Need info on several colt revolvers

[onthelake79]

hello, to all that canhelp, and to all this will later help,

I need info on several colt pistols" DATES OF PRODUCTION, AND WHICH MODEL THEY ARE"

Pistol # 1- COLT OFFICER MODEL SPECIAL, IN 38 SPECIAL CAL6 INCH BARREL
IT'S , SN# 382XX AND UNDER THAT THERE IS A LETTER "T" AND DIAGONAL FROM THAT THERE IS A " L", IT HAS A COCKEYED HAMMER THOUGH IT IS NOT MARKED , IT HAS A HEAVY BARREL , NON ADJUSTABLE SIGHTS WITH A GROOVE ON TOP OF THE FRAME, IT LOOKS SIMILAR TO kING CUSTOMS I'VE SEEN , BUT NO MARKINGS AS SUCH , EXCEPT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FRAME IT HAS ONE SCREW THAT OVERLAPS ONE OF THE PINS, I ASK THIS BECAUSE THE NEXT ONE I'M LISTING DOES NOT AND THIS ONE HAS NO RAMPANDT COLT MARKING ON THE FRAME, ANY INFO ,WOULD HELP

Pistol # 2- COLT OFFICERS MODEL SPECIAL, IN 38 SPECIAL CAL, 6 INCH BARREL
IT'S , SN# 788XXX AN UNDER THAT THERE IS A NUMBER "2" AND UNDER THAT DIAGONAL IS THE LETER " N" IT HAS THE ADJ. REAR SITE BUT NOT ADJ. FRONT SIGHT AND BOTH THE FRONT SIGHT RAMPS ARE DIFFERENT ON THESE TWO OFFICER MODELS, AND THIS MODEL HAS THE FLAT TOP INSTEAD OF THE GROOVE ON THE TOP OF THE FRAME, AND NEITHER ONE OF THESE HAVE ANDY MANUFACTOR DATES ON THE BARREL AND BOTH ARE HEAVY BARRELS NON TAPERING, AND THE EJECTOR RODS ARE DIFFERENT TIPS, AND LST UT NOT LEAST THIS ONE HAS A GROOVED TRIGGER....

PISTOL # 3- COLT D.A.38 MODEL 1892 ARMY CIVILIAN I THINK, 4 1/2 INCH BARREL
MY QUESTION ON THIS ONE IS THE LAST MANUFACTORING DATE IS MARCH 5, 95,,, THE SN# IS EXTREAMLY LOW NUMBER "19X", BUT IT IS NOT MARKED ON THE BUT OF THE GRIP, AND NO LANYARD, IT IS MARKED IN THE 2 NORMAL SPOTS THE CYLINDER ARM AND THE INSIDE FRAME,AND ON THE INSIDE FRAME THE NUMBER IS FOLLOWED BY A SMALL "Z", THE NUBER IS ALSO MAKED ON THE CYLINDER RELEASE. ANY INFO WOULD BE EXTREMLY APPRCIATED , AS I THINK THIS MAY BE ONE OF THE LOWEST NUMBERED MODELS ,AVAILABLE

PISTOL # 4- COLT PYTHON IN ROYAL BLUE 2 1/2 INCH BARREL
THIS GUN IS IN ROYAL BLUE , SN# 431XX, WITH A 2 UNDER THAT AND THEN A LITTLE SPACE AND THE LETTER "G", ANY INFO ON THE PRODUCTION NUMBERS AND DATE FOR THIS GUN IN THE SPECIFIED BARREL LENGTH WOULD BE GRATEFUL, AS I'M AM TOLD THIS IS THE HARDEST TO FIND BARREL LENGHTS

THANK YOU VERY MUCH IN ADVANCE FOR ALL YOUR REPLYS

 

[Majic]

Number one sounds strange as it has a serial number of a OMT not a OMS, but has the fixed sights of a AS or OP. The missing Colt on the frame suggests a refinish job that polished it out sometime in it's life. This maybe a revolver built from available parts as the date suggest the frame was made during WWII when production of civilian guns all but ceased during that time period.
Number two sounds like it has the front sight of a OMM (it had the long sight base) and was made somewhere around 1952.
With no patent dates on either barrels and also being non-tapered both revolvers may have been rebarreled with aftermarkets in the past.
The Python sounds like a 1965 model. The 2 1/2" model is somewhat hard to find, but the 3" models are much harder to locate (and beware as many have been rebarreled as GunParts was selling the barrels). There is a 2 1/2" model named "Snake Eyes" that a poster over at the Colt forum has that's rarely seen.

 

[bfoster]

onthelake79,

Pehaps a few pics will help, there's a lot of confusion about Colt double action target revolvers.

Below is a Police Positive Target. The lanyard ring probably isn't original. The condition of the revolver doesn't warrant the expense of getting it "lettered".

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Below is an Officers Model Target, this one is rather typical of those made during the mid 1920's. It does not have the heavy barrel (this was not then available). At this time the 7½" barrel was more popular than the 6" barrel.

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Below is an Officers Model Target typical of mid 1930's production. This revolver does have the heavy barrel. By this time the 6" barrels were quite popular.

continued ...

 

[bfoster]

Below is an Officers Model Special. The stock screw is not original. Note the Coltwood stocks.

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Below is an Officers Model Match.

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Below is a Shooting Master. Several variations of the frame and grips were produced. This picture is of a revolver is what is probably the most common variant.

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Below is a New Service Target.

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I've not included pics of two variants of the Officers Model: the first issue is difficult to find in pristine condition, the sixth issue is very rare.

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Insofar as the cockeyed hammer goes you might want to take a look at the following web page. I've put up a copy of one of the King Gun Sight Company's catalog's. I believe this to date from late 1940 or 1941.

Bob

 

[gordo b.]

I'd give my left testicle for the grips on that New Service Target pictured! I'd put them on my Shooting Master!

 

[guy sajer]

Shooting Master .357 mag

You can hang on to your part , these grips aren't for sale .

The original's are impossible to find . These are custom made . So , you can get a pair . Just find a good maker .