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Colt Det Spec

Laredo Lefty
I have a 1st issue Det Special, .38 spl, blued, the one without the extractor rod shroud. Iam looking for an original set of grips, but Iam not sure of the frame size.

I think it is a "D" frame, but I can find no reference to frame designations in my Colt book. Is this gun a "D" frame or some other size of Colt frame?

I have found some factory grips in the auction, but they appear to be somewhat rounded on the bottom. My gun has more squared edges at the bottom of the frame.



"Never let school interfere with your education"
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Comments

4 comments

Date Votes
  • tomh.
    It is a D frame. If I remember correctly, the early Detective Specials had a square butt with actual "corners." But the more recent manufactured ones have corners that are rounded. So I think you're on the right track, just have to keep looking for some older versions.
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  • icdux1
    sir,the early dect spl were basically police positive specials with short bbl`s and share the same serial # range. i am thinking sometime around ww2 the frame was slightly rounded and produced in this style till 1966 when the frame was shortened, grips for this era gun are extension type and extend below the frame 3/8 in. these guns were produced till 1973. so there are 3 grip variations for a colt d-frame unshrouded dect/spl. note: it`s easy to confuse police pos spl with the very slightly smaller police positive both are called d-frame guns. if you can post your serial i can date your gun which should help. regards dux
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  • Laredo Lefty
    Thanks guys for the input. My Det spc Ser # is 474xxx which according to my book was made in 1941. Dux, that jives with what you said about Colt rounding the edges on the butt around WWII.

    It looks like mine was made before they began rounding the edges. Now I will know what grips to look for.

    "Never let school interfere with your education"
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  • JudgeColt
    The round butt was introduced on the Detective Speical in 1933. A 1941 DS will take the same stocks as any Pre-1966 full-frame D-frame with round butt.
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