Which stocks for Colt Detective - Update.
Purchased just yesterday a Colt Detective Special in a later revision model (heavy bbl and shrouded ejector). Overall, it is in excellent shape, however, the left side stock is cracked and needs replacement.
Which set of stocks should I purchase?
As I understand, a Detective Special and Cobra are both frame size D, but the stocks will not interchange: Detective shows sharp corners at the end, whereas Cobra's are rounded. Moreover, elsewhere I read Detective's bottom strap has small variations in length depending on YOM.
Serial number is M076XX, followed by an 8 underneath.
The actual stocks are made from a dark brown wood (rosewood?) in two halves, are checkered, and sport no medallions. The back strap is exposed, the wood extends about one inch beyond the bottom, and the front is covered (reminiscent of S&W's Target stocks).
I want to replace such grips - maybe with wood, maybe with another exotic material - yet am unsure about which size or style to purchase.
Advise is greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Update -
This is what I found out:
I put side by side an older revision of a Detective (tapering barrel), the newer model (heavy barrel and shrouded ejector), and a Cobra. All are D frames.
From the outside, the dimensions in all three look alike; yet, when taken apart, I realized the grips size and shapes are different. The Cobra's is longer and has rounded corners, whereas the Detectives' are shorter and have squared corners.
The right panel in the older Detective swaps with the Cobra's right, however, the left panels do not. The right panel in the Detective aligns on top of the Cobra's left, but the Cobra's right do not align with the detective's left. The grips swap between both Detectives.
Confusing?
The Detective grip halves are built asymetrical on the inside, and on the outside built up to cover the bottom strap.
Which set of stocks should I purchase?
As I understand, a Detective Special and Cobra are both frame size D, but the stocks will not interchange: Detective shows sharp corners at the end, whereas Cobra's are rounded. Moreover, elsewhere I read Detective's bottom strap has small variations in length depending on YOM.
Serial number is M076XX, followed by an 8 underneath.
The actual stocks are made from a dark brown wood (rosewood?) in two halves, are checkered, and sport no medallions. The back strap is exposed, the wood extends about one inch beyond the bottom, and the front is covered (reminiscent of S&W's Target stocks).
I want to replace such grips - maybe with wood, maybe with another exotic material - yet am unsure about which size or style to purchase.
Advise is greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Update -
This is what I found out:
I put side by side an older revision of a Detective (tapering barrel), the newer model (heavy barrel and shrouded ejector), and a Cobra. All are D frames.
From the outside, the dimensions in all three look alike; yet, when taken apart, I realized the grips size and shapes are different. The Cobra's is longer and has rounded corners, whereas the Detectives' are shorter and have squared corners.
The right panel in the older Detective swaps with the Cobra's right, however, the left panels do not. The right panel in the Detective aligns on top of the Cobra's left, but the Cobra's right do not align with the detective's left. The grips swap between both Detectives.
Confusing?
The Detective grip halves are built asymetrical on the inside, and on the outside built up to cover the bottom strap.
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Look at NAZebay auction #220403220436 and see if they are what you are looking for. 0 -
Jorge: E-mail sent. Best, Joe 0 -
I'm kinda partial to Hogue's Rosewood & their Lamo Camo grips. I have rosewoods on my Old Model Blackhawk and Lamo's on a .22 that I don't own anymore but they were sharp. I have Hogue "Ivory" grips on my vaquero. On the detective special If you go rubber I like Pachmayers more and have shot a Det. Special with Presentation as well as the Compac grips. If you want to go more exotic elk bone is sharp looking. 0 -
Swapping Colt stocks can be tough. Colt was famous for hand fitting wood to each gun by attaching the slightly oversized stocks to the frame and then polishing them down to a perfect fit. Makes them nice but difficult to swap from one gun to another.
The snubby Colts often uses a slightly rounded stock. Whereas the S&W round butt is clearly obvious the Colt version is much more subtle. Yet you do need the correct version to ensure a good fit. It may be possible to sand the Police Positive Special stocks to fit the DS or Cobra.
D frame Colts from the early to mid 1970s often used stocks that were rather clunky, with no medallions like the ones on the gun in this auction:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=127813988
I have a couple sets of these rattling around in the parts box. Is this what you have or do yours look like this?
If you'd like to try the ones like those in the auction listing email me your address and I'll send them to you.0 -
PP..just read your update. Perhaps Saxon is correct..grips have to be "hand fit" to the particular firearm. As I've said before, I can send you some grips, but all bets are off regarding fit.
Please get back to me if you are still interested. Best, Joe0 -
All Post-1965 D-frames have the same-size abbreviated butt frame, and any Post-1965 D-frame stock set will fit any Post-1965 D-frame. NONE are hand-fitted.
Pre-1966 D-frames came in round butt and square butt configurations. All round butt stocks will interchange, as will all square butt. There may be minor variations from one set to the next, but it will be very minor. (I am not addressing the shrinkage problem exhibited by early Post-War Coltwood plastic stocks.)
It sounds like the poster is comparing a Pre-1966 Cobra with a Post-1965 Detective Special. The frames are far different, but not because one is a Cobra and the other is a Detective Special. It is because of the frame-style change made in 1966. Assuming the stocks on the subject gun are factory-original, they are walnut, not rosewood. They sound like ordinary Post-1971 D-frame stocks.
A Post-1971 Detective Special with an ejector shroud barrel will have a set of stocks that do resemble Smith target stocks to a small degree. They are quite large for a gun designed for concealment, and were often replaced for that reason. They are readily available on the auction sites, and generally command the least money of about any D-frame stocks. If you want the gun to be returned to its original configuration, that is the style you should seek.
If you seek after-market stocks, then pick a style and material you like designated for the Post-1965 D-frame. They should all be the same. If buying used, as illustrated by the misinformation already posted, some sellers may erroneously describe their stock set, so ask questions to verify the style.0 -
That's it!
Post 1965 frames.
Thanks Judge.0
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