Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

Colt Agent LW

F7son
Hello. I have this pistol with the ser. #484xx which I was told was made in 1956. In trying to research this what I can find says they started making them in 1962. Does anyone know for sure what year it was made? Also it says they were made with the short hand grip frame. Mine has a long frame with the stock Colt wood handgrips that are flush with the frame all the way around. Would anyone here have a solid answer for the difference in the info I have found? TIA Frank
0

Comments

7 comments

Date Votes
  • rufe-snow
    Your revolver would have been made in 1956 with the serial number you have given, as long as there is a "LW" suffix after the serial number.

    They made other revolvers such as the Cobra and Courier in the same serial number range, perhaps that is where the confusion ensues?
    0
  • F7son
    Thanks. Yes it does have the LW after the # on the frame as well as the cylinder crane. Do you have any info on the length of the grip frame?
    0
  • mrs102
    The Agent has a noticeably shorter grip frame than a Cobra. It is possible you have a Cobra and someone put an Agent barrel on it.
    0
  • F7son
    quote:Originally posted by mrs102
    The Agent has a noticeably shorter grip frame than a Cobra. It is possible you have a Cobra and someone put an Agent barrel on it.

    Thanks for the info.
    Do you know of anyway I could check this out? If what you suggest is true, could it possibly been done at the factory? On the left side of the frame just where the front of the trigger guard meets the heavier part of the frame there is what appears to be a small upside down triangle and also at the rear of the trigger guard in just about the same location there is a J stamped. TIA Frank
    0
  • mrs102
    You can make an inquiry to the Historian at Colt Firearms. They will send you what information they have archived when the revolver was manufactured, based on the serial number. There is a fee for this service. See their website for more info.


    Glad to see JudgeColt get in on this one. I've recognized mistakes in publications that get repeated and I am guilty of repeating what's published myself. Even though a Colt letter authenticates, it doesn't go into details on measurements and appearances that come with experience and sharing observations. That's where the "experts" make the difference.
    0
  • JudgeColt
    The start date for the Agent is wrong in "The Book of Colt Fire Arms," and all subsequent sources that use the serial number charts found in TBOCF. The Agent was introduced in 1956, not 1962. I have an Agent that letters as shipped in 1956.

    An Agent made before 1966 should have the full, but very short, frame. You should see metal when you look at the butt. (On a Post-1965 Agent, and all D-frames Post-1965, you will see only wood at the butt, overlapping the even-shorter abbreviated frame adopted on all D-frame Colts in 1966.) The Agent frame profile has much sharper corners than found on the Cobra and Post-1932 Detective Special, but not as sharp as found on a Pre-1932 square butt Detective Special. If you measure the length of the Agent stock panels, they will measure about 2.75-inches from the apex of the top to the bottom. A Cobra and round butt Detective Special stock panel will measure about 3-inches from the apex to the bottom.

    If your Agent has a long Cobra-length full frame, it is VERY doubtful that it is a factory error, but such things have happened.

    The "upside down triangle" is the Colt "Verified Proof." The "V" and "P" are run together if you look closely inside the triangle. The "Verified Proof" is applied when the gun has passed all inspections and has been proofed. The other letters are merely inspector's marks.

    What do the stock panels on your Agent measure? Please let us know, starting a new thread if necessary if this one gets closed.
    0
  • F7son
    JudgeColt. Thanks for the info. The grips do measure just shy of 2&3/4" and are even with the bottom of the frame.. The pistol was owned by an old detective and it has some holster wear ,but I don't believe it was shot hardly at all as there is hardly any cylinder line and the action and trigger pull are tight and like new. That's why I thought it was an original piece and not a rebarrel. Thanks again.
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity