The only Colts I have left

[popeye]

Pretty sad. 20 years ago I probably had 25 Colt 1911's and revolvers. I've pared my collection down to what I carry comfortably. The Colts are: 1 DS, 2 Cobras, and an Agent. My new favorite is the finished challenged Cobra top right. I got it from a dealer for $165.00 last month.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Colt made the best DA revolvers in history. It's a shame what their current status is. They are a shadow of what they once were, and are a joke in the firearms community.

At least you have that to remember their glory days.

 

[Dframe]

I've been a fan of D frame Colts most of my life. You have a very nice set of revolvers there. I have a finish challenged Agent I really like

 

[22-rimfire]

D frames rule. They are my favorite Colts. Been thinking about pairing down my accumulation a bit as well.

 

[popeye]

I've only got 1 S&W J Frame left. An old mod 38 that's well worn but still %100 mechanically. My son and only heir is 40 now and has not shown much interest in guns. He's not anti, just busy raising his son on his own. They're right down the road, so if things start turning worse I'll force a couple on him. I don't get the kick I used to having a safe full of nice ones. So occasionally a gun gets turned into a new washer or refrigerator.

 

[UncleEd]

Love the Detective Specials.

But as to Cooldill's statement, I think he'd get an argument from an awful lot of dedicated revolver double action shooters.

 

[bannockburn]

popeye

Nice collection of Colt D frames. I always liked the look of the older exposed ejector rod guns.

 

[Speedo66]

popeye

Nice collection of Colt D frames. I always liked the look of the older exposed ejector rod guns.

I preferred the S&W Chiefs because they protected the ejector rod somewhat. Always felt they were too exposed on the Colts as duty guns.

 

[bannockburn]

Speedo66

Both of the D frames I had (a Detective Special and an Agent), were the later models with the shrouded ejector rod housing. It was a very clean and sleek design: in terms of aesthetics I just liked the "old time" look of the exposed ejector rod.

Nowadays I have two J frame snubbies: a Model 649 and a Model 638.

 

[popeye]

The 649 is on my bucket list. Nice job bannockburn polishing yours. I like the Bodyguards a lot. 38, 49, 638, 438, and 649. The new Bodyguard not so much.
The issue of exposed ejector rods has been discussed a lot. Some of the DS's had shorter rods with resulting difficulty in ejection. The DS was introduced as a new model in 1927. I had one made in '30 until a couple years ago. I can't find a pic of it to see what the rod looked like. There's nothing I've ever heard verified of a Colt being disabled by a bent rod.
I'll go out on a limb by saying the Colt cyl. revolves CW and the mechanics involved therefore drive the cyl. into the crane for a tighter lock up. So no front cyl support is necessary on the rod end. The S&W cyl turns CCW and uses the latch integrated into the barrel as it's front cyl support.
A lot of the shrouded barrel Colts were produced during the extended factory strike and I tend to avoid them.

 

[Waveski]

Popeye -

You got the Cobra for $165 just last month? How on earth did that happen?

Since you are a carrier of Colts , how do you stand on the issue of to shoot or not to shoot the old Colts? I assume you shoot them in the interest of proficiency , given that the you made reference to carry. I have 1 Colt revolver , an Official Police from the 40's. Remarkably tight and accurate , but I haven't shot it for a long time for concern over trying to find the rare Colt smith if something broke.

Your Colt collection may be greatly reduced , but it is very respectable.

 

[popeye]

Waveski: The Cobra was part of a collection purchased by a dealer near me. The gun locked up tight but the trigger was slow to reset. So I'm thinking the dealer paid $100 for it and was willing to sell it on a no returns basis. Since the sideplate screws looked like it had never been off and the grips that came on it were plastic non Colt and the screw holding them on was rusted shut, I figured I'd take the chance that it was lacking maint and just gummed up. I bought it thinking if nothing else it could be a parts gun. I blew it out with carb cleaner and lubed it and it works just fine now. I had to convert some short butt Agent post '66 stocks to fit the long butt gun made in '56.
You're right to be concerned about getting the Colts serviced. A lot of the parts that wear out are no longer available from Colt. There's some machine shops across the country along with hobby machinists that can produce acceptable internals, but they're rough and need a lot of fitting. And who's gonna do it? There's a smith around here that's been around a loooong time and he's willing to do Colt revolver work for a friend with the "no guarantee" provision.
There's a really in depth post about .38 spec loadings being whimpier now than what the guns were originally designed for. I will see if I can find it. If your OP has no issues you should feel comfortable shooting light loads in it.
I have never been very good with snub nose revolvers beyond about 40 feet. I carry mine because I'm 69 and ain't the man I used to be, as in an easy robbery target for the jerks around here. I figure my carry gun's come into play if necessary at distances of 10 feet or less. Frankly I'd rather take a beating than accidentally hit an unintended victim.

 

[bannockburn]

popeye

Thanks! I had Model 38 that was nickel plated and I really liked the look of that shiny revolver. Took some Mother's Mag Polish to the Model 649 and have that bright finish that I like.

 

[1KPerDay]

can someone explain the difference between the dick special, the cobra, and the agent?

