Hello and help!

4

.45FMJoe

Inactive
This is officially my first post. I have in possession, my great grandfather's Colt service revolver. It's 100% original and was used for years while he was an LEO in Ossining, NY. My father just got it from his father and we had been storing it in a black Doskocil box in the safe. Just because life is a bastard sometimes, it seems moisture built up in the safe and surface rusted the gun a bit. I have since scrubbed the hell out of it with oil and I refer to the gun as Texaco because I store it (in my room, out of the safe) with so much oil it's ridiculous. Well my question is, what is it?? I've been going nuts researching it. This gun seems impossible to match perfectly. I was under the impression it is a .38 special, but now I don't even know. All the pictures of old .38 specials I have seen had different grips. The grips on this gun are similar to ones I've seen on the old colts that were police target guns in a .22 (I believe) Is there anyone here that can help...

The top of the barrel says :

"COLT'S PT FA MFG CO HARTFORD, CT USA"
"PAT D AUG 5, 1884 JLY 4, 1903 OCT 5, 1926."

The side of the barrel says:

"Colt Official Police .38"

The serial Number is 577,xxx

pics:

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And one more for fun :D
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Oh, I forgot to add a side note. Of all the guns I've ever shot (about a dozen different semi-autos I rented at the range), this is absolutely my favorite. I have put 1 box of 50 .38 special rounds through it and was in a utopia. The way the gun feels in the hands, it's almost like a natural extension of your arm...totally comfortable. The trigger pull, the recoil, everything about it is amazing. Unfortunately, my father doesn't want me putting rounds through it so I have to go buy my own :( I really love this gun and in 10-20 years when inherit it, it will stay on my bedside as my home defense gun. This is the gun that got me interested in revolvers. The only semi-autos I have on my to buy list are 3 1911s (one of them is gonna be an original WW2 GI gun...just wait and see) :):)

I just turned 21 last month, just got into guns and I guess you could say this gun has made me a Colt customer for life. ;) :)
 
Joey-

You actually answered your own question: the gun is an Official Police. Introduced about 1908, it was initially called the Army Special. Colt re-named it in 1926, and judging from the rubber grips, yours dates from just about that time. Colt was using wooden grips from the 1920's-on.

Glad you have this piece of family history.

The Official Police was very widely used until discontinuance in 1969. Popular with police, it was apparently also the model carried most by Dr. Roy Chapman Andrews on his Central Asiatic Expeditions from 1922-1933, during which many important fossils were discovered, including some dinosaur eggs. Andrews wore the gun in an Audley Patent holster, hanging low on his right side.

Hope this answered most of your question. Someone else with Colt collectors' books at hand may be able to give you a more precise date based on the serial number.

Now: if one may ask, why, especially on a gun board, do you use a name that will sound to many like that of a Mafia hoodlum? Did anyone else reading this have that reaction, or am I just too sensitive about our image as gun owners?

Lone Star
 
Thank you for the bit of history. I am confused as to exactly what caliber it is. So it's a .38 special, right? Not a .38 s&w or something else? I was also hoping to get a little history which you provided, thank you.

As far as my "mafioso" name. Well, when I was 18 I was working in my parent's dry cleaners and 2 days before Christmas (Friday...Christmas was Sunday) a 330 degree, metal-topped press came down on my right hand. My hand was pretty well messed up, 3rd degree burns and all. Luckily, since the hospitol wasn't really "open" on Christmas day, they let me go home on Sunday to return the next day for surgery. Since I'm Italian and from NY, my friend jokingly coined the nickname and it kinda stuck. Don't get upset, it's just a joke. :)
 
Joey, first of all welcome to TFL!

Your Official Police is definitely a .38 Spcl. The only other .38 was a .38-200 made for folks across the pond. It was never produced in .38 S&W, at least not by Colt's. For further proof, you wouldn't have been able to fit .38 Spcl rounds into the chambers since the .38 Spcl's are a lot longer than .38 S&W. On the other hand, .38 S&W does fit in .38 Spcl chambers but should not be fired in them. And a gentle word of caution, you shouldn't be trying any cartridges in guns when you aren't absolutely sure they are a proper match. Another caution, don't be tempted to try out any hot .38 Spcl's in your revolver such as +P or Cor-bons, etc. or you might end up living up to your screen name. :)


Lone Star -
Did anyone else reading this have that reaction, or am I just too sensitive about our image as gun owners?
Click to expand...
To answer your question, I certainly understand the sensitivity part, but to be absolutely honest, no I didn't have the same reaction as you.
 
Thanks Mal.

When I fired it, I was 100% sure it was a .38 special. Then I started researching and was uncertain :D

Since my father asked me to not shoot it period (means a lot to him) I am respectful of his wishes and haven't put any more rounds through it. I will have to go buy my own. However, since I'm using it while playing "security guard" I've got it loaded with 110 gr Federal Hyrda-Shok JHPs. I specifically chose the lower grain. Comments?
 
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Well to start with, your Colt “Official Police” revolver was made in 1932. At that time the company was still using up black hard rubber grips that were still in inventory along with checkered walnut. I notice a large chip is missing from the left side. I would suggest that you remove these because they are fragile and set them aside in a safe place. You can buy modern replacements that are identical to what’s now on the gun, or any stocks that are offered for the current-day Python will fit. So far as the finish is concerned, it’s too bad it happened, but you’ve done all the right things.

The revolver was originally intended to be used with the standard .38 Special cartridge of its day loaded with a 158 grain bullet. In itself bullet weight (110 gr. vs. 158 gr.) does not indicate relative power. However I suspect that the 158 gr. load (standard, not +P) will shoot closer to your point of aim. For personal defense you would probably be better off with an all-lead 158 gr. hollow point bullet in a standard 800 fps. loading. The Official Police is a very solid gun built on a .41 frame, and there is no reason to not shoot it with reasonable (read that “standard”) .38 Special cartridges. Another identical model, called the “Army Special” preceded the Official Police starting in 1908. I have shot these older guns with no problems at all.
 
Joey-

Looks like Old Fuff found the date okay. He's got a point about putting replacement grips on the gun, at least when you take it away from home, and actually carry it. It will indeed shoot better (more to the sights) with the heavier bullets. When it was made, they didn't even have 110 grain .38 Special loads.

Hope I didn't offend you about the name. Wow! I see how you got it. That must have hurt something awful!

If it helps, keep in mind that the famous (now deceased) gun writer, Elmer Keith, was horribly burned in a hotel fire when very young, but was able to regain use of his hands and became a superb marksman.

Lone Star
 
Thanks a lot for the info guys! I really apprechiate it. And yeah, Lone Star...it hurt like nothing I've ever experienced before. Exspecially the whole scrubbing twice a day when there was no skin thing...that kinda sucked....a lot. :D :D :D :D :D
 
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