Help needed with Colt Officer’s Model Match weird serial #

[Joe Texas]

I actually won an auction on Gunbroker. I will soon have in my possession a Colt Officer’s Model Match in .38 special.

The serial number is 912XXX.

On Colt’s serial number lookup page, it comes up as a 60’s era Police Positive which it obviously is not.

On Proofhouse.com it says that from 1953 - 1971 they sometimes shared serial numbers with Colt’s Trooper model.

Trooper serial numbers in same range indicate a manufacture date of 1956-1957. Best I can tell, that all sounds legit. Can someone with more expertise confirm?

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Well, the Trooper and OMM were both built on the E-frame so I find it plausible the serial ranges could overlap.
The Police Positive is a smaller D-frame, unlikely there.
Most likely built in the late 50's.
I have both, great guns!

 

[dfariswheel]

Colt's serial numbering in the 1950's is confusing at best.

Serial numbers for the Officer's Model Match .22LR were in the Official Police .22LR range, and the .38's were often shared with the original Trooper as well as with the Officer's Model Match range.

 

[Old Dog]

OP, pics as soon as you get it in, right?

 

[CajunBass]

The only thing more confusing than Smith and Wesson's serial numbering system is Colt's System. And the further back in time you go, the more confusing things get. Sometimes it's just a "best guess" it seems.

 

[Tallball]

Nice purchase! I was looking at that auction, too, but it got past my affordable point after a while.

Congratulations and looking forward to a range report.

 

[Joe Texas]

OP, pics as soon as you get it in, right?

Absolutely, Old Dog. I ordered some silver medallion Python target grips from Altamont to replace that chewed up one.

 

[Joe Texas]

 

[Joe Texas]

Nice purchase! I was looking at that auction, too, but it got past my affordable point after a while.

Congratulations and looking forward to a range report.

I’m hoping to use it in DR or Precision Pistol type matches. It’s my understanding that those used to be referred to as the “cheater” pistol. I hope it likes 158 SWC and 148 HBWC.With the grips I’ll still have less than $600 in it. Not too horrible.

 

[Palladan44]

What were the date ranges this particular model was supposedly made by colt?
Doing a quick search, more than one person has had the exact same question as yourself with unclear answers. Contact Colt Archive dept, I guess.
If they can't tell you.... then our suspicions of early-mid 20th century Colt archiving will be reaffirmed!

 

[dfariswheel]

The Colt Officer's Model Match was produced from 1953 to 1969.

It was available in .22LR, .22 Magnum (rare), and .38 Special.
Barrel length was 6 inches. Finish was Colt Dual-tone for the first couple of years, then full bright blue.
The Early 50's Colt Dual-Tone was bright polished blue barrel, sides of the frame. and cylinder.
The edges of the frame around the back strap and trigger guard and the flutes of the cylinder were bead blasted flat black, the muzzle left in the white.

 

[KyJim]

I have an OMM and it has the smoothest trigger of any revolver I own, including Pythons and top-of-the-line SW revolvers. Congratulations of the purchase.

 

[Joe Texas]

Update: The OMM arrived. I found I actually like the feel of that crazy homemade target grip. After some reshaping, sanding, staining, and clear polyurethane, it’s not bad at all.

The S/A trigger on the OMM is almost dangerously light. I didn’t weigh it yet but it’s easily < than 3lbs. It may be closer to 2lbs. It has a trigger shoe installed. It’s the first one I’ve ever seen or used so I have no idea how it affects my perception of the weight of pull.

i also picked up a pristine Smith 14-3 circa 1975 ‘cause you know, it was there.

After developing loads for both, I found that the OMM is more accurate with 148 HBWC’s and the Smith is slightly better with 158 SWC’s. Both bullets were plated. I have some swaged lead arriving next week to see if either of them can do a little better. Both are capable of 3” 20 round groups at 50 feet with either bullet. Overall, the Colt seems slightly more inherently accurate (at least in my hands) than the Smith. I suspect the trigger and more stable grip are contributing factors.

* the OMM keyholed a few of the plated HBWC out of about 150 fired. I’m worried a bit by that even though the cone, barrel, rifling, and crown look okay to me.I’m hoping to not see that with the lead.

Best loads w/plated (in order)
Berry’s 148 HBWC over 3.3 N310 1.18
Same bullet over 3.6 N320
X-treme 158 SWC over 4.3 N320 1.445
Same bullet over 3.8 N310
All in Starline brass w/Rem 1 1/2 primers
All crimped with LFC die 1/3 of a turn down from case mouth (slight roll crimp effect)