While most of my revolvers are Smiths I decided to hat I really wanted to have a Colt. I've been into snubbies lately, so when I spotted a Colt Detective Special I decided to pull the trigger on a Colt. A clerk in the shop told me that it had been many years since he had never seen so many used Colt revolvers all at once. There must have been over fifteen Police Postives and Detective Specials in the case. I know that most of them weren't there a month ago.
I spotted a Detective Special in fine mechanical condition but with aesthetic issues. I could tell that the gun would do fine with re-blueing so I put it on layaway. The original grips would have to be replaced. When I came back for the gun three days later there was already another Detective Special added since, and it was in vastly better condition with a better trigger (very smooth) and $50 less than the one that I had on layaway. As the shop allows one switch I came home with the "new" one.
On the downside the gun came with grossly oversized Pachmayrs. The gun is around 85% on the right side and 75% on the left side, but is in good enough condition that I'd never re-blue it. I picked up some Stile grips to replace the Pachmayrs. While they aren't exactly my taste (but they feel great), they are better than the Pachmayrs, and only ran me $7. They'll work until I find original Colt grips. I may stick with the older grip profile like the Stiles and will probably add a Tyler T-Grip.
The serial number is H24098 with a "5" below that. Any idea when this gun was built? It's a very tight gun and mechanically I'm very impressed from what I can see/feel.
I can already see an older Colt Detective (pre-ejector shroud) in my future.
I spotted a Detective Special in fine mechanical condition but with aesthetic issues. I could tell that the gun would do fine with re-blueing so I put it on layaway. The original grips would have to be replaced. When I came back for the gun three days later there was already another Detective Special added since, and it was in vastly better condition with a better trigger (very smooth) and $50 less than the one that I had on layaway. As the shop allows one switch I came home with the "new" one.
On the downside the gun came with grossly oversized Pachmayrs. The gun is around 85% on the right side and 75% on the left side, but is in good enough condition that I'd never re-blue it. I picked up some Stile grips to replace the Pachmayrs. While they aren't exactly my taste (but they feel great), they are better than the Pachmayrs, and only ran me $7. They'll work until I find original Colt grips. I may stick with the older grip profile like the Stiles and will probably add a Tyler T-Grip.
The serial number is H24098 with a "5" below that. Any idea when this gun was built? It's a very tight gun and mechanically I'm very impressed from what I can see/feel.
I can already see an older Colt Detective (pre-ejector shroud) in my future.