Insight on a Colt snub revolver

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XIIIthguards

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So I recently picked up a Colt snub in a trade. The guy didn't know a lot about it, but called it a Colt Agent. When I got it though, the barrel is marked "Agent" but the frame seems to be steel, while my understanding is that agents were all alloy frames. I admit that I have much more experience with Smith revolvers, and was wondering if anyone has any knowledge of what I may have, like model, potential age, capability of firing +P ammo, and value. It is a six shot model with shrouded ejector rod and heavy barrel, firing pin hammer, and appears to be a square butt beneath the grips. The serial number is B44530. It has the Colt pony logo on the left side of the frame and is marked "COLT D FRAME" just beneath the grips. It also appears to have an older style leaf mainspring instead of a newer spring style. Any insight would be appreciated, I hope I did not get the short end of the stick on this trade.
 
If it has an alloy frame, it's either an Agent or a Cobra, the Agent being a lesser polished / finished of the same frame. I guess one way to check is to test the frame with a magnet. If it has a steel frame it's something else, like a Detective Special, with an Agent barrel. Before I bought my Det Special I was checking them out on Gunbroker and saw quite a few barrels for Cobra, Agent & Det Special and they're all interchangeable.

Whether you got a good deal or bad one depends on what you gave up in trade. But what you have looks pretty nice.
 
Colt Agent

Best as I remember a Colt Agent has the lighter frame. Steel barrel and cylinder. It has a shorter grip than the other lightweight D frame, the Cobra. Also the finish might be a little different than the Cobra. The Cobra is appearance wise the same as the all steel Detective Special. They both had a longer grip than the Agent. In 1966 Colt shortened the grip on the frame for both the DS and the Cobra. They were now the same as the Agent. The DS and Cobra now were given a longer wooden grip so the gun felt the same way as before. As far as shooting +P I believe Colt recommended some limited use of +P in the guns with the shrouded ejector rod and after a certain amount to have the gun sent back to Colt for inspection. Just keep in mind that Colt is not making them anymore and parts are getting scarce. If your not going to carry it I would stick with reg .38. If your carrying it I would shoot a little +P and load +P for the street. But I think you can get some good ammo that's regular .38 that will be easier on the gun and your hand too. All three of these revolvers are really nice and can still be relied upon for s.d.
 
The serial number comes up on Colt.com as a 1971 Detective Special or Police Positive Special. Of course PPS, DS, Cobra, and Agent are all D frames, differing only in material of construction after they shortened the grip straps on all of them like the Agent.

I see two possibilities.
Either the barrel was replaced as a repair or to convert a Police Positive Special to "snubby,"
or
it was another case of Colt not being real careful about such stuff. There are other mismarked Colts out there.


Note: All small frame Colts have leaf springs, even the simplified SF VI series, there are no "newer styles."
 
I didn't think of that test at all- but a fridge magnet I put on it does prove that it is magnetic, so it must be a steel frame. I traded a used Sig P239 for it that I was trying to sell for $550. Admittedly, I'm not sure if I am going to keep this Colt or not. I like the size and weight but I'm not used to the Colt style cylinder release and the DA trigger stacks pretty badly near the end of the pull. Guess I'll just have to actually shoot it and see. The bluing is in surprisingly good condition considering its age, the only wear I see is along the front edges of the cylinder.
 
A quick look on Gunbroker shows a few Det Specials being bid to over $500 so that's close to what you were asking for your Sig.
 
Looks identical to the gun I have right down to the Pachmyr grips.

Just tested mine with a fridge magnet. Barrel & cylinder steel, frame is not.

Mine is an Agent. Yours, (steel frame) is a Det Special with an Agent barrel on it.
 
Yours, (steel frame) is a Det Special with an Agent barrel on it.
Click to expand...
This would obviously hurt any collector interest but it should still be a fine shooter/carry gun. If I carry a revolver in a belt holster, it's my Agent.
 
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