38 "Dick" Special

[NCPatrolAR]

I located this in a local po-po supply place and decided to bring it home with me.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w167/DefConNC/DSC01702.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w167/DefConNC/DSC01701.jpg


The pistol is a Colt Cobra in .38 Special. Researching the serial number shows that it was built in 1962. I cant wait to get out and put some rounds through this thing.

And yes; I know I'm not to fire +P rounds through it. :)

[signal4l]

Nice score. Good gun. I would have hada tough time leaving that one behind

[NCPatrolAR]

The gun is super light and the action is VERY smooth. I originally toyed with the idea of refinishing the gun, but I dont think I'm going to do that. The gun has a certain level of moxie with the wear marks it has.

[John_Wayne777]

I wish the gunstores around here would have cool stuff like that.

I agree with leaving it as-is. A little wear and tear on a revolver like that is attractive, in my opinion. Of course, I just have a soft spot for old revolvers.

[DrMark]

Very cool - lots of character.

I was looking at a Cobra at the gun show today. Don't remember how much they were asking, but it was a lot.

[NCPatrolAR]

Paid $300 for this one.

[nickdrak]

Nice!!! I have my Grandpa's Cobra that only God knows how old it is. Be prepared to bleed if you plan to shoot more than 20 rounds or so through it. The serrated triggers are a real meat grinder.

Sending mine off to get refinished, getting a smooth/non-serrated trigger along with a trigger job and possibly a bobbed hammer is in the works for mine....

[lindertw]

nice find! I found an Agent in similar (worse?) condition last year and sent her off to Dave Sams for a makeover...

http://mysite.verizon.net/tlinderman/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/agent_3.jpg

you'll enjoy your Cobra!

[Sam]

I didn't know you had it in ya (the taste for the old snub). Congratulations. You need to bring it to GA in October and let me finger her. I had a 90s circa Det. Sp. that I sold, just didn't like the newer ones. Those old ones have character. I have a S&W M10 2" that I picked up for $300. Wanna see it? :)

[TOrrock]

I love the old Colt D frames, espcially the pre-72 guns with the exposed ejector rod.

Nice heater!

Now go watch L.A. Confidential! :cool:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/Tim_Orrock/lacon22.jpg

[Wayne Dobbs]

Those old Colt D-frame .38s are just the best guns out there. They have class and soul and can sure take care of business in the hands of a competent shooter.

I would leave that one as is...it's a been there done that piece.

[jmart]

Nice piece. I love revolvers, but I guess I'm in the minority here, I'd get it refinished. Just a good polishing and re-blueing, in keeping with the period nature of the gun. No need for the latest hi-tech finish. I'd also get an and piece for the ejector rod.

[Wayne Dobbs]

I do have to agree that I would take lindertw's Agent in a New York minute! The thing that I like most about it is the nicely bobbed hammer, which is a task with a Colt (unlike a S&W bob) as it can affect reliability if done incorrectly. I allow NO hammer spurs on carry snubs after knowing of at least one spur nearly costing a good guy I'm aware of his life in a close quarters mess.

[srfl]

I had a pre-72 Detective Special. It had the best and smoothest trigger I've ever felt. But its BC gap was large; each shot peppered me with unburnt powder. Like a moron, I traded it off.

I managed to score a mint post-72 Agent about three years ago for $300.

[lindertw]

numrich has the ejector rod head (http://www.e-gunparts.com/product.asp?chrProductSKU=172880) if you're looking for a replacement. Is it bad that I didn't catch it was missing the first few times I looked at the pics? I was digging the well worn patina :cool:

[batgeek]

first firearm my father passed down to me. i love mine! good score.

[Hersh]

Nice snag on the Cobra! Here's the one I inherited from my uncle complete with factory hammer shroud. I'm glad it's still in the family, but I hated coming by it like I did.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d172/Hershel_Van/cobra1A.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d172/Hershel_Van/cobra2.jpg

[Buckaroo]

Nice snag on the Cobra! Here's the one I inherited from my uncle complete with factory hammer shroud. I'm glad it's still in the family, but I hated coming by it like I did.