 

[popeye]

Prior to 1927 mainly law enforcement officers had Police Positive Specials modified by cutting the barrels down to 2-3" for pocket carry. In '27 to '33 the frame was basically a large frame Police Positive square butt and 2" barrel was labeled Detective Special and so the "factory" manufactured DS was born. '34 to '47 the grip frame was modified to a smaller butt with the front and rear of the bottom of the corners rounded for easier carry. That butt profile existed until '95 when production stopped. All DS's are steel with blue, nickle, or "Colt Guard" (rare) finishes.
The Cobra was introduced in 1950 and is an alloy frame finished in blue or nickle with a steel barrel and cyl.. It was produced till the end along with the DS.
The Agent was introed in '55 and ran till '61 as the first "short butt" model, again in Alloy with barrel and cyl in steel. I think it only came in blue and was designed to compete with J Frame Smiths.
The DS, Cobra, and Agent all got the short butt from '66 on. Again I "believe" the Agent was considered an economy model.
Towards the end of the D frame production turned to stainless steel and were called SFVI (small frame 6) and then DSII with same DS size and profile but totally different internals.
Within the parameters of all these guns are different available calibers, barrel lengths, barrel shrouds, and add on hammer shrouds.'
The Cobra was the 1st in the line of Colt "snake" guns. Cobra, Python, Diamondback, Anaconda, Boa, King Cobra, Viper, and Garter Snake :=)

 

[Waveski]

popeye - NW Indiana - I understand your concern , but then there are jerks just about everywhere these days. You sure did well taking a flyer on the Colt ; couldn't go wrong like you said , the parts would have been worth it. As to range , 40 ft/13 yards is getting out there for me too as far a snubs are concerned. My Official Police - I think I owe it to that fine old machine to find some mild loads and get it out into the daylight. Mostly I stick to shooting old Smith & Wessons ; they are increasing in value daily but are still more "expendable" than an old Colt , and certainly more serviceable.

DANG! - Now you have me wanting a Colt snub!

 

[1KPerDay]

Thanks popeye!

 

[rklessdriver]

Nice D frame collection. Great buy on the cosmetically challenged Cobra.

A 72 DS is my main every day carry.... no plans to switch to something else either.
Will

 

[SwampWolf]

QUOTE: "... Again I "believe" the Agent was considered an economy model..."

Excellent review, popeye. However, from the time of its introduction in 1955, with the exception of its shorter butt, the Agent was simply a Cobra with an abbreviated grip; it was never an "economy" variant during the time period from 1955 to 1973 or so. As you mentioned, the Cobra and Detective Special all shared this shorter grip frame with the Agent from 1966 on but with the Cobra and Detective Special having longer stocks.

From 1973 to 1981, according to the "coltfever website, some "Second Issue" D-frames were offered in bright blue and bright nickel. Some revolvers may have been produced with a satin "Electroless" finish known as "Coltguard". During the Colt strike, some D-models came with an unpolished, black matte finish. These post-72, new style D-frames had heavy barrels that shrouded the ejector rod, had a long front ramp sight and came with "combat-type"walnut grips that enclosed the front and bottom of the grip frame.

"...These post-72 (D-frame revolvers) were the only version that Colt ever rated for use with +P ammunition. The guns were rated for 'up to' 1000 rounds of +P ammunition, after which time the gun was to be returned to Colt for inspection and possible frame replacement."

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have a whole bunch of S&W J frames but only 1 Colt D frame. It was given to me by a3 friend who said it doesn't fit into his collection. It looks like it was on wet floorboards of a car and not very pretty but it shoots like gold! My Detective Special has a great trigger bad is extremely accurate. I'm almost afraid to shoot it because if something happens to it how do I get it fixed but I shoot it anyway and carry it sometimes too. It's one of the best gifts I ever got and I'm very grateful to have it!

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have a number of D frames. I like them. I recently picked up a first Gen Agent with a factory shroud for $370.

 

[WestKentucky]

I love the action but can't get used to the cylinder latch. I'm so used to s&w style cylinder latches that the colt just doesn't feel right. Maybe I will someday get one I can fall in love with, but so far 3 ds and a cobra didn't do it.

 

[popeye]

Yeah. I think the idea with the Colt is turn the gun barrel up, push the latch down with your right thumb while grasping the frame with your left hand, and simultaneously pushing the cyl out with your left index finger and pressing the ejector downward with your left thumb. Sounds complex but thats the way I've always done it.
With the Smith you hold the gun barrel down and press the latch down with your right thumb grasping the frame with your left hand, swing the cyl. out with your left index finger and either push the ejector up, ejecting spent cases, or swing the gun barrel up and press the ejector down thus dumping the spent cases.
Does that sound right?

ArchAngelCD: I'd like to find one just like yours. I need one with a shrouded barrel just because. Nice gun!

ColtPythonElite: Really good find on a much sought after gun for $370. I had a Cobra with the hammer shroud last year. I was so happy to get it I neglected to realize the crane was sprung a bit. So I brought it back. I couldn't really cock it well with the shroud on with my sometimes arthritis so I took it off and filled the holes with set screws. That's about the time I found the crane issue.