Fixing a Colt Detective Special?

[NeoSpud]

Hi everybody.

Long story short, I was just today given a Colt Detective Special by a person I respect very much. From what I gather, it's a 1948 vintage, and has a lot of character (it's been used, and I'll keep using). It might not be worth lots of money, but I value it very much.

It's a great little gun, with one exception: the hammer does not "lock" in the rearmost position when retracted. Other than that it appears to be just fine. I've removed the grips to inspect for any damage, with no luck. As I'm not a gunsmith and do not have a manual handy, I'm hesitant to do anything else.

Can anyone tell me:
1. What is likely wrong with the revolver?
2. Can I fix it? I'm an experienced airsoft gun modder, so work with small metal parts and springs is right up my alley, but if it'll be too risky or technical then I'll just take it to a good 'smith.
3. If I don't fix it, can I still shoot the gun? Of course I'd like to get it in tip-top shape, but I'm going to the range this weekend and really want to take it along...

Thanks, everyone. Once I get this gun into shoot-able condition, I'd like to use it as a carry gun.

 

[cherryriver]

First guess: gunk. Lots of old Colts have a grease in the works that can harden with age and disuse. I once bought an virtually unfired 1950 Cobra that couldn't even cycle because of the hardened gum in the works.
Taking a Detective Special apart to clean this stuff out isn't especially hard, but you'd be very, very wise to grab the Jerry Kuhnhausen shop manual (at Brownells, for example) on the older Colt revolvers. Just so you don't miss something subtle, because these guns do have some subtlety about their multi-functional parts like the rebound lever.
A second possiblity is that the gun may have been converted to double-action only. It's been a somewhat accepted practice for a long time.
Meanwhile, if the thing shoots in double-action okay, there you go. Honestly, I can't even remember firing any of my small-frame Colts by thumb-cocking anyway.
I do recall recently firing a new-to-me 686 by thumbcocking, but it startled me when it went off so I quit with that stuff.
More seriously, the DS is among the best for the use you propose. Practice a lot and it will outperform your expectations.
One more thing- I love my Colts but the stocks are rarely the best for fast shooting such as for personal protection. Eagles and Hogues top my list for most practical for such use.

 

[Old Fuff]

I take it that this revolver is more important to you then usual, and that you intend to keep and use it.

If so, I suggest that you send it back to Colt and have them go through it, top-to-bottom/front-to-back. The reasons the hammer won't stand at full-cock could be many, and short of completely disassembling and inspecting the gun, any advise or suggestions you get here will be pure conjecture. Under other circumstances I'd say, "take it to a gunsmith," but those who are qualified to work on older Colt's are getting fewer and fewer, and finding one in your area might be a long shot. The wrong one could easily ruin the gun. When Colt gets done any and all problems that were discovered will be fixed, and you will discover as I have, that the Detective Special is an exceptionally fine and reliable handgun. It's well worth getting fixed right.

 

[PRM]

Colt Industries

I have two Detective Specials one old style and one new style. The older gun was kind of rough when I got it (action and finish). Sent it to Colt and they went completely through it and refinished it. Got it back looking as close to new as you could get. First class work and very reasonable.

 

[NeoSpud]

One more thought...

Thanks for the replies, guys. I think sending it to Colt may be the best way to go.

Something CherryRiver wrote has got me thinking, though... It very may be converted to DAO, and upon further inspection I've noticed a few other oddities between this particular revolver and other Detective Specials, maybe suggesting it has had some custom work done to it. In particular, the hammer is flatter, checkered, and wider than others I've held. I don't know what modifications are prevalently done by individuals versus police smiths, but this particular revolver was the service pistol for a detective in the LAPD in the 1960s onwards. If DAO conversion was popular back then, perhaps the different hammer would be indicative?

Here are some pictures. Interesting, huh?

 

[PRM]

Colt D Frame

The Colt Diamondback was also a D Frame same as the Detective Special. It looks like a Diamondback hammer has been dropped in it. Not a major change in the gun.

 

[Old Fuff]

Los Angeles was one of the cities that decided to have their issued revolvers converted to double-action only (DAO) shortly before they went to automatics. I think it is entirely possible that at an earlier date a police amorer or private gunsmith changed in the Diamondback hammer, and later it was converted to DAO when that became department policy on their revolvers. Officers had to qualify with both duty and off-duty guns, and training/qualifications were conducted using the double-action mode only.

Unfortunately if this is the case and you want the single-action option, it will likely be necessary to have a new hammer (and maybe trigger) installed.

 

[NeoSpud]

I don't mind at all shooting DAO. I have a S&W 685 that can shoot either double or single action, and I prefer double. I'd like to leave this gun alone as much as possible; considering its history, I just want to get it into shooting condition.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Old Fuff]

If the only known problem is that the hammer won't stand at full-cock I wouldn't worry about going to a range and firing it - double-action mode of course. If the hammer/trigger were modified in L.A. to make the revolver DAO then the hammer shouldn't stay cocked as it would usually do, and it appears to me like it's acting like I would expect it would.

I still stand by my suggestion of returning the gun to Colt for a check-up, but if you do be sure to tell them that if the gun has been modified to DAO you want it left that way. Otherwise they would fix it by installing new parts.

Another issue you need to think about is the hammer spur. Someone else might try and cock it and be surprised when the hammer fell. If the trigger was being held back you could get an unexpected discharge. If the trigger wasn't held back the revolver's positive hammer block would prevent a shot from happening. Usually when a revolver is converted the hammer spur is remove, or "bobbed," but sometimes the spur was/is left intact because it is necessary that a safety strap on the holster not be compromised.

It's my opinion, that you should go ahead and try it out. Then decide what you want to do.

 

[Master Blaster]

You could put a little oil in the openings in the frame, Hammer trigger, hand, cylinderstop, etc and work the action a bit, it may just be dry or gunk.

No cost no risk.

You could also hose it out with action cleaner first and then oil.

 

[dfariswheel]

The hammer on your gun isn't a Diamondback hammer, it's a custom job.
Considering the gun was used by an LAPD officer, there's a good chance it is a King's Target hammer.

King's was a famous LA area gunsmith who did Target conversions and accessories for revolvers.
One of their most famous accessories was the King's "Cock-eyed" target hammer that was wider on one side to allow faster cocking.
They also made full-width hammers.
These were nicely checkered on the spur, while the Diamondback hammer is grooved.

Since the gun has a custom hammer, I don't think it would have been converted to DA-only without also removing the wide spur, but it's possible.

If Colt will no longer work on a revolver this old, you next best source is Cylinder & Slide Shop.
They're one of the VERY few places that really "understand" the older Colt's and are qualified to work on them.