Colt Detective Special .32 SW Long

H

hr636

New member
I recently inhereted this pistol and I'd like to get more information about it. I've searched google and couldn't find anything.
 
Probably a 2nd issue model (last model before the barrel shroud) as the .32 was popular back in the 1940's. Does it read .32 SW Long or .32 NP (New Police) on the barrel?
 
I have only seen and handled one in my life. It was 1st generation and marked 32 Long Colt. It had walnut checkered grips though gutta percha were standard from what I understand. It was a neat little revolver and accurate ONLY with the 32 Long Colt. 32 S&W Long that I had was old Norma and it was weak, in my opinion. A deceased friend had it. She willed it to family members. I really enjoyed that little pocket rocket!
 
It's labed .32 Colt Detective Spec. The ammunition that was in it was .32 SW long, but it might be that the cartridges are interchangable and he bought the wrong kind.

It has no shroud, and I'm not sure if this makes a difference but when the cylinder is "locked" inside the gun, it still spins. It also has no serial number.
 
Well the .32 Colt NP and the .32 SW Long will interchange. If the cylinder will spin with the cylinder/yoke assembly closed in the frame then the bolt is damaged. Did you swing the cylinder out and looked in the frame for the serial number?
 
Yes I did. Is it safe to operate the gun with the bolt broken? When I cock the hammer it seems to line up with chamber perfectly.
 
The only difference in the .32 Colt New Police and .32 S&W Long was that the Colt rounds generally had a lead flat point bullet as opposed to the LRN S&W style.

The .32 Short and Long Colt cartridges were much earlier offerings (introduced in the 1870s, IIRC), and to the best of my knowledge were never offered in the Detective Special.
 
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