I was issued both the Police Positive 4” in uniform & the Detective Special (DS) as a detective. In ‘74 I used that DS in a gunfight w/three armed robbery suspects and came away unhurt.
I started to watch this video and halfway through I paused it and pulled out my Colt Detective Special. It’s a late 1960’s and it’s in superb condition.
I am a retired police officer. 36 years, 1973-2009. This gun was, indeed, very popular with detectives, especially through the 1980s. Until really compact 9mms at reasonable prices were available the Detective Special and the S&W Chief Special were the most commonly carried plainclothes and off duty handguns. Many detectives wrapped rubber bands around the grip and stuck the gun in their waistband. The rubber bands prevented the gun sliding down past the belt. I have one that I carried as a back up to my duty revolver and off duty, and also a S&W Model 40 Centennial I carried off duty. I carried mine as a backup stuck between my wide duty belt and my uniform pants belt, between a couple of belt "keepers", in a "small of back" position. Worked great. Never fell out, and was always available as a quick "reload", so to speak. I went into plainclothes duty in 1990 and, by that time, the small revolvers were on their way out as duty weapons. I carried a SIG P228 throughout my plainclothes duty...but when I needed a gun that concealed better, I carried the Colt. Or the S&W. Or both. Now retired, I still carry the Colt and also a S&W Model 642 as a concealed carry handgun. The debate has always been over the 5 round capacity of the S&W and 6 round capacity of the Colt. I have both. The S&W is a little easier to conceal...but just a little, and mostly because it has smaller grips. The Colt has an extra round capacity, but the advantage of going from 5 to 6 is not so great to be a major concern. I haven't lost any sleep over it in 48 years.
@@kylewood8327 Well, that is a choice you are free to make. FWIW, I can tell you that in 36 years as police officer in one of the most dangerous cities in America, I never had a situation I couldn't solve with 5 rounds that *would have been* solved with 6 rounds. And for personal self defense, I consider 5 rounds a fair trade for improved concealment. That said, I DO still own both 6 round and 5 round small revolvers. My duty pistol for 19 years was a 13+1 and my primary concealed carry handgun is an 8 +1 autoloader. So I am not opposed to more ammo on board, I just don't consider it a priority in my handgun choice. I rarely carry the Detective Special anymore, because when I want a smaller handgun (like when I went to the doctor yesterday and surf fishing this morning) the S&W 642 is such a great little pocket gun! The Detective Special, not so much. Not only is it bigger/heavier, it has a hammer spur. The 642 does not. So...for THAT purpose, I will take the 5 shot Model 642 any day of the week.
I don’t have any Colt DS but I do own two S&W 10-5’s. One square butt (1962) and one round butt (1975). Both with there boxes and all original. I love the snubby pistols too, such classics!
I have a 1971 model that I just had to have because of French Connection. I carry it quite often and I prefer it to modern guns. It worked great then and still works great today.
My Detective Spcl, made around 1975 AD, is one of my prized possessions. Shoots great. Still shoots great. It always surprises me how well it shoots at even longer distances. I keep it loaded with ammo very similar to the traditional Treasury Agent Load, and always feel well-armed, since I shoot it so well.
I have two Colt Cobras… the lightweight aluminum frame version of the detective special…. One from 1968, and an LAPD example from 1966, (which has been “neutered”, to mean that it is double action only). Although the recoil is harsh, they shoot extraordinarily accurately, despite their short barrels. Awesome video, love the older revolvers.
I actually own two Cobras as well LOL. Both made in 1963 and yes, they shoot great. I've just never made videos on them but probably will now that I'll be doing a set of videos on old Colts.
I have been gifted my parents 1964 Detective Special awhile back and quite honestly didn't realize just how "special" this gun is until now. I was about to mistakenly sell it but will definitely not now. Thanks for the video.
