far fewer blueing/wear marks though.

Mine was actually carried by a Detective Sergeant at a Northern California Sheriffs Dept. It was his duty gun until 2002, if I remember correctly.
When I got it the mainspring was a bit weak so it only liked ammo with Federal primers. I had a new mainspring installed and it shoots well with everything I have fed it except for ammo with CCI primers. I have considered sending it to someone that specializes in Colt revolvers.
The temptation was there to have the gun refinished, but I believe I will leave it alone. It’s honest wear. The officer that carried it was left handed and wore and OWB holster. I have the holster as well. I have a feeling the seatbelt mechanism on a car he drove may have scratched the gun up a bit.

 

[sparkyfender]

I found an unfired 3rd Gen about 10 years ago and scooped it up at $500. Nice revolver, carry it at times, a little more austere then a J frame but it holds one more round.

 

[Paul7]

In my neck of the woods, quite a bit less. Everything else being equal, a shroud will fetch a hundred or a hundred and a half less. Nothing wrong with the shroud, I think collectors value the "classic" configuration more. There's sometimes simply no rhyme or reason as to why or why not some things just are.

IMHO the added weight of the shroud adds nothing beneficial to a carry piece.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

he is selling for one of his customers

That means the customer set the price, not the dealer. Or maybe they talked and came up with that price. I sell a lot of guns on consignment and usually will take a lower price if the offer is reasonable and at least close to an online price - which includes transfer fees, shipping costs, and more risk than is involved when you can hold and inspect the gun in person before buying. I account for those factors when setting my prices and so should you - in my opinion - when making a counter-offer. $800 is on the high side for my part of Florida where DS's aren't that popular and Colts in general don't bring a premium but, depending on where you are, that is probably not an unreasonable number. Ift sounds like you're on the right track bringing cash for your counter-offer. Pics would make a world of difference but I understand how that might not be possible.

 

[defjon]

Offer 700, see what he says? Have cash to flash.

A new Ruger sp101 is like 750 plus.

Don't really see colt detective specials going down in value...