Why not Colts?

P

Psalm 144:1

New member
It seems that all 2" barrel .38 special revolvers of fairly recent production are either S&W or clones thereof. Why doesn`t somebody revive the Dick Special, or is there a version out there that I am unaware of?
 
S&W owns the market. Taurus is making inroads. Rugers are too big. Colt hasn't got the ability to make the D frame. Colt also is too busy with military contract fulfillment. The Detective Specials are OK but, I would like to see the 2" Lawman MKIII in 357 Magnum RB.
 
I'd like to see Colt

I'd like to see Colt bring back the Detective Special back out too as well as the larger Official Police (Both in unshrouded form) but I guess that's kind of expensive to do considering both of those guns are hand fitted.
 
Psalm... funny you should mention the Detective Special... I've always wanted one and just today struck a deal for one, 4th edition, still brand new in the box, for $375 plus shipping. I'm elated and can't wait to get it. They're fine little revolvers, but Colt is unable to give such a gun their time or money these days... they have a few bigger fish to fry and their resources are very limited.

But the Colt Detective Special, along with the S&W 19 2.5" .357, is one of the great, legendary, American revolvers of all time. And sadly, neither is being made any more.

Good news is, there are still a number of them available for purchase... some still NIB! Get 'em and enjoy 'em while you can. :cool:
 
When I was a Deputy Sheriff a friend of mine passed away, he had a Colt Python that was in new condition, it was perfect, showed no wear of any kind. His widow asked me if I could sell the pistol for her, I said I would try...The Sheriff Dept had many active shooters, and a large Reserve contingent, I couldn't give that thing away, nobody would even make me an offer, after six months I gave up and returned the pistol to her.

I was a S&W man, as was virtually everyone else in the Department, if I could have made a reasonable offer I would have kept it just to have a Colt in my collection, but being a Deputy didn't pay very well.
 
The other problem is that the Colt action requires precise hand fitting and that kind of skilled labor is too expensive unless you'd like to pay $800-$950 for a Detective Special.

Personally, I think Taurus would make a killing if they started a line of revolvers that just looked like Colts but maybe had an improved action. Make them their premier gun -- a little extra money for a nicely polished & blued gun with a nice action and tight, accurate bores.

Were it me, I'd bring back the Det. Special & Cobra in both .38 Special +P rated and .32 H&R, the barely issued Viper (think 4" barreled alloy Det. Special), Police Positive, the "Magnum Carry" (Det. Special in .357) and [drum roll please] Trooper MkIII in a 3" and 6" barrel.
 
My Colt Trooper MKIIIs are 4' and 6". I bought the Lawman MKIII in 2". I don't remember any barrels in other lengths. I know there was a 8" Trooper MKIII later on in their run. I still have to say the M10 2" is a hard to beat package. As an aside, I am picking up HKS speedloaders (DS) and Pachmayrs this weekend for my little pony. LOL
 
I remember an article in one of the gun rags a few years back. The new CEO of Colt was asked why the Detective Special and other like revolvers where no longer made by Colt.
He said Colt did a cost analysis and found it was costing Colt more to make them then what they were selling them for. For years they did this and was unaware of it until the cost analysis by the new CEO found this info out.
So they stopped making them at that time.
If you are into revolvers like I am, you'll appreciate the different lock work of the older Colts. They are magnificent.
I have several Pythons and many Detective Specials.I would not part with any of them.
 
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