This Old Gun: Colt Official Police Revolver 

I inherited at 1952 Colt Official Police. It originally belonged to my Granddaddy. He was a local Police Chief. Upon his death it went my dad who was also a local Police Chief. Now Dad has passed and I have the gun. I am not a police officer, but I am very proud to own this gun that served to protect the public and two of the most important people in the world to me for over 50 years. I have shot this gun several time in my life. It is in great shape and is really nice to handle.

I was issued this Colt when I was a DC cop in 1968.

My grandfather (not a cop) had somehow acquired a 1964 Official Police in .38 that had only been fired maybe twice. I inherited it a few years back, put maybe 500 rounds through it, and then gave it to my daughter for her 21st birthday. Still a great revolver.

My O.P. is 2 yrs older than I am. Carried as police and security officer for 40 yrs. It's now my edc gun with FBI loads.

38 special was not used in the Philippine war but 38 long colt was 38 special was developed in response after the war

I didn't realize Colt Commandos were rare. Saw one at a gun shop a couple of months ago for $550.

Great, great video on a Legend, the Official Police. A a working cop from 1971 to 2017, my PD-issued .38 Smith & Wesson Model 10-5 was supported by my privately owned Colt Official Police, in .38 Special chambering. I qualified yearly with each mentioned sixgun per State of Georgia. mandate. As time marched on the PD-issued shooting hardware changed also. From the S&W Model 10-5 our agency transferred to the .357 S&W Model 66. The duty ammo was the .38+P 125gr. LHP, no .357's allowed. So, with permission from higher-ups, I managed to hang on to my Colt. Things were different in 1976, and the rules of "what" you carried on duty was not as strict as today. Just as long as I qualified with the range officer, my Colt would continue to follow me to work. As a policeman's service revolver, my Colt was "the" duty gun I carried the most. My Colt had already had a previous law enforcement job with the Port City PD in New Jersey before being sold off in early 1971 as surplus. A local gun store made purchases of second-hand cop six-guns, and my Official Police .38 arrived in a 10-gun batch of cop trade-ins. My Dad purchased one of those well worn Colt OP's and gave it to me as a Christmas present. Best Christmas ever for me! All of my family was still alive, I was young and way too prideful, yet to be humbled by the reality of life, cop life! That 1971 Christmas present had these stats and dimensions; Blue steel finish, excellent fixed sights that allowed for a "quick" target acquisition, a four-inch barrel, and chambered in .38 Special, a very smooth trigger that "stacked" at the end of a slow double-action pull. I would find out later this stacking was common to the I-frame Colt. The compact walnut service grip panels were too small for me to get a "solid" non-slip grip, so I added some beautiful walnut Herrett's Shooting Star Target Grips to this Colt and the slipped-grip issue was history. My shooting scores improved with this grip change. I would slowly develop an affection for this old Cop .38 and would ultimately carry it until retirement in 2017. In 1992 all local agencies converted to the semi-automatic pistol. I thought my world was gone upon hearing this nightmare, but lo and behold, I was grandfathered in with my Official Police. The OP is a finely made, precision built, shooting instrument. The trigger-action was "hand-honed" and "hand-fitted" by a very well trained craftsman. The OP would undergo numerous inspections at the Colt Factory before being released for sale. Made from 1908 to 1969, it would be the source of many large service revolver contracts with large and small agencies. Anyway did not mean to write a book here, but my passion for my old duty six-shooter, the Official Police, still burns brightly. Thanks again for this informative video on a classic Colt Firearm.

I originally came from the state of Connecticut and have brought Colt Official police from one of the retired chief of police in 1988 for $225.00. The guns was in original mint condition and never been fired. There was no body want to pay $299.00 the book value of the gun so I offered him $225.00 and I owned it. It is a beautiful gun in 5" barrel made in 1930 and I can hit anything in 20 yards with original 158 grains lead round nose copper plate that came with the guns.

The variant Colt Marshall 4" only was available with round butt, in blue or nickel in 1956-1957

Lieutenant Sulu really liked this gun

So if Colt claimed they could handle the stout S&W 38/44, they should be able to handle .38 + P loads. Yes or no?

I've got one I bought it from a friend who's husband was on the San Francisco police dept airport duty, when he died she sold it to me for 50 dollars perfect condition in 1969.

I inherited my Grandfather's 1938 police official 38. shoots awesome

The Nypd in the 1980’s used the colt detective 38 revolver

I was trying to figure out why my barrel didnt match the serial number lookup and it turns out I have that camp perry officer heavy barrel version. Cool history. Thanks grandpa!

One of my favorite revolvers

Good review, thanks.

I love my OP. It's light, tough And accurate. As a gunsmith, I find it ironic that so many people think the action on the Colt is complicated, when it really is simpler than a S&W. As for the failure of the Colt ..38 in the Philippines, I think it is important to point out, that not only did the Colt fail, so did the 30-40 Krag. As the narrator said it took a rifle but to the forehead. The army wanted a forty five long before the Philippines and sadly for a much darker reason, yet necessary. The Navy and The Marines continued to us .38 The cartridge and the revolvers that were developed from this I feel are some of the best designs ever built, and most of them still live on in many of the best revolvers being made today. And the .38 special is perhaps the best all around cartridge. I highly recommend both.

They skipped the 32 . It was originally a 32 before it was even a 38 , it was called the police positive , it would take 32 s&w long .

I grew up watching The Andy Griffith show everyday. As an adult, seeing Barney fumble around with a gun is a little bit stupid, but still funny.

My father had that gun. I have to find it. Great video.

Aren't there a couple of differences between the Army Special and the Official Police? I've read that was when they switched from the black plastic grips to wood ones. Also the trigger went from smooth to serrated.

My grandpa had a couple matching ones in 6 inch with the big colt lettering on grip. I was to get one as an inheritance along with some others when grandma was ready but a another family member made off with them all.

Does anyone know where to get a holster for one of these I got one recently as I’ve always wanted to own a colt and can’t seem to find a holster

I know old Colt advertiding said the E frame Official Police ans even the D frame Detective Special can handle the pressures of the .38/44 Heavy Dutu Load, but: Was it true they can handle those pressures?

Another revolver Colt needs to come back.

I have a 1906 coke 38 please positive has a4 digit serial number and it has a horse looks like a sea stamp on the left side above the handle that's rare and it has VP stamps on the trigger guard it's a rare gun

I have a 6" barrel 22 cal official police target revolver.

My cylinder doesn't want to cycle when loaded? Does anyone know why?

1950 Just like me. Mine looks just like the one in the video. It is a police trade in. There loss, my gain.

"Fanatical Tribesman" i think you mean freedom fighter

I really hate seeing people shoot double handed with revolvers.