Say "Hi" to the newbie... Colt "Official Police" Question.

P

Poe

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Hi All,

Someone sent me a link to this website today and I already know more about my gun than I've learned in the 15 years I've owned it! Awesome site!

Anyway, roughly 15 years ago, I bought a used Colt revolver at a pawn shop for about $100. I had no idea what I was buying at the time, I just wanted a cheap gun for home protection that worked. It's a Colt "Official Police" (or "OP" as I just learned they're know as) .38 Special with a 4" barrel and has "U.S. CUSTOMS" stamped on the back of the handle - on the steel between the wood grips. The store owner assured me it was a good gun and would work just fine, so I bought it. At the time, I was newly married and lived way out in the country - and figured it would be a good idea to have a gun around. I bought some ammo on the way home, took it home and went through a box of ammo - and had my wife fire it a few times too - so she would be somewhat familiar with it if she ever had to use it. Then I cleaned it and tossed it in a drawer. I'd occasionally take it out and pop off a few rounds, but basically didn't use it much.

Recently I've been thinking I'd like to get a conceiled weapon permit and get a new .380 or a small-frame 9mm to carry. I started wondering if my "old" Colt (which I had assumed to be about 10 yrs. old or so when I bought it) would be worth anything on a trade-in, so I started looking around the internet for it's value. I stumbled across this webpage and was in SHOCK:

http://www.sarcoinc.com/p102.html

The gun in those pictures is IDENTICAL to mine - and he claims his was manufactured in 1943!!! My serial number (690XXX) is almost 1000 PRIOR to his and the nuber stamped on the butt of mine is almost 300 prior. Can someone please look mine up and tell me if mine was also made in 1943 - or was it a little earlier?

Here's the real kicker... he's asking $695 for his!!!

It's hard to judge from those pictures, but I believe mine is in nearly the same condition. It has some holster wear, but overall it's in great shape (as far as I know anyway). It still feels very tight, the trigger action is "like buttah" and it has fired flawlessly every time I've used it. Could my gun really be worth that much???

If so, there's no way I can let it go now!!! THIS IS SO COOL!!!

Thanks in advance,
John
 
The prices at that site seem a bit high to me, but I'm sure there are people willing to pay them. I've seen some Colt revolvers made between about 1910 and 1950 with truly superb workmanship, including a D frame .38 special match revolver with the handsomest Herrett stocks I've ever seen. If I'd had the price at the time, I'd have slapped it down in half a heart beat.
 
that site does show some nice items - - -

- - -But I have to agree. Their prices range from a bit high to VERY high. The "Military Collectibles" especially are greatly over priced. You can go to any gun show/militaria show and find many of thoes things for fractions of their prices. The Cheaper Than Dirt catalog shows the Swiss bayonets for under $10, for instance.

That said, there are some fascinating guns on sale - - -A "Luftwaffe" drilling and a beautiful old .318 Express with extra .30-06 barrel, for instance. And, the Colt OP illustrated is really nice. I don't think it would be worth $695, though, and I am extremely fond of 20th Century Colt revolvers.

The main thing is that YOU are happy with YOUR revolver.

Now, if you are serious about wanting a good .380 or 9 mm auto pistol, I would be VERY glad to receive an e-mail from you. :) (<---that smiley means good humor, and that no one's trying to swindle you out of a very nice Colt revolver. But I AM serious in my interest.)

Best,
Johnny
 
Hi... and thanks for the replies. So, I'm understanding that the $695 asking price for that gun is unreasonably high. Oh well... I'm not surprized. I guess the key words there are "ASKING price" heh heh. I know you can't believe everything you see on the internet as fact - and that just because someone ASKS a particular price for something, doesn't mean they'll get it. I was just blown away that it is SO close to my gun's serial number - AND has "U.S. CUSTOMS" stamped on it exactly like mine (I wonder how many of those are still floating around?). I wasn't sure if that was a reasonable price or not - and that's what brought me here.

So what would be a reasonable price? Just curious... I like the gun and will probably hang onto it, but I'm curious now to know what it really is worth. I know I'd have to have it appraised to get a real good idea - I'm just looking for a ballpark figure.

