My first Colt!!

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Whirlwind06

New member
This one kind-of fell into my lap. My Kajukenbo instructor's mother in-law is selling a couple pistols that her husband owned. He passed away sometime ago I gathered. He was an ex-LEO and this was one of his off-duty / BUGs.

Colt Detective
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Lock-up and cylinder alignment is perfect. It looks like this was once a square butt, and he (or someone) ground down the butt to fit the grips it has on it.

Really like it, I think this may become my EDC very quickly.
 
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Congratulations. The detective special is probably the finest snub ever made. Have you had the stocks off of the gun? Your's MAY be a post 66 gun with the abreviated butt frame, and not modified. It is certainly a later post war gun.
 
It's a great gun. I've had mine since 1969 and it's never failed me. The butt on mine is shorter than the early ones, so it may possibly be the original configuration. Only a photo can show this. By the way I'm not used to seeing photos taken while the cylinder was still loaded. Nice effect!
 
I looked up the serial number on the proof-house site I found on the Colt forum. Looks like it was made in 1964.

I'll get some pics of the frame without the grips on it. It has been worked on. Unless Colt shipped them with rough metal with no bluing on the butt on the gun.
 
The way you're describing it sure makes it sound like someone butchered it. I never seen anyone do that in order to make a gun fit a set of grips, but there's lots of morons out there.

That would definately reduce the value drastically, though if the grips fit well that partial amputation won't effect how well it works and that's what really counts. It's still one of the greatest off duty guns ever made. I'd still be interested in seeing a picture, cause if it's appearance bothers you too much you may be able to clean it up a little with some very light pollishing and cold blue
 
I own a post-72 Detective Special with the full length lug protecting the ejector rod. I've always liked the old exposed ejector rod design. Just something about the look appeals to me.

The grinding down of the square butt to a round butt used to be very common. It wasn't considered idiotic to do so and there were many gunsmiths who did such relatively minor modifications on a daily basis. And why not? They weren't collector items back then and the round butt configuration had it's advantages over the SB. If Colt wouldn't make them then the owner had to do it themselves.

It might hurt the value somewhat, but even now most Detective Specials aren't bringing top dollar on the second-hand market. Colt made a whole lot of Detective Specials over seventy some years so they're still pretty common. So enjoy and congratulations.
 
Jeff#111. I understand what you're saying, but I personally never heard of anyone cutting down the butt for any particular reason, though nothing surprises me. Back in the sixties the Colt Agent could've fit the bill if a shorter butt was desired. I still think it's wierd cutting down a gun to fit some grips if that was the reason for doing it. But that's just me.

Yes I agree with you where the appearance is concerned. The one I have has the classic look as opposed to the heavy barrel and ejector shroud are concerned. Also, don't sell them short where value is concerned. Here in the NE at least I've seen new condition in the box going for over $800 and many in excellent condition selling for over $500. I collect and think they're very collectable, especially when top condition, or have a PD connection.

There were certainly many of them made and when I retired in '85 was offered only 50 bucks, which I turned down of course. At that time guys were offered just $25 for their S&W mod10 service revolvers and see how popular they've gotten. You have to realize that those old revolvers were better made than anything on the market today and will be more in demand in the future, even the ones with cutdown butts.
 
I like the older Colts. In the past few years I've added a pre-WWII Colt Officer Model Target, 6" barrel (.38 spl), a 1960 Colt Trooper, 4" barrel (.38 spl), Colt Lawman Mk III, 2" barrel (.357 magnum), and a first year Model 1908 Hammerless (.380 ACP) to my collection. My Colt DS was a gift from my grandfather for my sixteenth birthday (wayyy back in 1984). He's gone now and the Detective Special isn't going anywhere.

I mostly own Smith & Wesson revolvers and a couple Glocks and Browning Buckmarks. As you've probably figured out I'm real fond of the older revolvers. Many of my S&W revolvers date from the early 20th century to the 1950's. A couple are from the seventies, but only a couple.

The Colts tend to bring higher prices on the second hand market and I'm a cop so I'm not wealthy, but I've discovered that the .38 Spl Colts don't tend to be as pricey as the magnums and they also don't tend to be as hard used as many of the magnum specimens I've located.

The old Colt DA's are nice.
 
You're selection of guns shows good taste. I'm into the old stuff as well, especially western frontier, cause I'm getting old. When I started in the PD my pay was $7,900 a year. A hundred dollar gun was a lot for me, but as years go by collections get lots better, if you choose good investments and you're well on your way.
 
Here are my handguns. This picture was taken a few months ago so the inventory hasn't changed. Probably won't for awhile either. We're going on a big vacation this year and it's not going to be cheap. Also we're getting a new roof for the house so any future firearm purchases will have to wait. Oh well Gives me time to read, plan and dream.


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I've got a few photos stored in my computer, but having difficulty with sending them on the forum. You showed me yours and I'd like to show you mine, cause they're not seen every day. If you'd like then PM me and I'll send them through an email. The ones you have are real nice!
 
Back in the sixties the Colt Agent could've fit the bill if a shorter butt was desired.
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Not if you wanted a steel gun.

BTW, I've got a SW police trade-in three inch barrel, square butt Model 10. I've toyed with changing it to a round butt. Is that idiotic?
 
KyJim, you're correct about the Agent having an alloy frame, it was a nice gun though. I was only thinking of size. That S&W mod10 with 3" barrel was issued to police women and I think they had round butts. That's the guns, not the girls. I don't know their worth, but they may be worth a premium depending on condition. Jeff#111 is right. Not every gun has to be left a alone for the sake of future collectability. If you're gonna use it and it's worth it to you to make some changes then go for it, cause it is yours.
 
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