While looking for ammo the other day in one of my LGS’s, I ran across a few Colts that were recently traded in per the shop owner. Among them was this pre-war 1940 Colt Detective Special. Upon handling it I immediately had to have it and we agreed on what I felt was a fair price. Condition is definitely worn with some speckling here and there though nothing major and in my opinion wear on the old bluing looks good and most likely has a story or two to tell. This one was seemingly carried a lot and shot very little as the barrel is near pristine and the action is very smooth with minimal wear internally.
I remember back in the mid 90’s seeing the fourth gens with the shrouded ejector and the pachymar rubber grips with the pinky cut out and thinking some day it would be nice to pick one up. Well that never happened and I got into the plastic fantastic striker game for a long time. Nowadays though I find myself liking the older vintage stuff just as much if not more in some cases as I feel these guns are from an era when craftsmanship was just a step above and the attention to fitment and machining was really well done.
When I picked this example up I felt like the rounded grips melted in my hand and it pointed quite naturally for me. The trigger is quite nice both in double and SA as well, maybe under 4# for SA, and although the sights are pretty plain as a trough and post, they line up perfectly and are as good or better than my Smith 642.
This will be a collector piece that will get shot on occasion, but most likely not carried although I could. I was thinking of getting a factory letter from Colt to see it’s initial build and ship history though that’s an extra $75 so we will see.
Post your old Colt wheelguns if you got ‘em, especially the Detective Specials!
.....This will be a collector piece that will get shot on occasion, but most likely not carried although I could. I was thinking of getting a factory letter from Colt to see it’s initial build and ship history though that’s an extra $75 so we will see.
Post your old Colt wheelguns if you got ‘em, especially the Detective Specials!
That's a nice acquasition congratulations! I *thought* I had a Detective Special and went out to take an image to post but I'm embarrassed to admit it is not a Colt rather a S&W. Good to hear Colt is still doing factory letters because I have been meaning to order one for a revolver I have. It was supposedly ordered from Colt Custom Shop in the early 70's and if so might enhance it's value.
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Originally posted by hootch56: Hard to find wheel gun. The grips are post WWII as is the ejector rod tip.
I thought the ejector tip was a replacement. Not sure how or why, but a lot can happen in 80+ years I guess! Anyway I ordered a first gen tip so hopefully it will swap out easily.
As far as the grips I thought they were original. How does the first generation grip differ from the second?
Medalions are different, checkering is different, the screw is nickel and the threads where the screw goes is brass. If you go on the Colt Forum, on the detective special photo thread there are tons of 1st generation pics. Your grips were made 1955-1964.
Originally posted by hootch56: Medalions are different, checkering is different, the screw is nickel and the threads where the screw goes is brass. If you go on the Colt Forum, on the detective special photo thread there are tons of 1st generation pics. Your grips were made 1955-1964.
