The addition of the ejector rod shroud was to keep it from snagging on clothing. Perhaps as important it protected the rod from damage. If you ever had a bent rod you know that interfered with ejecting the spent brass and could create drag when the cylinder turned. Still a viable self defense gun. Compared to a semiautomatic not as rapid firing or as large a capacity for rounds. No slide to pull back, no safety to disengage so just aim and shoot.
As result of watching too many old movies the two guns that I just had to have were the Colt DS and the Colt Model M. For some reason I have never been able to equal the accuracy achieved by the good guys, or the inaccuracy of the bad guys, in those movies ;-)
One of my favorite double action revolvers is my Colt king cobra - beautiful and the action is smooth as glass. Come on Colt, bring back these great six guns!!
I fell in love with that Colt .38 special, but I am an older woman who needs a .32, so I am looking for a Detective Special or a Police Positive Special.
Nice gun! Can't wait til I own a couple. I love that the old style panel grips will still fit them. I've only found a few pictures of the 3rd issue with the older grips but they look amazing.
I inherited that gun from my dad. He got it when I was a kid but hardly ever shot it. I love it. It was my carry gun until my brother talked me into getting a semi-auto.
The classic, historical, and venerable Colt Detective Special appeared in 1926 and is simply the 2" or 3" barrel version of Colt's D-Frame Police Positive Special revolver. Other Colt D-Frame variants included the Cobra, Agent, Diamondback, Commando Special, and the pre-World War II (1939-1945) Banker's Special. After 1972 Colt Firearms of Hartford, Connecticut offered the Detective Special with shrouded ejector, improved front sight, and hand filling walnut grips. The price and demand on these classic Colts have gone through the ceiling in recent years! I sort of regret not purchasing a Colt Detective Special like this back in the 1980's while still living in Klamath Falls, Oregon. I do recall several being inside the glass display case at then Payless Town and Country (no longer exits today). For both men and women these are classic handguns for concealed carry, and still remain formidable! Defense load? Perhaps the .38 Special 148 grain lead target wad-cutter remains practical for a snub-nosed .38. Or maybe there are better loads available today? However, the former (wad-cutter) remains ideal for hunting small game: rabbit, squirrel, and grouse. And for dispatching vermin such as raccoon, skunk, and possum. Also, for butchering livestock. Note: At 21 oz. unloaded a 2" Colt .38 Detective Special loaded with CCI's classic .38 Special snake load: No. 9 shot and carried in a good suede lined holster, would be highly useful for the fisherman/outdoorsman/camper in rattlesnake country. Of course my 4" Smith and Wesson Model 15 (K-Frame) .38 Special Combat Masterpiece, after fitted with Pachmayr grips would be preferred. But the latter unloaded at 34 oz. still is 13 oz. heavier than the former. ----James A. "Jim" Farmer Merrill, Oregon (Klamath County)
I got my colt in late 1969 and still have it and love it. I can hit a man target at 50 yards with this colt once you know how to use it with different distances and where to adjust the sight picture.
Nice gun man. I like the earlier ones better with exposed ejector rod, and in particular the 1st issue but these are beautiful too. This gun with the stocks from the older DS looks damn fine. I mean really really cool.
I had one of these that I bought about 1986. Great little pistol. I gave it to a girlfriend that was working in a bad part of town so she could keep it in her car for protection. I lost the girlfriend and forgot all about the gun until about 3 years had passed. Never saw her or the gun again. Sure would like to have it back, the gun that is, not the girl.
Colt’s website has a serial number lookup. Find your serial numbers for them and type them up on the website. It’ll tell you exactly what model it is, and when it was made.
Mint ones are tracking at $1000+. If you have the original box and paperwork, etc., you’ll fetch more. Hold it for a little while longer to see whether CZ continues the Colt revolver line after their purchase of Colt. I have a 1977 Cobra 2”, a 1985 .45 Gold Cup National Match 1911, and a more recent, but pre-CZ Gold Cup Trophy chambered in .38 super. Great guns! Still have paperwork, tags and boxes for all. These will only go up in value, especially now.
I would say yes, simply because the hammer is one piece, and does not use a transfer bar. Therefore there is no way to stop the hammer from hitting the bullet primer once hammer has dropped.
No, the hammer has to be brought back 100 percent in the locking mode position for the firing pin to be able to go into the chamber to hit the bullet, this was a flaw in the first models and was fixed by the second generation.
