Jump to content
SASS Wire Forum

Recommended Posts

Posted

Picked up this little beauty at my LGS 

 

 

IMG_0330.jpeg

  • Like 11
  • Thanks 2
Posted
34 minutes ago, J-BAR #18287 said:

Range report!!

Coming soon……😎

  • Haha 1
Posted

It looks brand new. Is it a new Colt made recently? It sure is a good lookin’ snubby. 
 

Yes, range report, please.  :D

 

Congratulations Rye! 

  • Like 2
  • Thanks 1
Posted
1 hour ago, Pat Riot said:

It looks brand new. Is it a new Colt made recently? It sure is a good lookin’ snubby. 
 

Yes, range report, please.  :D

 

Congratulations Rye! 

I have to look it up. I believe it’s about 20 yrs old. The owner of the gun shop bought it new and only shot it once. It was in his safe at home! 

  • Like 1
Posted
6 hours ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

I have to look it up. I believe it’s about 20 yrs old. The owner of the gun shop bought it new and only shot it once. It was in his safe at home! 

Ah, then it is a real Detective Special. :D

Actually, I just went to the Colt sight and they do not make a modern Detective Special. I thought a new DS had come out. 
 

Are you going to carry that one or is it more for range fun?

Posted
7 hours ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

The owner of the gun shop bought it new and only shot it once

 

I've heard things like that before and it always makes me wonder.

 

Did he shoot it once - bang - just to see if it worked.

 

Or did he shoot it one cylinder full - bang bang bang bang bang bang.

 

Or did he take it to the range and run a couple or 3 hundred rounds through it, but since he only took it to the range that one time, "he only shot it once".

 

Not saying anything against your new gun. It's just that phrase - only shot it once.

Posted
9 minutes ago, Alpo said:

 

I've heard things like that before and it always makes me wonder.

 

Did he shoot it once - bang - just to see if it worked.

 

Or did he shoot it one cylinder full - bang bang bang bang bang bang.

 

Or did he take it to the range and run a couple or 3 hundred rounds through it, but since he only took it to the range that one time, "he only shot it once".

 

Not saying anything against your new gun. It's just that phrase - only shot it once.

I know him personally and he fired 12 rounds from it , cleaned it and put it away in his safe. I believe him because  he's a friend. I used to work part time there.

  • Like 3
Posted
45 minutes ago, Pat Riot said:

Ah, then it is a real Detective Special. :D

Actually, I just went to the Colt sight and they do not make a modern Detective Special. I thought a new DS had come out. 
 

Are you going to carry that one or is it more for range fun?

I may carry it, currently I'm carrying a SW 637 so this DS has one more round, it's a 6 shot.

  • Like 1
Posted (edited)

Looks like this was made in 1977, the Detective Special was discontinued in 1996 according my little Colt book. The earlier ones didn't have the shroud so the shell ejection bar was exposed, this has the full shroud.

Edited by Rye Miles #13621
  • Like 2
Posted

Sweet! I briefly had a Smith 36 Chief Special I bought from a guy cheap. I really had little use for it since I have a 2 1/2 Smith 19 and those snub 38's generally kick like crap and not very accurate. Went dove hunting at a buddy of mines place and his cousin fell in love with it and kept warting me until I sold it to him. I made a few bucks and he still got a good deal. It was blue. We were both happy so it was a harmonious outcome!

JHC

  • Like 1
Posted
2 hours ago, Capt. James H. Callahan said:

Sweet! I briefly had a Smith 36 Chief Special I bought from a guy cheap. I really had little use for it since I have a 2 1/2 Smith 19 and those snub 38's generally kick like crap and not very accurate. Went dove hunting at a buddy of mines place and his cousin fell in love with it and kept warting me until I sold it to him. I made a few bucks and he still got a good deal. It was blue. We were both happy so it was a harmonious outcome!

JHC

I have 4 snubbies, 2 Smirh’s, a 637 and a 37 , a Ruger SP 101 and this Detective Special. Yes they kick but they’re close range guns and accurate enough at 15 feet. Great carry guns! I’m a big fan.   