I have the Detective Special, Cobra and Agent. All slender barrel unshrouded versions from the sixties to early seventies. The Cobra and Agent are two of my favorite street guns ever and both are still in routine use currently. I use a Bucheimer Clark upside down shoulder rig, a Bucheimer Federal Man or Concealer belt holster or one of the modern synthetic pocket holsters for all of the guns. The Cobra is customized, with the hammer spur removed and the top of the hammer serrated for thumb cocking as was sometimes done on Fitz Specials and period smooth black Pearlite grips I rebuilt. I honed the actions on the Detective Special and Cobra as well. The Agent was already as smooth as could be from the factory. I think the Agent, which is one of the very last tapered barrel versions made from 1972, may be the favorite. Somehow it's short grip is just perfect for me, and it's extremely fast from the upside down rig. Nobody expects a gun to come from that position anymore either. It confounds young gun guys, who don't have revolvers and haven't ever seen anything like it. 😏 Agents are also barely larger than a Smith J-frame, and actually have a shorter grip. I also have the original box for the Detective Special with the wrapping and little cleaning brush from the factory. Though I have many S&W revolvers dating back to the early 1900s, in my heart I'm a Colt guy... 😌
@@ObjectHistory Thanks. I do especially love my vintage firepower and gunleather. There's also a S&W Model 36, 37, 40, 640, 49 (nickel), 2" M15, 2 1/2" M19, 2 1/2" M686, 4" M64, and a 5" Webley Mk IV .38-200 in the regular battery. Plus a bunch of other Colt and Beretta autos. 😛
Great compilation of a classic Colt. This and the Banker’s Special are personal favs of mine. BTW- the original box with case candy...you featured commands a premium price and collectors seek them out. I think there is a scene in “The Godfather Part II” where he’s showing Al Pacino how to use the Colt in the famous murder scene. If I remember correctly that’s a detective special in that scene as well. I love all the photos you showed and very few know about the Fits special as it is very rare. The first time I saw one I was stuck by how dangerous it was having the trigger guard cut away.
Thanks. Yeah, the Fitz is an insane design when it comes to the trigger guard but I guess it would theoretically get you firing that much quicker in a shootout.
Found my lightly used 1994 vintage DS in a nearby gun shop a few years ago. The bluing was & is still beautiful. The ejector rod is encased under the bbl. and it has factory pachmayrs with the rampant Colt logo. Think I paid about 150.00 for it. .....Was issued S&Ws OTJ in the 70s/80s.
Have owned a Cobra and 2 Detective Specials, all with barrel shrouded ejector rods, (post 1973) and all printed groups at about 11 o clock at 25 feet. Know where your sidearm hits.
This would likewise be a fine .38 Special 2" snub-nose revolver for self defense/house protection/concealed carry; it could likewise double as a handgun for hunting small game: rabbit, squirrel, and grouse (loaded with .38 Special wad-cutters), especially for the campfire skillet. Same for dispatching vermin such as raccoon, skunk, and possum. Or likewise for butchering livestock such as cattle with a head shot. Even for killing rattlesnakes up close: CC1's classic .38 Special shot or "snake load": No. 9 shot. Next to a .22 or .32 the .38 Special 148 grain lead target wadcutter would be ideal for these purposes. This increases the versatility and utilitarian use of the .38 caliber revolver for not only the homeowner, apartment, condo, or duplex dweller, but also for the outdoorsman/sportsman as a companion handgun for fishing, camping, hiking, back packing, woods trekking, hunting (as a backup .38 during deer and elk season) etc. Yes even a .38 Special for a long haul trucker, hay hauler, and for carrying on long road trip. Ideal for both sexes. ---Jim Farmer
Internet Movie Firearms Database says it was a Colt as does this page... entertainment.ha.com/itm/movie-tv-memorabilia/gene-hackman-jimmy-popeye-doyle-colt-detective-special-38-ctg-revolver-from-the-french-connection/a/997049-1677.s#:~:text=Colt%20Detective%20Special%20.-,38%20CTG%20revolver%20from%20The%20French%20Connection.,and%20dark%20brown%20wooden%20grip.
Just fyi your example of the police positive and the "detective special of indiscriminate age" was actually an official police which was a larger heavier revolver.
Quite plain and effective pistol. Every noir-bad guy likes to hold one on their hip aimed at person they want to spook. Certainly not something you just ignore for not being a proper gun like S&W Model 29.
