Colt Agent vs. Detective Special

C

ctc

New member
I'm looking at either one for my next purchase but can't seem to find much info. Can some of you out there clear up some questions?

1. Was the Detective Special ever made in an alloy? I ran across one that was a 4th generation, from the Colt Custom shop that "felt" lighter.
2. Besides being an alloy what are the differneces?
3. What were the years of mfg for the Agent.
4. Any comments regarding one over the other?
5. Will both handle todays hot +p+ loads?
6. Does anyone have the mfg specs for both?

Thanks - Chuck
 
As best I can:
1. Although I recently saw a DS listed as alloy, this was almost certainly a mis-print. The Alloy guns were Cobra's and Agents, not the DS. Possibly did the late 4th have lighter grips. Some of the late guns used Colt made grips that were.

2. The only difference in guns other than metal, was the Agent had a shorter grip, than the DS or Cobra. Late guns all used the same basic frame shape.

3. ????.

4. Person preference. I like steel guns.

5. Post 1972 guns (with the shrouded barrel) stated that the steel frame DS was good for 3000 rounds of +P. The aluminum frames were OK for 1500. At that point the guns needed to be returned to Colt for frame inspection. NO +P+ ammo. Repeat..NO.

6. Mfg specs...DS 22oz, Agent 15oz, Cobra 16oz.

RE #5..DON'T take somebody's word that +P+ is Ok. Take a look at Kunhausen's Book on Gunsmithing Colt Revolvers for pictures of "D" frame guns blown up by as little as one round of +P+. Anybody who tells you a few rounds are Ok......Aren't going to be the ones who destroy the gun and get hurt. You will.
 
What is the point of +P+ ammo? If that is what you want then get an SP-101 and stuff it with .357 magnum ammo.

A Colt Agent or Colt Detective Special loaded up with standard 158gr .38 Special SWC loads will do fine.
 
Colt introduced the Cobra in 1950 to compete with Smith's Chief's Special. The Cobra is an alloy-framed design based on the Detective Special but weighing 6 oz. less. According to Jim Supica (The Shotgun News, 9/17/01) the Agent was introduced in 1962 as basically the Cobra with a slightly shorter butt, smaller grips and with another ounce shaved off. In 1972 Colt redesigned its small revolvers around the D-series frame with a heavier barrel and ejector rod shroud.

In about 1979 Colt stopped production of most of its small frame short-barreled revolvers, keeping only the Detective Special going. Then in the mid-1980s (1984-86) the Agent was again made, this time with a rough, parkerized finish. Colt also made an all-steel version of the Detective Special in the same finish during that same period, calling it the Commando Special. In 1986 Colt again stopped making its small revolvers, although the DS keeps popping back up under slightly different names and specs from time-to-time.
 
I would like to add a little if I may. I find the Colt DS a perfect gun for me. It fits my hand as it was a glove. Small enough to conceal well, but large enough to have six shots and handle well. The Colt DS frame was orginially designed as a medium size frame. They came up with the idea of shorting the barrel and made it into a snubby. The frame was not designed as a snubby first as S&W did. The lockwork may be old, but it is slick as glass.
Colt claimed it costs to much to make the DS, they said it had alot of "hand fitting" on it, that was not cost productive. Then they came out with SF VI. A futile attempt to improve on on an already perfected gun, basically to cut cost. Same size but not the same gun. I bought a Magnum carry based on the same frame. Craftmanship....non existant. I had to go into the gun and remove the razor sharp trigger, sharp edges all the way around the gun, and I have to navigate the sights with a great deal of patience. Trigger pull is like pulling a plow in a rocky field.
I have three Colt DS and of course the Magnum Carry. I carry the Magnum Carry because of the power in a small pakage, but I love the DS's.:)
 
This is good stuff! :D Just the kind of info I was looking for.

As for the Agent I saw a pic of one that had a grey barrel and cylender the rest of the frame looked dull silver. It was said to be 2nd issue, mid 80's. Is this the time frame that Colt lost some control on the quality of product coming out?

BTW the 4th issue DS I saw had a bobbed trigger, tritium insert in the frontsight and was "tuned" by Colt - the seller implied that it was one of a series that came from the Colt Custom Shop. Anyone run across one like that?

-- Chuck
 
If the photo you saw looks like the one I'm going to try to attach, it's the rough-finish parkerized Agent made during the 1984-86 timeframe. The barrel and cylinder are steel, as are most of the internal parts, hammer, trigger, etc. The frame itself is an aluminum alloy. The same gun with a rough finish steel frame is the Commando Special. Earlier versions of the Cobra, Agent and DS have the excellent high polish finish for which Colt was known. These mid-80s guns were Colt's last attempt to cut costs without compromising quality and stay in the small frame revolver market.

I have one of these grey Agents. With a set of Pachmayr grips, it handles and shoots very nicely, and would probably make a fine carry gun -- big enough to fill the hand, yet small and light enough to stay out of the way until needed. If I wanted to shoot it a great deal however, my firing hand says that it would prefer I hunt around for one of the slightly heavier steel models.
 

