anyone remember the Colt Detective Special?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - anyone remember the Colt Detective Special?

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:35:14 PM EDT

Growing up I thought these guns were the bee's knees. I couldn't put my finger on it, but they just seemed "cool."

Of course, it's not surprising that the run in the 1990s were a commercial failure; they were as (or more) expensive than a Smith & Wesson .357, and they were only a .38 Special. Did Colt ever make a .357 Detective Special?

Did anyone ever have one? I would think the used value of them would be pretty low (comparable to a S&W Model 10 snubnose) but I have no idea.

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:38:25 PM EDT

[#1]

Yes, Colt did make a D-frame 357Rem Mag, I believe it was called the Magnum Carry. This gun is pretty rare because it was not all that popular, it iwas discontinued after 2 years. It is pretty expensive when you can find it. I had an opportunity shoot one, it was a great shooting gun.

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:38:48 PM EDT

[#2]

I have an older DS - a '69 production. Needs a little TLC. I only have $250 in it so I think I can stand to spend a little on it.

Nice one in the pic.

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:40:28 PM EDT

[#3]

I have an old one that doesn't have the ejection rod shroud.

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:41:32 PM EDT

[#4]

My BUG looks exactly like your pic -

luv that thing -

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:42:38 PM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
I have an older DS - a '69 production. Needs a little TLC. I only have $250 in it so I think I can stand to spend a little on it.

Nice one in the pic.

I had one made around the same time, absolutely 99% NRA at the worst. Not a mark, boxed all it's life, Uncle left it to me along with a lot of other guns when he passed. Some communist cocksucking piece of shit stole it and the WWII Nazi officers parade knife he brought home from the war that was an original of this shit reproduction. If I ever found the motherfucker that stole that irreplaceable shit........

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:43:36 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
Yes, Colt did make a D-frame 357Rem Mag, I believe it was called the [b]Magnum Carry.[b/] This gun is pretty rare because it was not all that popular, it iwas discontinued after sale. It is pretty expensive when you can find it. I had an opportunity shoot one, it was a great shooting gun.

The definitely rings a bell!

Only one on gunbroker and the beautiful Colt finish has been covered up :(

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=214260251

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:44:44 PM EDT

[#7]

I love mine... for two reasons only:

1) It's a Colt.
2) It belonged to my father.

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:45:54 PM EDT

[#8]

I love my Bodyguard. Perfect snubbie pocket gun IMO.

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:46:19 PM EDT

[#9]

I had one of the newer ones as pictured in the OP. Scored it used (like new) for $250. Couldn't pass it up. Told my wife (now ex-wife) I bought it for her, which kinda backfired on me cuz she took it when we split up What could I say?

It was a good quality little gun. I prefer Smith triggers, though.

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:50:56 PM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Yes, Colt did make a D-frame 357Rem Mag, I believe it was called the [b]Magnum Carry.[b/] This gun is pretty rare because it was not all that popular, it was discontinued after 2 years. It is pretty expensive when you can find it. I had an opportunity shoot one, it was a great shooting gun.

The definitely rings a bell!

Only one on gunbroker and the beautiful Colt finish has been covered up :(

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=214260251

That is about right. From what I understand the newer Magnum Carry has the updated lock work. The older D-frames(Colt's designation for their small frame guns, the equivalent of S&W's J-frame) had lock-work that dated back to the 1800s. It required a lot hand labor, which was probably the reason why Colt decided to discontinue the D-frame, cost way too much to produce, and couldn't make enough money at it.
BTW: I corrected some spelling and grammatical errors in the quote.

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:53:37 PM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:

http://unblinkingeye.com/Guns/Colt_DS/955ColtDSLM.jpg

Growing up I thought these guns were the bee's knees. I couldn't put my finger on it, but they just seemed "cool."

Of course, it's not surprising that the run in the 1990s were a commercial failure; they were as (or more) expensive than a Smith & Wesson .357, and they were only a .38 Special. Did Colt ever make a .357 Detective Special?

Did anyone ever have one? I would think the used value of them would be pretty low (comparable to a S&W Model 10 snubnose) but I have no idea.

I felt the same way about the DS as a young adult. Managed to get one just like yours. What a smooth machine. Then I got a Second Model in .32 Colt New Police caliber for $200 that's 98% and my only "Safe Queen". I also picked up a very nice .38 Diamondback for $150 which now belongs to my 11 year old son.

