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Post by uncleed on Jul 11, 2017 17:48:07 GMT -5
I recently purchased a Colt Official Police in .38 Special.
If you like the Python action, this could be the revolver for you without the Python prices.
OK, it's .38 Special but it could handle the Heavy Duty .38/44 Special which was designed
for the N frame Smith & Wesson Heavy Duty. The .38/44 Special by the way was a
cartridge with a 158 grain bullet propelled to 1,125 feet a second.
The OP is I believe the "father" of the Python which has the same frame just as the S&W HD
was the "father" for the .357 N-frame Magnum in 1935.
.
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Post by CXM on Jul 12, 2017 7:35:01 GMT -5
The Official Police was/is a fine revolver and as you say has the Colt's trigger pull... These days the problem you encounter with all Colt's revolvers is maintenance... Colt's double action revolvers get out of timing much easier than do S&W revolvers... Now, timing is not really hard to adjust, but there are very few people left who know how to time a Colt's DA revolver. The other issue is parts... Colt's does not make parts for these guns... It is a shame Colt's dropped these fine revolvers... it was a serious loss to the shooting community... Colt's also had a really lovely blue finish in the old days... another loss to us all. FWIW Chuck I recently purchased a Colt Official Police in .38 Special. If you like the Python action, this could be the revolver for you without the Python prices. OK, it's .38 Special but it could handle the Heavy Duty .38/44 Special which was designed for the N frame Smith & Wesson Heavy Duty. The .38/44 Special by the way was a cartridge with a 158 grain bullet propelled to 1,125 feet a second. The OP is I believe the "father" of the Python which has the same frame just as the S&W HD was the "father" for the .357 N-frame Magnum in 1935. . |
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Post by ranger566 on Jul 12, 2017 13:37:08 GMT -5
Enjoyed your post, uncleed.
About 5 years ago I picked up a couple of old Colt revolvers in really great shape. Both are safe queens.
***The first one is a 1922 Colt Army Special 5" in .38 cal. It hit the market in 1908, and had a run until 1927, when they added a few upgrades and re-tagged it as the Official Police. It's got the correct hard rubber grips in excellent+ shape. While doing some research on the it, I ran across this: "The highest priced piece of gangster John Dillinger's memorabilia is a Colt Army Special revolver, used by an east Chicago Police Captain to fatally shoot the gangster in 1934. It sold in 2009 for an astonishing $95,600.00". (I have no idea if that's true or not).
**The second one is a 1930 Officers Target 6" in .22 cal. It's got the correct hard wood original grips, also in excellent+ condition. Apparently this was a very popular target pistol with the Law Enforcement community.
Steve
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Post by trooper on Jul 12, 2017 15:06:06 GMT -5
The precursor to the Official Police: The Army Special.   Colt originally introduced this revolver hoping for a military contract, hence the name. However, by that time the military was set on a new semi-automatic pistol and sales didn't materialize. The gun was renamed The Official Police and went onto great success. This example was manufactured in 1919. |
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Post by ranger566 on Jul 12, 2017 17:23:12 GMT -5
^^^^^
Yep-----that's it, Trooper. A twin brother to mine. The grips on mine look just like yours, but I think the overall condition of yours is better than mine. Mine has a very small rust spot on the top strap, and some minor surface freckling in a few spots.
Beautiful pistol, and great pictures. Good snag.
Have you shot yours?
Steve |
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Post by trooper on Jul 12, 2017 18:04:06 GMT -5
^^^^^
Yep-----that's it, Trooper. A twin brother to mine. The grips on mine look just like yours, but I think the overall condition of yours is better than mine. Mine has a very small rust spot on the top strap, and some minor surface freckling in a few spots.
Beautiful pistol, and great pictures. Good snag.
Have you shot yours?
Steve I've shot it once and it's a nail driver. However, I need to get another set of grips before I shoot it any more. These old rubber grips get very brittle with age and they crack easily. The condition of the grips was one of the things that caught my eye about this one and I'd hate to damage them. A set of replica grips are easy enough to obtain, I just haven't gotten around to it. |
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Post by Carolinaman on Jul 13, 2017 8:19:57 GMT -5
Hello,
I owned one OP over the years that came with the NYCPD engraving on the backstrap and the original issued clam shell holster. I can't remember why I exactly traded/sold the revolver, but darn; it was a nice one!
Another for the book of tears!
Chris
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