  • Like 2
Posted

very nice lookin revolver , i may have to seek one out , its one i have looked for in a passive way but that fits the bill where some others have failed , 

  • Thanks 1
Posted
7 hours ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

I have 4 snubbies, 2 Smirh’s, a 637 and a 37 , a Ruger SP 101 and this Detective Special. Yes they kick but they’re close range guns and accurate enough at 15 feet. Great carry guns! I’m a big fan.   

Snubs are fun.

 

I've got them in 22, 32, 38 and 357.

 

SWsnubnoserevolvers.thumb.jpg.e9a530a9a602c628e384aa702b4d3d48.jpg

 

Well, that top one is a 3 inch L frame 44. I guess with an L frame a 3-inch would be considered a snub.

  • Like 2
Posted
51 minutes ago, Alpo said:

Snubs are fun.

 

I've got them in 22, 32, 38 and 357.

 

SWsnubnoserevolvers.thumb.jpg.e9a530a9a602c628e384aa702b4d3d48.jpg

 

Well, that top one is a 3 inch L frame 44. I guess with an L frame a 3-inch would be considered a snub.

My next snub is going to be a .22 maybe a Ruger LCR 

  • Thanks 1
Posted

Waiting to get this back From Jim Downing.  This is what he calls in the "white."  ColtDetectiveSpecial.thumb.jpeg.307b9dc1017e5cd315d0aa03b8e1f8f4.jpegBeen 1 1/2 years in the making.  1970s vintage, unfired.  They'll be more pictures when it returns

 

JB

  • Like 3
  • Thanks 3
Posted
6 minutes ago, Johnny Buck said:

Waiting to get this back From Jim Downing.  This is what he calls in the "white."  ColtDetectiveSpecial.thumb.jpeg.307b9dc1017e5cd315d0aa03b8e1f8f4.jpegBeen 1 1/2 years in the making.  1970s vintage, unfired.  They'll be more pictures when it returns

 

JB

Beautiful 🤩 

Posted (edited)

I was given a 1947 vintage Dick Special by a friend who was dying.  It's a solid 90-95% gun and the only thing I've done is added a Tyler T-Grip to it so it fits my hand better.

 

I bought a "vampire" shoulder holster (holster is upside down so the muzzle points straight up) for it that is the best holster I could find.  I wish they made them for semi-autos.

 

Using Hornady Critical Defense and firing one-handed (right hand) I can keep six out of six in a four and a half  inch circle at ten yards.  Two hands shrinks it to three and a half.

 

One handed (left) I can keep five out of six in a nine to nine and a half inch circle.  The sixth round is two or three inches lower at five to seven o'clock.

 

All are suitable for a close range gunfight.  Anything further will have me looking for something to rest the gun or my hand on.  Anything over six shots.....even though I have three loaded Speed Loaders.....is not a gunfight, it's a war and I'll be looking for a way out.

 

This is my everyday carry piece for most of the year.  In really cold weather and a wearing a heavier coat, I up grade to a 1911 in .45 acp. with the the same brand and style of ammo.  The gun is refinished and tuned by David Fink at Gunsite Academy and has a three dot tritium sight set for indoor dim light  like in my house.  It also sports some really nice "double diamond" walnut grips.  It rides in a custom Ted Blocker holster I bought years ago when I had a business in San Dimas, CA, about a half mile from his shop and for a different 1911.

 

I have a lot of other guns but these are the ones I carry in case of unexpected social events requiring a gun.

Edited by Forty Rod SASS 3935
  • Like 3
Posted
2 hours ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said:

<SNIP>

 

I bought a "vampire" shoulder holster (holster is upside down so the muzzle points straight up) for it that is the best holster I could find.  I wish they made them for semi-autos.

 

<SNIP>

Ken Null makes a vertical muzzle up rig for some revolvers and semi-auto's.  I find the plastic strapping a bit of a bother at times, but i might work for you.

 

https://klnullholsters.com/holsters/shoulder-holsters/

 

SC

  • Like 1
Posted
6 minutes ago, ShadowCatcher said:

Ken Null makes a vertical muzzle up rig for some revolvers and semi-auto's.  I find the plastic strapping a bit of a bother at times, but i might work for you.

