

- #Colt agent 38 special revolver value serial number#
- #Colt agent 38 special revolver value full size#
Second Issue Colt Detective Special (1947 - 1972) First issue revolvers are quite desirable and would do very well in any of our auctions if you would like to consign one with Rock Island Auction Company.

Some collectors point to 1933 as the end of the First Issue when the little snub nose with a square butt switched over to a rounded butt. This is the date where many changes were made to the design, which we will discuss in the next section. The end date of this Issue is a bit contentious among Detective Special collectors, but for our purposes we will use the date of 1946, which is in line with the latest issues of the Blue Book of Gun Values. The start date of the First Issue of Colt Detective Specials is easy enough to pin down as it was 1927, when the revolver was first released. First Issue Colt Detective Special (1927 - 1946) For a deeper dive into the history of the Colt Detective Special check out our blog post covering it.Ĭolt First Issue Detective Special Revolver. This will give you a manufacture date that can be applied to the following Issues.
#Colt agent 38 special revolver value serial number#
The easiest way of finding out what series of Detective Special you have is to search the serial number of your revolver (found on the frame, visible when the cylinder is open) through Colt’s website for free. When selling or buying the Detective Special it is important to be able to identify the four distinct “Issues” that collectors classify them in, much like the three generations of the Colt Single Action Army. 38 Special caliber that could be concealed by detectives, plain clothes police officers, or average citizens. Colt will be able to sell far more of these new revolvers if they’re meant more as a carry piece than a range toy.When first released in 1927 ,the Colt Detective Special was intended for pretty much exactly what the name implies: a small frame double action revolver in the considerably powerful.

But the Python is expensive (these days) for a reason. Yes, we all wanted them to bring back the Python. I think Colt did make the right choice in resurrecting the DS for their re-entry into the double action revolver market. The Detective Special is an old gun, yet it still manages to keep up in this world of wonder pocket pistols due to the demand for small and reliable pistols. That means you’ll have to adjust your aim if you’re using ammo lighter than 158 grain. And just to make things more interesting, the sights were regulated for the heavier 158 gr slug instead of today’s more common 130 grain slug. If you’re not careful, your knuckles will smack the rear of the trigger guard. The biggest limiting factor is also the primary reason for its existence. Many have jobs where it is quite imperative to carry something as unobtrusive as possible, so a small revolver works perfectly.
#Colt agent 38 special revolver value full size#
You are giving up capacity for it’s small size, but realize not everyone is in the mood to carry a full size service handgun everyday. You can carry more with speedloaders or speedstrips, but stirctly speaking you only have six. If you can accept a few things.įirst off, you only have six rounds. So with such a history, does the handling match up to the hype? Well, yes. Even the French gave their stamp of approval, and issued them to customs agents and border guards. The Royal Hong Kong Police also purchased several, and they served alongside their S&W Model 10s. These were eventually replaced by a licensed SIG P220 from Minebea, though I’m willing to bet there are still quite a few over there gathering dust in the corners of armories. The Japanese military bought many along with several international larger police agencies and those that couldn’t afford the Colt instead bought a clone produced by Miroku. Though popular in the United States, the DS served around the world with law enforcement agencies. The two preferred revolvers of the Royal Hong Kong Police.
