Colt Diamondback

B

Bushwhacker

New member
I came across a Colt Diamondback .38 spl, with factory wood grips,4 inch barrel 99% blue finish. Can you tell me anything about this revolver?
Serial # R265**
What is fair price for it?
 
BUSHWACKER:
The Colt Diamondback, Double Action Revolver is a "D" frame, (Colt) with a shrouded ejector rod. It came in calibers .22 LR, 38 Spl and is a 6 shot revolver. Bbl lengths were 2 1/2" to 4", vent rib and 9" over all with the 4" bbl. Weight, w/4"bbl (22cal 31 3/4oz, 38spl 28 1/2oz It came with an adjustable rear sight, ramp front sight, blued or nickel finish. Checkered walnut stocks Made from 1966-1986.

Value, according to the Blue Book of Gun Values 17th edition is

@100%=$395.00 to @10%=$140.00

Add $55.00 for Nickel finish
Add 20% for .22 LR
Add 30% for .22LR cal. wit 2 1/2"bbl

Approx. 2,200 Diamondbacks were made with 6" bbls and nickel finish in .22 Cal. Made 1979. Add $150.00 for 100% of these models.

HJN
 
Harley has all the details as usual, but I'll throw in some personal experience. The Diamondback was probably the best .38 Special that Colt ever put out. It was very nearly the equivalent of the Python in smoothness and finish. Like all Colts of that design it stacked a little but the Colt craftsmen who put it together had that minimized. I don't think you can go wrong with that one, assuming it feels right to you and is at any kind of fair price.

Jim
 
The Diamondback is the same frame and lockwork as the dective special with a full shroud barrel and adjustable sights. Very nice gun, I've wanted one for years, but alas, when I find a nice one, I just don't have the money. :(
 
Bushwacker: from the serial number you reported, the Diamondback left the factory sometime in 1978.

BTW: R.L. Wilson's Colt: An American Legend is a good source for Colt's serial number/production year from 1847 up to 1985.
 
Grayfox beat me to it about the lockwork on the Diamondback. Unlike the newly reissued Det. Special, the Diamondback's lockwork is indeed the older style which smacks of 19th century design (and craftsmenship). True it's harder to work on, but once tuned, it'll stay that way for a long time. If you get it, have only gunsmiths who are competent with Pythons work on it.

BTW IMHO, the Diamondback 22 revolver is the 22 revolver to own and shoot.
 
Im not trying to sell guns for this store...but they do a lot of estate type of selling and recently had a individual who was getting out of guns....and into helicopters consign his entire collection.....there were good deals on pythons and diamondbacks....Im not found of em...but I was there today and they were still there....(615)256-6127.....fubsy.
 
bushwhacker...
Its a gun store they have no web site and there is gun city....in nashville....Dan Wessons dont sell well around here and they had one or two them as well and I think one was a 22 as well....although Im not 100% sure on that.....they do have really nice blued pythons...includingg a 21/2 incher...fubsy.
 
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