 

https://klnullholsters.com/holsters/shoulder-holsters/

 

SC

I have no problem with a nylon IWB holster but thanks 

Posted

Given the rampant colt logo on the Pachmayr-like grips I'm assuming they're factory? 

 

I know those grips make it a LOT more pleasant to shoot, but to my eye they make a really nice looking revolver look... I don't know... clunky.

 

I think that nice looking piece deserves a nice set of Goncalo Alves or Cocobolo grips.

  • Like 3
Posted

Color me jealous, exclamation point!

Carried a 3 inch Chief's Airweight as my backup gun all the years I wore a wheel gun as a lawman.

My best friend, rest his soul, worked a local gunshop and got a Dick Special very close to your fine piece's vintage.

You made a good find! Well done indeed!

  • Thanks 2
Posted
26 minutes ago, Stump Water said:

Given the rampant colt logo on the Pachmayr-like grips I'm assuming they're factory? 

 

I know those grips make it a LOT more pleasant to shoot, but to my eye they make a really nice looking revolver look... I don't know... clunky.

 

I think that nice looking piece deserves a nice set of Goncalo Alves or Cocobolo grips.

Not so into how it looks, I’m more interested in how it shoots. Those grips will make it much more comfortable to shoot!

  • Like 2
Posted

Here is the new Colt offering that harkens back to the old Detective Special. 

 

 

Screenshot_20250616_211940_DuckDuckGo.jpg

  • Confused 1
Posted
58 minutes ago, Dantankerous said:

Here is the new Colt offering that harkens back to the old Detective Special. 

 

 

Screenshot_20250616_211940_DuckDuckGo.jpg

Which one is that?

Posted
5 hours ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

Not so into how it looks, I’m more interested in how it shoots. Those grips will make it much more comfortable to shoot!

I think that if it had grips like this it would be okay. 

NRA Gun of the Week: Colt Detective Special

This is one of my Taurus 85s, and these grips are fine. And they're smaller that those Colt Grips.

032-Copy.JPG.87181cf5d8fe5f9a57f8d571e7da78f5.JPG

  • Like 1
Posted (edited)
On 6/17/2025 at 12:00 AM, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

I think that if it had grips like this it would be okay. 

NRA Gun of the Week: Colt Detective Special

This is one of my Taurus 85s, and these grips are fine. And they're smaller that those Colt Grips.

032-Copy.JPG.87181cf5d8fe5f9a57f8d571e7da78f5.JPG

Yea thanks but I like the grips that are on it !

Edited by Rye Miles #13621
Posted (edited)
21 hours ago, Johnny Buck said:

Waiting to get this back From Jim Downing.  This is what he calls in the "white."  ColtDetectiveSpecial.thumb.jpeg.307b9dc1017e5cd315d0aa03b8e1f8f4.jpegBeen 1 1/2 years in the making.  1970s vintage, unfired.  They'll be more pictures when it returns

 

JB

Gorgeous. Love the grip. 
 

Will it remain “in the white”?

Edited by Pat Riot
Posted (edited)

Here’s my Detective Special. It’s the only Colt I ever wanted. 

 

IMG_1912.thumb.jpeg.a74b0e00e2217fbdc761b019ad53281e.jpeg
It was made in 1982 and carried by a Detective Sergeant with the Monterrey County, CA Sheriff’s Dept as his duty weapon. 

Edited by Pat Riot
  • Like 3
Posted

If you look closely at the inside bottom of the grip it’s got a groove for your little finger! Fits perfectly in my hand. 

IMG_0331.jpeg

  • Like 1
Posted

I picked up one of the original ones without the shrouded barrel.  Beautifully refinished by a real pro.

I like playing with it, er, familiarizing myself with, while watching old crime noir films.

C9FED4F6-2665-4CFB-9C25-053CF002D5C7_1_201_a.thumb.jpeg.1e16a6eff277e20f3e15466b5dd53ee6.jpeg

  • Like 2
Posted
1 hour ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

If it works for you then that's all that counts. I was just adding to the conversation.

Yea I get it, sorry if I seemed gruff but I’m old and sometimes cranky🙄🤣

  • Thanks 1
  • Haha 2

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.