HELP - Colt Detective Special

[stormspotter]

Tell me how bad I got taken?

Yesterday I found a nickel Colt Detective Special 98-99 % condition. It has the ejector rod shroud and checkered factory target grips (1970's ?). There is a barely noticeable ring around cylinder and only a "slight" wear mark at right front of trigger guard.

Was looking at another brand 2 incher when I noticed this in an out of the way corner of the case. The dealer had sold a blued one a couple months earlier and no one seem interested in this one, so he had moved it "out of the way".

Side plate and screw heads are all clean, so it appears no one has tried to mess with the action.

Has a wonderful trigger, with only a slight stacking before the hammer falls.

After shooting my SP101, my wife decided "she" could not live without it.

Would love to post a picture, but being "computer impared" I am presently unable. :banghead:

Got it for $350 out the door.


Leonard

 

[Snake Eyes]

I used to peg Dick Specials at about $300. Then I recently had to sell a couple of 99.9999++% LNIB guns to a local shop--a 3rd Gen nickle, and a 1st Gen in .32LC.

Now, this shop has always treated me right, and I know that gun stores like to pay 50-66% of what they figure to sell 'em for, and I had booked these out at around $350-$425 retail.

Imagine my surprise when they offered me $750 for both guns.

I guess Dick Specials have gone up a bit, and you got a pretty good deal.

 

[Cosmoline]

They're going up and up and up. They're more accurate on average than J frame Smiths but bad timing is of course something to watch out for.

 

[Kramer Krazy]

Sounds pretty good to me for the condition. If you look on www.gunbroker.com or www.gunsamerica.com most DS models seem to be in the $350-$450 range....if not more. About four months ago, I found a 1971 blued 38spl DS that had only about 80% blueing on it for $275. It is pretty rare to find a DS for under $300, unless it is just totally ragged and worn. I'd say a nickle plated one in the condition you bought would easily bring $400+.

 

[scubie02]

I just purchased a blued model today for $225! I guess it was a consignment gun and that was the lowest the owner had said he would take, and it must not have sold previously. It locked up nice and tight and was in excellent shape--hope it turns out to be a shooter. If not, I should easily enough be able to get my money back! I looked it up and it looks to have been made in early 1933 by the serial number.

 

[Snake Eyes]

bad timing is of course something to watch out for.

You know, I hear a lot of (mostly desparaging) talk about Colts fragile timing, weak lock-up or hand, and inability to rapidly fire double action without causing damage.

In my short time as a collector owner, I must have bought and sold 50 Colt DA revolvers and I've NEVER had a problem. Never found one out of time. Never found one that didn't lock up like the proverbial bank vault.

Oh, I've seen a few that had a little end-shake...but nothing severe.

I will admit that I don't buy cruddy or excessively worn guns, and I don't shoot 500 rounds a week DA only.

But I still think all this talk about timing and weak lock-ups is a bunch of hooey.

 

[Standing Wolf]

...I still think all this talk about timing and weak lock-ups is a bunch of hooey.

Yep. One can, indeed, wreck a Python's timing with lots of very fast double action shooting of hot loads, but you'd have to run a great deal of +P or +P+ ammunition through a Detective Special to harm it.

$350 is a pretty reasonable price for a Detective Special in good condition. I've seen them with price tags—admittedly sucker prices—as high as $600 at gun shows. I paid $350 for mine new in 1981.

 

[stormspotter]

Colt Detective Special

I believe this one was made in th 70's, from the ejector rod shroud and serial #.

The action is tight as a bank vault. At the moment the hammer falls there is no play whatsoever, forward/back or side/side. Do not plan on shooting much +P, a cylinder of 135 grain Gold Dots just to see POI. Also will try some of the non+P 110 grain DPX.

This will be for the wife to play with and I can keep my SP101 3 inch 357 mag. My SP101 shots right at POA with Rem 125 gr. Golder Sabres and am waiting for some 135 grain Gold Dots in 357.

Thanks,
Leonard

 

[Checkman]

I own a Colt DS manufactured in 1975. It's one of my backup guns and it's a sweet little shooter. I used to feel guilty about subjecting it to the rigors of daily carry in all types of weather, but I now realize it was meant to be used. It's not a freaking safe queen, it's a duty gun.