Colt Detective Special

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I suspect that tomorrow I'll be putting one on layaway. I like the shrouded ejector, but there's just something about the older style that grabs me.
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Well, I wasn't lying. I just got back from putting a 1969 2nd version Detective Special on layaway. It wasn't really in the budget (hence the layaway) but with so many Colts suddenly showing up I had to act now. As it was many of the Police Positves were gone since last week. I had four 2nd version Detective Specials to chose from and as many Cobras. My gun only shows holster wear to the very end of the muzzle and around the flutes on the cylinder, none of it very bad. It's the nicest one I've seen and has what looks to be original grips in nice shape with some flattening to the checkering. The gun seemd very tight, but for the life of me I don't recall completely checking the trigger pull. D'oh! I probably did, but even if I didn't I'm not all that worried about it.

One of the Detective Specials had a short ejector rod. What's up with that?
 
I'd have to look at it again, but it looked even shorter than that (but maybe not).
 
Seems a bit high - I haven't priced one in a couple of year. $350-$400 was the going rate last time I was in the market for one, unless it was something really unique. Liking mine better all the time.
 
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BTW, I've been drooling over those 1947 and 1950 DS above, and have seen a pair of those all-plastic grips currently up on eBay. I just paid on an auction for grips described as "Franzite Molded Plastic Grips Colt Detective Special" shown below. Is there any chance these are factory Colt grips? The plastic grips that I keep seeing are all like the on the 47 and 57 above, all plastic.

coltgripnj9.jpg
 
I have a non shrouded '64 DS that I love. I had problems with accuracy at first, but I cured that with some snap caps and dry firing it until I got a blister on the trigger finger :)
 
Those look to have the Franzite "eagle" on the medallions.

Colt did make some plastic ones with metal Colt medallions. I think they were sold as factory aftermarket grips. I've got one, maybe two sets of those but they have shrunk. I've also got another set like those on my 1947 DS.

The plastic grips sold by Colt were/are known as Coltwood.

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Those look to have the Franzite "eagle" on the medallions.

Colt did make some plastic ones with metal Colt medallions. I think they were sold as factory aftermarket grips. I've got one, maybe two sets of those but they have shrunk. I've also got another set like those on my 1947 DS.

The plastic grips sold by Colt were/are known as Coltwood.
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There are a pair of the Coltwood up on eBay right now. How much did they shrink? Enough to really notice or be unuseable?

BTW, great looking grips.

Also, those medallions do look like Franzite eagle emblems now that I really look at them.
 
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I just looked at those on Ebay. Those are like the ones on my DS and I have a second set of them. Neither of mine of that style have shrunk.

The ones that seem more prone to shrinking are the plastic ones that are a more solid brown color...with or without medallions.
 
Colt never used Franzite stocks, but they did make they're own because they had a plastics devision during the 1940's and 50's. I don't know that the revolver grips shrunk, but those they put on 1911 style pistols did.

I believe that some of the genuine Colt stocks can be found at: (www.e-gunparts.com) but read the fine print, as they may be used take-off's.

Colt also owned the Jay Scott Company that made plastic stocks for many different guns, but I don't believe they used them on any of their own production except for some of the .22 Single Actions.
 
Thanks guys. While I'm not married to the idea of using grips proper to the gun's era (for me Coltwood would be fine on a 1969 gun) I would like to get factory grips on the guns if possible. Part of my enjoyment of shooting is to experience a gun as it would have been had I bought it new in box way back when. New grips can get pricey. I'll definitely check out Numrich. I hadn't thought of them.

The Coltwood grips on eBay look very nice, but I think that auction is going to go too high for me. At least the Franzite should have the feel of the orginals. Plus, the original grips on the 2nd Series that I have on layaway aren't that bad to begin with.
 
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