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:54:20 PM EDT

[#12]

Remember?

Posted: 1/31/2011 4:55:01 PM EDT

[#13]

I have an older one myself, with the exposed ejector rod. It's my "house" gun, loaded with 125gr +P JHP.

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Posted: 1/31/2011 4:57:49 PM EDT

[#14]

...

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Posted: 1/31/2011 4:58:32 PM EDT

[#15]

My dad had one from the 70s when he was in LE. That became my mom's gun. So, I bought my dad a slightly bigger colt in .357. He is a big guy with huge hands. Either gun disappears in his front pockets.

They are great guns.

Posted: 1/31/2011 5:18:06 PM EDT

[#16]

I have one made in '64 that I paid $289 for a few years ago. It's great. I agree about the "cool factor."
In CT I see a fair number of Colt revolvers, but not detective specials too often.

Posted: 1/31/2011 5:22:28 PM EDT

[#17]

I had a blued Colt Cobra with the ejector rod shroud and later a nickle plated Detective Special (Also with a shroud). I do love the looks of the early models though and would love to have one someday.

The only Colt snub nose I have now is a Diamondback:

Posted: 1/31/2011 5:29:21 PM EDT

[#18]

Had a late model DS for a number of years. Sold it awhile ago for $450. It was one of those guns I wanted forever, finally got one, and then, meh. Mine was one of the very late ones. Sharp edges all over the damn thing. The trigger chiseled a chunk out of my finger. Got rid of it and never looked back.

Was always a Smith guy at heart.

Posted: 1/31/2011 5:33:13 PM EDT

[#19]

I have one just like the picture in the OP. Bought it for my wife in the early 90's but she never carried it. Only 100 rounds fired through it.

Posted: 1/31/2011 5:49:12 PM EDT

[#20]

Sure do remember it. That's the one gu my wife confiscated from my collection.

I bought it i the 80's for ~$200, most sell now way north of that if their unfired or like new condition. Good straight foreward snubose.

Posted: 1/31/2011 6:36:56 PM EDT

[#21]

Makes me miss my Cobra, which was an otherwise identical alloy framed version of the gun pictured. I had even installed the same Pachmayr grips on mine.

On a similar note I also miss my vintage S&W model 37, the alloy framed .38 counterpart to the 36.

Posted: 1/31/2011 6:49:33 PM EDT

[#22]

The Colt Detective Special was not a commercial failure in the 1990's.
The problem was, that other then the Python, it was the last of the old early 1900's Colt actioned revolvers that had to be completely hand fitted and adjusted.
It simply got too expensive to make and Colt no longer had enough people with that high of skills to build it.

It was replaced, not by a stainless steel "D" frame, it was replaced with a totally different "SF" frame.
The Colt "SF" frame was basically a miniature Colt King Cobra action in a frame similar in size to the old "D" frame.
The first gun in the series was the Colt SF-VI, which meant "Small Frame-Six Shot".
That catchy name was to prevent confusion with the Detective Special which was still in distributor pipelines.
As soon as the last of the old model were gone, Colt changed the name to the DS-II. Most people assume this stands for "Detective Special Two" but the official Colt name was "DS-II".
The last gun in the series was a slightly beefed up "SF" frame in .357 Magnum. This was the Magnum Carry, which was only produced for less than one year before Colt stopped production of most double action revolvers.

Colt's Custom Shop manager has told the Colt Forum that Colt WILL be introducing a double action revolver in the future.
My bet is that it'll be the Magnum Carry or a modified version.

Posted: 1/31/2011 6:54:10 PM EDT

[#23]

I have one exactly like the one pictured. My grandfather gave it to me when I came home from Desert Storm. It has a target pistol quality trigger. I had a choice between it and a beautiful S&W model 12.
Now I have both, RIP Granddad.

Posted: 1/31/2011 6:54:57 PM EDT

[#24]

I had two. One is on long term loan to my dad and the other is on long term loan with my sister. Get them back one of these days.

Posted: 1/31/2011 6:56:58 PM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:
I have an old one that doesn't have the ejection rod shroud.

I carried that one for a few years.

