Feeding the revolver habit...

M

Mike Irwin

Staff
Recently I got the jonsing for a Colt revolver. I've always been an S&W man, but I thought a Colt Police Positive Special 4" with black rubber grips from the 1920s or 1930s might go well in the collection.

So off to the gun show I go this morning. Never found a PPS with the specs I wanted, but a friend of mine spotted an Official Police, 6" barrel, made about 1968 according to the tag, so I picked it up for $370.

It doesn't appear to have been shot much, and the trigger is absolutely incredible.

It appears that it might have been a police gun because it's got a 4 digit number on the bottom of the grip that doesn't match the serial number in the crane cut, and it's got lots of evidence of holster wear.

The bore is bright and shiny and doesn't appear to have been used all that much.

Just a cell phone pic from the show.

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A note on the show...

This was the Nation's Gun Show in Chantilly, Va. It's always been popular, but I've never seen crowds like were there today.

Friends and I were in line at 8:45, and they were healthy. At 10:30 it was getting REALLY crowded, so I went outside, and the lines were LONGER than they were at 9:00 when the doors opened.

At 11:45ish when we finally left? The lines were still longer than they had been at 9. Sales appeared to be VERY healthy, too.

I'm really wondering if people are starting to gear up for round two of the national elections as they did in 2007.
 
That's a nice find. For $370.00 you did well in my opinion.



At 11:45ish when we finally left? The lines were still longer than they had been at 9. Sales appeared to be VERY healthy, too.

I'm really wondering if people are starting to gear up for round two of the national elections as they did in 2007.
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I was in a LGS recently, and it was busy. Lots of new gun owners with questions, and you have to take a number sometimes to use the range. The salesmen say it's been like that for a while now. I think new gun owners don't know about 2007-2009. Those of us that remember the empty shelves and high prices haven't forgotten, and don't want to be caught emptyhanded again.
 
The COP is one of my favorites. This is a nice one. I bought a near mint 6" for $200 years ago and put a pair of factory Python takeoff target grips with gold meds on it for less than 50, so, you can imagine how long ago that was. POI with 158gr factory loads dead on. Super accurate for a FS. I have put more range rounds through OP/Commando revolvers than any other centerfire model over the years. I use factory 158gr LSWCHP +p now for HD but in the day I pushed Speer's lead SWCHP to around 900 fps in these old guns. Even carried them for LE duty.

$370 was a good price.

Also, there was a Police Officer around Columbus GA tried to start a COP fan club back in the early 80s I believe with a discussion newsletter. I think he initiated this by letter in one of the big gun rags of the day. Lost contact with him after a few years. Dave, If you still out there, I'm still interested.
 
I've had PP's, Army Specials and shot a number OP's. Mike, IMO you got the better gun. Some of those old I-frame Colts are just scary accurate with wadcutters or .38 LRN's.
 
Thanks, all.

Question, for an OP made in 1968, is it suitable for use with +P, or should I stick to standard velocity?

The trigger on it is very smooth, but it does do the "Colt thing" and stacks through the pull.

Single action is a dream.
 
That's a nice pick up for the money. I've been thinking about picking one of those up myself at some point, I occasionally see them around here at reasonable prices.
 
Nice looking OP. Your price was good. I'm a S&W fan from way back, but I picked up an OP last year and am glad I did. I just had to have someting from all those old police/gangster flicks, and I just cannot afford a Thompson. :(
 
Nice find, Mike; should be a good shooter for you. As to the +P ammunition...I'd shoot standard .38 rounds myself, but one of the regulars over on the Colt Forum should be able to give you some definitive answers. 1968 is pretty late though...when did we start to see +P ammunition in the stores?
Rod
 
OK, I made a mistake by talking about the gunshow and speculating on why it was so busy.

Let's keep to the subject of my new revolver, please. Thanks.
 
Mike, I found this reference to ammuntion manuf.'s lowering their pressure limits for standard cartridges in 1972...it's the first reference to a date that I've seen. The quote is from Wikopedia...

"Magnum cartridges, such as .357 Magnum or .44 Magnum, are usually developed by greatly increasing the working pressure of an existing cartridge, and the resulting cartridges are typically different in some small manner to prevent them from being chambered in firearms not specifically designed for them. For example the .357 Mag is slightly longer than the .38 Special, the lower powered round from which it was derived. +P ammunition, however, is externally identical to standard ammunition of its caliber. This was done when the ammunition manufacturers lowered the pressure of their standard rounds (1972). +P ammunition was designed to replicate the performance of that had been standard pressure cartridges. +P cartridges are not recommended to be used in firearms of questionable quality."

As you pointed out, your revolver by a major first rate manuf. dates from 1968, and if the above is correct, would have been safe for the "old" standard, now called +P.

Hope this helps regarding your question on the suitability of +P, while not definitive, it points to a trend towards lower pressure ammunition in the early 70's. The same article listed standard SAAMI pressure limits for .38 Spl as 17,000 psi, and 18,500 psi for +P...a 9% difference. Maybe a direct call to Colts or SAAMI would give us the authoritative answer. Best Regards, Rod
 
Mike - great find! You are going to love that!

I have a Colt Army Special - 38 spl with 6 inch barrel that was made in 1910. It, of course, is pretty much identical to your OP - name changed from AS to OP in 1927. It is an awesome pistol to shoot.

Let us know how you like yours after you hit the range with it! You did just fine on that purchase! Enjloy!
 
Can't believe you actually bought a Colt. Hope you enjoy it! :D

The +P question comes up a lot and generally most suggest that you don't feed it a steady diet of them.
 
+P?????

I've used over 500 rounds of +P factory and handloads in a WWII Commando which is essentially the same as the COP. Cylinder still locks up tight. This particular piece was not a safe queen as it was 98%+ mechanically and 50% more or less externally.

Besides, didn't Colt rate the OP as safe for the old .38/44 Heavy Duty load???
 
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The +P question comes up a lot and generally most suggest that you don't feed it a steady diet of them.
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That'd be my advise, too. It should handle them fine but to more you stress the gun the faster it will wear. A physical reality of all things mechanical.
 
Horseman,

The trigger is incredible because it is glassy smooth. No hitches, grittiness, etc.

It does, in Colt fashion, stack a bit near the end.

Single Action is even better.
 
Nice hand fitted gun. they don't make a wheel gun with that much care anymore anywhere in the world. Colts and Smiths get allong fine in the safe togeather!
 
"Can't believe you actually bought a Colt. Hope you enjoy it!"

I can't believe I bought a Colt, either.

About 20 years ago I bought a Detective Special, but I ended up trading that on a Smith Model 36 3", which I later sold to a friend because it was nickeled.

I still don't understand it, but some months ago I suddenly found that I wanted a classic Colt revolver. Don't know where the urge came from, or why.

As I noted, this OP isn't exactly what I was looking for, but it certainly fits the bill.

Now I'm thinking (lord help us) that it might be time for a New Service in .45 Long Colt. But that's going to cost me.
 
I still don't understand it, but some months ago I suddenly found that I wanted a classic Colt revolver. Don't know where the urge came from, or why.
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My Mom called revelations like that 'coming to your senses' LOL. I am afflicted with it myself here of late and to male matters worse, my wife wants an Army Special. So I expect one will 'wander in' like a stray pup this year. Hope we can find one as nice as yours!
 
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