How about my serial number (690XXX)? Was it really made in 1943 (or a little earlier)? If so, I think that is so cool... all these years I figured it was made in the 70's somewhere - but never really gave it any thought until today. Now I find out it's 30 years older than that!!! I'm looking at the gun in a whole new light now. I feel like I need to go clean it! *LOL*

Johnny... thanks for the interest! I'll give it some thought, but right now, I'm thinking I'll hang onto the Colt. --- Oh and no worries about the interpretation of the smiley. I'm new to this forum, but I've been posting on a car-related internet forum for many years now. I'll definitely drop you an email if I decide to see if we can work up a deal of some kind.

Thanks,
John
 
Year of Production

Yes, John, looks like it - - -
R. L. Wilson's beautiful book, COLT An American Legend, includes serial number tables for most Colt firearms. They show your s/n to have come early in the 1943 figures.

Exact value of a true collector's firearm is ephemeral, and is determined by several factors. The Colt OP was one of the most popular models for many years, so they are not at all scarce. (DUH!) But, unlike many military pistols, a lot of which stayed in arms racks, these were mostly duty guns, found in the holsters of working cops and sheriff's deputies and guards. Also, flap holsters for cop guns were less common than in the military. Unlike carefully cased target pistols, the OPs were often out in the weather. A VERY nice OP is therefore rarer than you might think. Another factor is provenance. While you have no papers showing that this particular gun was issued to a specific inspector, there is good indication that it belonged to a verifiable government service. Also, handguns with nice commercial finishes were not much produced in the throes of WW-II. In fact, Colt produced the OP with a dull, military-type finish, called the Commando model and so marked. It was mostly issued to defense plant guards and such. I'd definitely say that your revolver is of somewhat greater value than one made in, say, 1940 or 1941.

Any OP in decent shape, with original finish, is probably worth $175 to $200, and goes up from there, by condition. I am not an appraiser, but I'd say one in 90% with excellent stocks could easily be worth $100 more. An additional 5% would add at least $50. And the jump from 95% to 98% could be even larger. I doubt there are a dozen OPs in much better shape in the US today.

Other factors have to do with barrel length. Four inch most common by far. Six-inch next. Three inch unusual, and two inch fairly rare.
Also finish: Blue was common, and nickle much less so, but not really rare. Fancy wood stocks, and ivory and stag with factory medallions add a lot of value.

With the price of the Colt factory letters today, it is problematic whether or not it is worthwhile. (But then I said that back when they were $25.00.)

By the way, welcome to The Firing Line.

Best,
Johnny
 
The OP is a little heavy for a service .38 but some people like the weight to reduce felt recoil. As for value, I just sold a 6" OP made in 1958 that was in about 95% for $195. A 4" would be more popular so would bring a few more dollars. The department markings would interest a few people, and turn off others. A push in reality as far as value. I think a good 4" OP should bring about $225 give or take. At $695 I would not anticipate that gun ever selling.
 
Thanks for the welcome Johnny. I'm glad I found this place... very interesting. Thanks also for the verification on my mfg. date and the additional info! That's great to know!

SaxonPig's comment pretty much reinforces the opinion that $695 is way out of line for this gun. Oh well... it's still a nice piece - and apparently worth a good bit more than I paid for it. I'm still excited to learn that it's a WWII-era gun. Maybe if I take good care of it, it'll be worth that much one day.

Thanks again all,
John
 
In upstate NY I would think around $300 or so with those markings, again , It all depends on how bad a collector wants one. But in my opinion $695 is more than I would ever pay. I have one made in 43-44 and it is a pleasure to shoot, as accurate as any 4 inch barrel I have and a nice bit of Colt history.
 
I am looking at one OP 4" with THP # 138 on the grip bottom. Made in the 1930's. Tight lock up carried but not shot with about 75 % finish. I would love to have it but its selling for $299. and I think its just to expensive.
 
FWIW, I think that in a few years those DA Colts in good condition are going to go through the roof price wise. True there were a lot made, but as noted, most are in poor condition. Right now, there is little collector interest, but prices on the early stuff has gone out of sight (Today, I saw an ordinary good condition SAA in .44-40 with $5700 on it.)

So, I think it is only a matter of time before those Colt DA revolvers become of interest to serious (meaning loaded) collectors.

So if you have a good one, don't trade it off or make a "Fitz custom" out of it. Just hang onto it and watch what happens. Better than buying Enron stock.

Jim
 
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