How Old Is This Colt Revolver???
I have a friend who inherited a rather old .38 Short Colt "Official Police" revolver, model number 38-200, serial number #6341 (said number located on the bottom of the grip-frame.) He's curious to know----as am I---how old this pistol is. If it's any help, the barrel is 5" long, wooden checkered grips, double-action. It was manufactured in Hartford, Connecticut, with the words "Colt Official Police 38-200" on the lefthand side of the barrel.
Any ideas how old this beastie is, gang?
Any ideas how old this beastie is, gang?
0
-
Don't know what the number on the bottom of the grip frame is......but, it's not the factory serial number. Colt Official Police revolvers have the serial number stamped into the frame underneath the crane when the cylinder is swung out. You will see the number also on the inside of the crane in front of the cylinder. When closed, the serial numbers are inside and not seen. Post this serial number and I will tell you all all about this gun.
"Life is FRAGILE!" Handle With Care!0 -
The serial number under the crane is: 669417. Does that help?
And thanks in advance!0 -
I believe your revolver dates to the early 1940's. It was a military contract for the Commonwealth countries and others who used the 38 S & W as their military round.
Saw a similar one years ago with a small "KEYSTONE" marking it was identified as being a Dutch Contract?
The revolvers with these markings aren't common.
"I have never seen one of these guns chambered for the .38 S&W and would disagree about such being the case. None of my books indicate there was ever such a gun. It has been sometime since I was "surprised" by some unknown Colts.....but, I would like to be. Where is such as gun as you describe written about and by whom?"
The Colt marked "38-200" revolver with Dutch? "KEYSTONE" proof was seen by me at a Gunshow a number of years ago.
Sometime after this there was a request in the "American Rifleman" magazine for information regarding a revolver with similar markings.
I gave you the answer that was provided by the "American Rifleman". RS
I would like to refer you to MR trstone's original post he identifies his revolver as being "38 Colt New Police" it's my understanding that this is Colt's name for the 38 S & W.
Please review "CARTRIDGES OF THE WORLD" in the section on 38 S & W they note the "BRITTISH SERVICE LOAD IS CALLED 380/200"0 -
Yes, that makes all the difference in the world. According to this new serial number, the gun was made in 1941. This gun was made in the following calibers: .22 LR, .32-20 (.32 Winchester), and .38 Special. I have never seen one marked as .38-200, but it wouldn't surprise me because there was over 400,000 of these manufactured from 1927 to end of production. Colt used several different roll marks throughout the manufacture of these guns and it would be fun to see this. Mostly, they are marked. ".38 Special" if chambered for the .38. Enjoy it, they are very nice shooting guns. Hope this helps.
I have never seen one of these guns chambered for the .38 S&W and would disagree about such being the case. None of my books indicate there was ever such a gun. It has been sometime since I was "surprised" by some unknown Colts.....but, I would like to be. Where is such as gun as you describe written about and by whom?
"Life is FRAGILE!" Handle With Care!0 -
Rufe-Snow: Time for you to use my glasses.....yours are all fogged up. Take a good look at the Original Post......I don't see anywhere there where there is mention of a ".38 Colt New Police," however I do see in the First Line of that Post, words number 14 and 15 of that line which is "Official Police."
Now, its possible it may be a New Police, but the Original Poster didn't say that...... There was a good many of the "New Police" revolvers chambered in .38 S&W.....but none to my knowledge chambered that way that were the Colt Model "Official Police!"
Thank you for the information about the "American Rifleman" information and the information from "CARTRIDGES OF THE WORLD," but the problem is......WRONG GUN! The question was about the gun I answered about......not the one you somehow have "substituted."
"Life is FRAGILE!" Handle With Care!0 -
RanchroPaul, ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE! I don't much care what you have seen, or what you do, or do not know, or how supposedly expert you believe yourself in Colt Revolvers.
MR. Trstone in his first post noted he had a Colt "Official Police" revolver chambered for .38 Short Colt . He also noted that it's marked 38-200. Which as I pointed out before was the English Military designation for our .38 Smith & Wesson cartridge.
The Official Police revolver that I saw at the Gun Show was marked identically to the one Mr. Trstone posted except for the Dutch? proof mark.
The revolver pictured in the N.R.A. magazine and identified as "COLT OFFICIAL POLICE" was also identical as to markings and caliber, which they commented on.
I have no idea, why you don't want to accept that a certain number of COLT OFFICIAL POLICE revolvers were chambered in .38 SMITH & WESSON or 38-200.
The facts seem quite plain to me! Looks to me like your going to get "SURPRISED" again.
It's crazy to trade recriminations about something like this. Let me contact MR. Trstone and find out if he has been able to shoot the revolver with 38 S & W ammo, that will solve the conflict. If the revolver chambers 38 S & W thats all there is to it!0 -
Hey, you can have the last word....No Problem. A gentleman asked about a certain gun. I answered about that gun according to what he called it and described it to be.
Now you jump into the middle and start describing another Model Gun, which is completely different. You get all bent out of shape and start huffing and puffing about it because your description doesn't fit the Model he's talking about.....well, too bad.
Colt made the model called the "Official Police." Colt also made a gun called the "New Police Positive," which you are describing as the same as the "Official Police." These guns are built on different frames and are no way alike.
You, my friend, can do as you wish about this.....I wasn't paid enough to listen to your rantings about such as this. But, you are definitely mistaken in what you preach.........but you can continue if you must, to expound false information regarding the Official Police Colt if you wish......
"Life is FRAGILE!" Handle With Care!0 -
RanchroPaul, ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE! As I said in my previous post, I've e-mailed Mr. Trstone regarding the chambering of his "OFFICIAL POLICE" revolver, i.e. is it or is it NOT chambered for the .38 Smith & Wesson/.38-200 Cardridge.
Rest assured as a advanced collector of these fine revolvers, you'll be the first one I contact regarding Mr. Trstone answer!0 -
Which Revolver? Know which one was being talked about? Never mind....you can have the last Word Oh Great and Exhaulted "Advanced Collector of these Fine Revolvers!"
"Life is FRAGILE!" Handle With Care!0 -
To Everyone who was kind enough to reply to my initial post:
I've made a terrible mistake---the revolver is chambered in .38 Smith & Wesson, NOT .38 Short Colt as I said originally. I apologize for any and all confusion arising from my boneheaded blunder, and hope that this sheds some (helpful)light on the character of the gun.0 -
Seems your description of this gun has caused a lot of confusion. Why not try again to describe it? Piecemeal as the description has been has brought up some very interesting facts about the Official Police Colt.....at least according to Colt, R. L. Wilson, and two of his noted books, one being "The Book of Colt Firearms."
In fact, why not post a picture of it showing the lettering, etc.?
You will probably have to start a new thread because this forum gets "locked" after 10 replies.......
"Life is FRAGILE!" Handle With Care!0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
11 comments