Fitz Special project

[Fishslayer]

Nice Roscoe, Johnny!

 

[Guillermo]

It is extremely rare when I differ in opinion with SaxonPig.

He is an extremely smart man with a lot of experience and practical knowledge. In short, he has earned my respect.

With this in mind, I respectfully disagree with him on the Fitz.

The modifications were made for a very specific purpose, pocket carry.

I don't know if I could bring myself to cobble up an old Colt, but I might buy one.

 

[Old Fuff]

If you can afford an original Colt Fitz Special I want to help you invest the rest of your money...

It there is any left.

Bench grinder standing by....

 

[Remllez]

Saxonpig,

I'm not sure if Sam Colt was ever in law enforcement or a gun fight for that matter but, most would grant him "expert status" in fighting gun design. So I'm willing to concede that title to Fitzgerald as well. Colt was a conservative company and wouldn't have offered Fitz guns if they were a liability to their company.

 

[Guillermo]

wouldn't have offered Fitz guns if they were a liability to their company

That was a different time.

In this disgustingly litigious time we live in now, gun companies have been sued because their products are guns.

 

[Old Fuff]

Colt was a conservative company and wouldn't have offered Fitz guns if they were a liability to their company.

I’ve never heard of even a suggestion that Colt faced any litigation over the Fitz Special. In fact several well-placed company executives ordered one (or even a pair) for themselves. During the “Fitz era” lasting from the middle 1920’s through the 50’s courts generally tended to blame individual negligence or incompetence for unintended shootings, not the firearm’s design.

And so far as the Colt Company goes, the Fitz Special was a special order item, most of which went to individuals employed in law enforcement or a military service, that were friends or associates of FitzGerald. Considering that the maximum produced was likely under 100, that quantity combined with the expertise of those that bought them left a very low expectation of someone having an unintended discharge. The chance of someone having one while using an aftermarket conversion was probably higher, but they would be in no position to bring a lawsuit against Colt.

 

[Rexster]

I do not have long, large, thick fingers, and when handling an SP101, I can see the merit of a cut-away trigger guard, particularly for someone with larger fingers than mine. I would judge a DA revolver with a normal pull weight and cut-away trigger guard to be no more dangerous than some other handguns with "safe-action" triggers with intact trigger guards. I am not being critical of either set-up, just saying a Fitz'ed revolver is not dangerous in the hands of anyone who understands proper holsters and proper gun handling. There may be less margin for error, but less margin does not necessarily mean unwisely dangerous.

Moreover, back in his day, Fitzgerald was not alone in his appreciation of the merits of a
cut-away trigger guard.

 

[revolvergeek]

I like it. I am generally opposed to cutting up / modifying nice collector quality guns, but I don't see anything wrong with doing a restoration conversion on an old beater that has issues.

I doubt that I would every carry it much, but I would dearly love to have one of those to keep in my desk drawer (along with an old flat sap, of course) for emergencies.

 

[oldbear]

The “Fitz” specials are not everyone’s cup of tea, and may be far from practical, but I would love to have one in my modest assortment of revolvers. Reminds me of a gun you would find in Dashiell Hammett’s Post St. apartment.

 

[Iggy]

What oldbear said.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

same here

 

[Guillermo]

while I understand a lot of people's revulsion, I would like to have one. But it would have to be based on an old D frame. Perhaps a Police Positive Special.

But it would have to be roached.

Because mostly I am into preservation

 

[rswartsell]

I hope I have allowed enough time and posts between the Professor Emeritus of Colts (and especially Fitz's) the Old Fuff, for me to proffer my humble opinion with the proper respect.

You have created a very specialized personal defense weapon that in my mind came from the '20's - '30's mean streets of Chicago for winter use. Gloved hands, pocket carry in a heavy wool overcoat. Purpose carried by someone who thought it was likely he would employ it, and was perfectly willing to have a smoldering .38 hole in that nice overcoat.

More specifically, cold weather carry, try handling with gloves and the fuctional practicality comes through like a clarion call.

Pocket carry, bobbed hammer, ditto.

By a man not nearly as prone to thinking about AD/ND as he is a quick shot at close range.

Six for sure, Colt quality, could even lay it out at arms length across a Model A hood for a 35 yard plus shot. What's not to like youse mugs?

If I wanted something for exactly that circumstance today, I don't know what would be better. What I have for that purpose is a S&W Safety Hammerless .38 S&W. Yours is vastly superior.

 

[Guillermo]

I hope I have allowed enough time and posts between the Professor Emeritus of Colts (and especially Fitz's) the Old Fuff, for me to proffer my humble opinion with the proper respect.

WOW

 

[rswartsell]

Care to expand on that?

 

[Guillermo]

I treat Fuff with an appropriate mixture of respect and airborne monkey poo.

You shouldn't kiss his ring. You don't know where it has been!!!

 

[Old Fuff]

More specifically, cold weather carry, try handling with gloves and the fuctional practicality comes through like a clarion call.

Without question, many Fitz Special's were carried in coat pockets, especially the larger ones, and during the Winter. Consider: How do you get to your concealed handgun that's in a belt or shoulder holster under both a suit and overcoat?

But the suit styles of the day allowed pants pocket carry because of a "baggy" look, and the practice of replacing cloth pockets with special leather ones. On occasion, FitzGerald would carry not one but two cut-down .45 New Service models in his pants pockets, and those were built on Colt's largest frame.

While on a Military Police detail assigned to protect president Roosevelt after the December 7th 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, 2nd. LT. Rex Applegate carried an identical one, and legend says it gained a favorable comment from FDR, who was no stranger to handguns. Since this was in Washington DC during December and later I suspect it found a home in an overcoat pocket at least part of the time.

 

[Elm Creek Smith]

FitzGerald habitually wore jodphurs which were not exactly snug around the thighs, so he could easily conceal those New Service Fitzes.

ECS

 

[oldbear]

Not a true Fritz, but two great, Colt, "cut downs." I really want one of these.

 

[Guillermo]

Oldbear

both of these seem to have triggers and hammers intact

?

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Hey...that's my Colt!

Not a true Fritz, but two great, Colt, "cut downs." I really want one of these.

Well that second one pictured in your post is mine. I took that picture with it hanging in one of my apple trees!

And yes, I've still got it.

Here it is sporting some Sambar Stag grips



And here with some wood grips and pictured in deceased gun writer Dean Grennel's "Book of the .45" and also in his book "Pistol and Revolver Digest."

 

[Old Fuff]

both of these seem to have triggers and hammers intact

Not to worry... I can fix that. Bench grinder is warming up.

 

[Guillermo]

I've still got it.

what is "cut down" on it?

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Barrel

I see you are in Texas. I got this Colt out of Texas.

 

[Guillermo]

I am trying to get all the Colts into Texas I can

(and old Smiths)

is that a 1917?