Hawk
Member
Absolutely I remember '37. Or I read about it or something. My memory isn't what it once was.This firing pin block business isn't anything new. Back in ’37... Ya’ do remember 1937 don’t ya???
I was of the understanding that the Swartz safety was a grip actuated doo-dad along the lines of the Kimber. Until tonight I didn't know Colt produced grip-deactivated FPBs, Somehow I thought that, although they held the Swartz patent, Colt made the trigger-deactivated thing from the git-go, including 1938 but I was probably too busy with the Tonka toys.
But, you curmudgeoned me into finding this:
Today, examples with the Swartz safety are scarce collector's items, for Colt didn't make many. World War II proved the death of the Swartz safety, as wartime military pistols did not include it.
After the war ended the safety did not return. For reasons unclear, a firing pin safety became desirable in the late '70s, which prompted Colt to introduce a far more complicated system to do the same job.
From here.
Collector's item, hunh?
Reminds me of another curmudgeon (automotive), Brock Yates I think it was, who remarked that a "classic" had to be something people lusted after when it was new. If it wasn't desired when new, it could only aspire to be an old car.
Please tell me people aren't paying more for a 1938 Swartz than "un-Swartz" - that just wouldn't seem right.