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Gabby -

That's the one. I am trying to gather as much info before the next round of gun shows here in Atlanta. I've been seeing Agents and the DS around here for awhile. I've been browsing the auctions sites and other internet sales outlets getting a feel for the "should cost" level. And the recently bumped thread on revolver checkout was extremely timely :)

-- Chuck
 
Here's a site with photos of pre-war and post-1972 Detective Specials. From what I can see, about the only real change over the years, not counting the wooden grips, was the addition of the heavy barrel and ejector rod shroud. They all have that smooth Colt action, the one that cost too much and contributed to the demise of these fine small wheelguns: http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg65-e.htm

The one complaint I have with the Agent is the front sight, which on the parkerized version at least, is a long smooth and shiney ramp. It picks up a lot of light on sunny days, but is something that can be easily fixed with a little paint.

Here's one more shot of a parkerized Agent.
 

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Gabby -

That looks better. What would your preference be between the DS, Agent and Cobra - and why?

-- Chuck
 
What would I choose? Given my 'druthers, and if I could only afford one, I'd look for a post-1972 Detective Special. I'd take a 1980s Commando Special if I could find one -- no worries about the condition of the finish and all -- but I've never seen one loose in the wild. I personally prefer plain blue carbon steel. I'm old enough to remember how we chuckled at the first stainless handguns, and have never quite gotten used to them. Lightweight alloys are fine for concealed carry, but I lean toward steel for non-CCW purposes and for guns that I intend on shooting more than occasionally. For my own needs, the DS is about as perfect a small revolver as one can find. The Colt D-frame fills my hand better than does Smith's J-frame. The longer extractor rod and ability to use S&W K-frame speed loaders are pluses for those with the need to reload quickly. I'm not all that concerned about having to defend the homested against roving bands of desperados. Nor do I hunt grizzly with handguns, so I'm also not overly fond of magnum snubbies.

If I were in a position to carry concealed, then I'd certainly opt for either the 15-ounce Cobra or Agent, the latter probably being easier to find. I've run enough 158gr +P LHP through my own Agent to know that it isn't going to blow up or jump out of my hand. If I intended on shooting a lot, I'd go with the steel frame, but that lightweight little Agent sure does handle nice.

Regardless of the frame, I'd replace the standard wood grips with Pachmayrs or something equivalent. They make a world of difference when the lead begins to fly.

Come to think of it, why torture yourself with a decision? Get one of each.
 
I LOVE COLTS! I have a third issue nickle Det Spl that has been a nightstand gun for years so that my wife would have access to a revolver. Yesterday while making my lunchtime run to the gunstore I found a mint cond Colt Offical Police that I couldn't live without. I swear this gun appears unfired! After function testing it will become the new nightstand pistol. At my age this model is the only model that I consider as a police revolver. It will be stoked with Fed Nyclad HP non P. This will free up the Det Spl to be a carry gun. Oh by the way I would love to have a blue Det Spl in third issue or earlier with the lovely wood grips. Anyone wishing to part with one please Email me.
 
I have a nickel Cobra from 75 that has light, but very fat wood grips. Does anyone know where I could find slimmer wood grips? Are the Pachmayr rubber grips thin? Any help would be appreciated.
 
prisoner6, I always wondered what happened to Number 6 from The Prisoner, I guess he ended up in NC? I just put Eagle Secret Service grips on my newest purchase, a 1st or 2nd issue D. S. (How do we tell them apart?) Go to eaglegrips.com to see them. I got grips that are only as long as the frame so not much for the fingers to hang on to. I haven't fired it yet, may regret such small grips but I am planning on CCW. I think the guy on the phone indicated that I could have bought grips that are as long as those in the photos in this thread, not sure if he meant that. Fit of the grips wasn't perfect so I spent some time with sandpaper to remove sharp edges that stuck out past the frame.

Bart Noir
There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness".
 
Thanks Bart, I had looked at those before but not recently. Did you get smooth or checkered? Which size did you get? D frame or Cobra? They look alright in the photos, but I have never seen any up close. Maybe Ill give them a shot.
 
Here's a photo of a DS-II with the Colt-label rubber grips that used to come standard. They're virtually identical to the current Pachmayr Compac design (were probably even made by them), down to and including the handy cutout at the bottom for the little finger.
 

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prisoner6, I bought the checkered grips, reason being that I figure it'll help keep a'holt of a rather small grip. Like I said, I'm not sure (haven't fired it) whether I have mde a good choice but finding out will sure be fun. Told the guy that I have a old model D.S. so I guess that I got the D-frame grip. Is there really a difference between the two versions?

Also have a few Win +P SXT hollowpoints in the range bag, just waiting to help me decide about the grips. Other than being metal jacketed bullets, they sure look like the not-PC Black Talon rounds did.

Bart Noir
"Those who live by the sword, get shot by me", "Indiana" Jones, Cairo, circa 1939
 
Colt Detective Special

I would opt for the steel frame over the aluminum frame. I personally do not care for aluminum or polymer frames. The weight savings is ephemeral, if you are that sensitive to the weight when you carry it, you will certainly feel it when you fire it. And if you feel the weight when you are "packing iron, then
you should consider "pumping iron" . I do the latter as well, heartily recommend it. I have both an Old Style and 1972 Detective Special, great shooters.
 
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