Posted: 1/31/2011 6:57:15 PM EDT

[#26]

My Dad's service revolver!

I got my firearms safety lessons on that gun.

Posted: 1/31/2011 7:05:36 PM EDT

[#27]

Quoted:
http://unblinkingeye.com/Guns/Colt_DS/955ColtDSLM.jpg

Growing up I thought these guns were the bee's knees. I couldn't put my finger on it, but they just seemed "cool."

Of course, it's not surprising that the run in the 1990s were a commercial failure; they were as (or more) expensive than a Smith & Wesson .357, and they were only a .38 Special. Did Colt ever make a .357 Detective Special?

Did anyone ever have one? I would think the used value of them would be pretty low (comparable to a S&W Model 10 snubnose) but I have no idea.

Lawman 357 is its big brother

Posted: 1/31/2011 7:16:48 PM EDT

[#28]

dfariswheel: Thanks for the official word on the Colt D & SF frames.The resident Colt revolver expert. He lurks mostly in the Colt & Revolver forum.

ETA: Heard it straight from the horse's mouth, pun intended.

Posted: 1/31/2011 7:35:04 PM EDT

[#29]

My dad had one, great lil revo. Also had an Agent, not sure what the differences are.

My favorite Colt of all time has to be the Python in 38 Target with 8 inch barrel. Perfectly beautiful. Just not made like that anymore.

Posted: 1/31/2011 8:28:04 PM EDT

[#30]

My Dad's Dick Specials, his back-up/off-duty for 37 years on the job in NYC.

A recent acquisition- $300

Posted: 1/31/2011 8:32:05 PM EDT

[#31]

I still will pick one of those up sometime, when the mood hits and I find a decent price.

Posted: 1/31/2011 8:58:01 PM EDT

[#32]

Third Variation Nickel Colt D/S made between 1973-74

I personally don't care for it

Posted: 1/31/2011 9:20:30 PM EDT

[#33]

Quoted:

Some communist cocksucking piece of shit stole it and the WWII Nazi officers parade knife he brought home from the war that was an original of this shit reproduction. If I ever found the motherfucker that stole that irreplaceable shit........

http://picturearchive.auctionarms.com/2054000043/9341422/d1.jpg_thumbnail1.jpg

That sucks

I was skimming this thread and was afraid I was gonna have to dump cold water on someone telling that dagger was a repo

I brokered a large collection of nazi daggers about a year ago

ya probably don't want to hear what a original went for

Posted: 1/31/2011 9:22:39 PM EDT

[#34]

In terms of the niche that it filled for carry, the Detective Special (and Smith's Chief's Special) were the "Glock 26 of their time."

Posted: 1/31/2011 9:44:07 PM EDT

[#35]

Though I prefer my S&W 442 in just about every category, there is a certain élan about the Colt that is undeniable. Perhaps it's the pleasing proportions, the comforting heft of businesslike steel, or the blunt, I'm-not-fucking-around rake of the muzzle.

Posted: 1/31/2011 10:01:33 PM EDT

[#36]

I've been wanting a nice blued Colt snubbie for a while... maybe you guys just spent my profit sharing check.

Posted: 1/31/2011 10:15:23 PM EDT

[#37]

Dad got a Colt Cobra from his mother as his off duty gun when he graduated the academy in 73.
Looking back, he says he wishes he had gotten the Detective Special, but all the old timers had advised him "Get an airweight"
After one string of qualification fire, he realized that airweights were easy to carry, but no so easy to shoot.
Regardless, he still carried it off duty, and on duty as a detective, until being transitioned to the Glock in the mid 90s.

Posted: 2/1/2011 7:21:47 AM EDT

[#38]

Quoted:
Dad got a Colt Cobra from his mother as his off duty gun when he graduated the academy in 73.
Looking back, he says he wishes he had gotten the Detective Special, but all the old timers had advised him "Get an airweight"
After one string of qualification fire, he realized that airweights were easy to carry, but no so easy to shoot.
Regardless, he still carried it off duty, and on duty as a detective, until being transitioned to the Glock in the mid 90s.

The old Airweights were also susceptible to frame stretching if fired a lot.

Not sure if the newer Titanium alloy pieces have that problem or not anymore, but as for myself, I do not care for Airweights.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - anyone remember the Colt Detective Special?

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