FITZ SPECIAL
I INHERITED A COLT REVOLVER CAL. 32-20 WCF AND LOOKS LIKE A POLICE POSITIVE MODEL. THE BARREL HAS BEEN SHORTENED, THERE IS NO FRONT SIGHT, THE FRONT OF THE TRIGGER GUARD HAS BEEN CUT AWAY AND THERE IS NO SER. NO.
SOMETIME OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS OR SO I REMEMBER READING ABOUT A GUNSMITH THAT WORKED FOR OR WITH COLT TO SPECIALLY MODIFY REVOLVERS. THE NAME WAS FITZ OR SOMETHING LIKE IT. THERE WAS SOME SORT OF ASSOCIATION WITH THE CIA OR ITS PRIOR AGENCY.
ANYONE HAVE ANY INFO ABOUT THIS? THANKS.
GEORGE L. WILD, JR.
SOMETIME OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS OR SO I REMEMBER READING ABOUT A GUNSMITH THAT WORKED FOR OR WITH COLT TO SPECIALLY MODIFY REVOLVERS. THE NAME WAS FITZ OR SOMETHING LIKE IT. THERE WAS SOME SORT OF ASSOCIATION WITH THE CIA OR ITS PRIOR AGENCY.
ANYONE HAVE ANY INFO ABOUT THIS? THANKS.
GEORGE L. WILD, JR.
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CORRECTION: THERE IS A SERIAL NO. 234XXX 0 -
I have read and heard for many years of the "Fitz Special".
The modifications are supposed to make it a better "pocket pistol"
or "belly gun",
easier to get out of your pocket, and faster to get your finger on
the trigger.
Usually cut the front sight off, or cut the barrel, cut the hammer spur off (less to snag on fabric), and cut the front part of the trigger guard off. As far as
I know, these were not factory options. I bought a S&W 36 a few years
ago that had the sight ground off, the hammer bobbed and ALL of the
trigger guard cut off. I would not have carried it in my pocket!!!
I have silver soldered a trigger guard on it, and have a new barrel
to put on.
Don't send flowers when I die. Send money now, I can buy more ammo.0 -
The gentleman in question was J. Henry "Fitz" Fitzgerald who worked for Colt in their arms testing department and was a noted Colt spokeman during the 1920's and 1930's. By all accounts his shooting abilities were exceptional and his love for Colt handguns was so great that he spent most of his life working on improving their accuracy and combat potential. Old timers who visited Camp Perry way back when have told me that "Fitz" was always around and did a huge business replacing barrels on 1911 automatics with match grade units...barrel cost- about $5. "Fitz" would also fit wider front and rear sights and was pushing Colt hard to develope more parts, like slides and barrel bushings, to make the pistols even more accurate. The company seemed to have an "If it ain't broke don't fix it" attitude. "Fitz" custom order pistols are VERY rare since each one required that the customer have large amounts of cash and the time to wait for it to be built. The reward would be not just a fine pistol but also a test target hand penciled "Selected by Fitz". Remember, back in those carefree days ANYONE could order a pistol direct from Colt. Simply tell them what you want and mail the check. "Fitz" retired from Colt in early 1944. I know of no way to verify whether or not your pistol is a true "Fitz special" as there were plenty of gunsmith's who'd cut off the trigger gaurd, chop off the barrel, and bob the hammer. A Colt expert- like his honor JudgeColt could surely tell you more about the pistols, my interest is with the man himself.
"Trust me, I know what I'm doing!"
Mark T. Christian
Edited by - mark christian on 09/15/2002 01:00:470 -
Cool post Labwild! Never knew that.
Fitz0 -
If I remember correctly Charles Lindburgh had one built for him. 0 -
THANKS FOR THE INFO. THE POOL OF KNOWLEDGE ON THIS SITE IS AMAZING! 0
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