Dating a Colt Detective Special
Found a nice clean Detective Special to add to my Colt stable. (just love snubbies!!!) Can anyone tell me the age and rough value of this one? It's about 95%, blue, with checkered wood grips (no logo so I don't know if they are factory)and sn is 487XX.
Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead
Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead
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Check your Serial Number.....there aren't any Detective Specials with a straight numeric 5 digit serial number. If this is supposed to be 487XX(X)6 digits, then it would have been manufactured in 1946, commonly known as a FIRST ISSUE, made from 1927 to and including 1946.
Does it have a round butt or square butt? Wood grips would have been standard, but would be checkered with Colt Medallions. Value would be related to the type of butt. It would also be affected by the fact it sounds like it has the wrong grips. Blue Book of Gun Values says a 95% gun of this type should be $550. If it has a square butt, you would expect it to be about $660 according to the 20% adder for the square butt, as stated in the Blue Book of Gun Values. I personally have not seen any of the Detective Specials go for this much, but at least this is a place to begine with value if this is the gun! Depends on your Serial Number.....
Fish Shudder at the sound of my Name!0 -
Oops? Time for new glasses perhaps--it's SN is P487XX. Missed the P designation first post. Not sure if the butt itself is square, but the grips are squared on the bottom so if the wood follows metal...
Also the style of the barrel looks quite modern from my impression so I don't think it's an oldie.
SaxonPig: I can't date it either: it's cute but I think the lady of the house will want to shoot me with it when I bring it home...
Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead
Edited by - mballai on 11/17/2002 22:27:010 -
Wrap around checkered walnut wood grips without medallions were "Factory" on this model, called the "Third Issue." Median value for a 95% gun according to the Blue Book of Gun Values is $375. It could be worth more or less depending on your market locally or the mood of those potential Colt buyers.
Fish Shudder at the sound of my Name!0 -
Thanks guys--that sounds about right on all counts.
Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead0 -
Hey , I once (years ago) dated a pair of sisters , it was like dating a loaded gun !!!!!!
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No that's Russian Roulette with two chambers filled
Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead
Edited by - mballai on 11/19/2002 20:42:400 -
I have a first model Colt Detective Special (no cylinder ejector shroud). Serial number is 796xxx and I purchased this revolver new in 1961 or 1962. I still have the Colt box it came in.
If you don't care where you are going, you can't get lost.0
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