Way too cool, sorry too the way it came to be yours.

Buckaroo

[John Fettes]

All I'd add would be a Tyler T-Grip.

John

[Lancelot]

Back in the 80's I had a Colt Detective Special. I really liked it. I'm not sure why I sold it. Probably for a cheap POS S&W auto or some such...

[HolyRoller]

My incumbent BUG went TU--per M4C posting rules, no names or details until it gets back from the factory--so yesterday at the Raleigh gun show I picked up a Colt Agent, Second Series, made about 1970 with the factory shroud. Other than the finish being worn on the right corner of the topstrap, it's nearly new-looking. Cost $495, but since at the same show there was another Agent, Third Series with icky parkerizing for $450, a half-decent Detective Special for $450, and a beat-up DS for $400, not to mention a 2" Diamondback for $1,500, none with hammer shrouds, I couldn't exactly say it was relatively overpriced.

I haven't shot it yet, and I'll need to qualify with it before I can carry it, which I'll do when I switch departments later this month. I'm working on the muscle memory of pulling back on the cylinder latch instead of mashing it forward. Which reminds me, anybody have a preferred technique for working the latch? My BUG is primarily for my left hand, so here's what I'm doing now:

In a two-handed grip with left hand primary, when the revolver goes click, my left index finger reaches up to retract the cylinder latch as my right thumb pushes the cylinder out of the frame. I transfer my right hand to the grip while rotating the muzzle straight up. My left hand moves up and slaps down the ejector rod with the base joint of the index finger--any further over and I'll cover the muzzle. With all brass out, I rotate the muzzle straight down, my left hand cupping under the cylinder, as my right hand goes for the speedloader or Slow Strip, I mean Speed Strip. Once reloaded, my left hand closes the cylinder and I come up in a right-handed grip.

One thing I worry about on Colt revolvers is the rather skinny ejector rod. I have heard of these getting bent under stress and preventing the cylinder from going back in. So I'm carefully working on my muscle memory to keep that from happening.

[Jay Cunningham]

I'm looking to pick up a S&W Model 642 (factory CT Lasergrips):

http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson/upload/images/firearms/163811_large.jpg

Does anyone have experience with someone to do a good trigger job and/or grip texturing?

[lindertw]

Does anyone have experience with someone to do a good trigger job and/or grip texturing?

Dave Sams (http://www.samscustomgunworksusa.com/homepage.html) worked over my Colt Agent and the action is great, I'm sure he'd do well with your Smith. I've read good things about Richard Fletcher (http://www.fletchercustompistols.com/smith_wesson_custom_revolvers.htm) and Gemini Customs (http://www.geminicustoms.com/Revolvers%20&%20Services.htm) revolver work. Mr. Fletcher reworked a Colt Commander for me and I'm very pleased - it just runs & runs...

Not sure I've seen anyone with laser grips that have been textured - be sure to post pics if/when you have it done!

[Jay Cunningham]

Not sure I've seen anyone with laser grips that have been textured - be sure to post pics if/when you have it done!

Depends on how "grippy" they feel - Bowie does nice stippling on the semi-auto M&P and Glock lasergrips.

[RogerinTPA]

Nice score on the revolver! I think the wear gives it more nostalgic look. If it could only talk!;)

[RogerinTPA]

nice find! I found an Agent in similar (worse?) condition last year and sent her off to Dave Sams for a makeover...

http://mysite.verizon.net/tlinderman/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/agent_3.jpg

you'll enjoy your Cobra!

He did an incredible makeover. That thing looks sweet!

[decodeddiesel]

He did an incredible makeover. That thing looks sweet!

Heck yeah is does! That would make an awesome hot weather carry piece!

[whitecoyote]

NCPatrolAR
Cool Colt Cobra! It shows a lot of character. Let us know how it shoots.
I'm sure it has a neat history. If only it could talk.


One of my favorites, a Colt Agent (cir 1968).
http://i31.tinypic.com/34pnawy.jpg

But the Colt Detective Specials are real "Special"!
[cir 1949]
http://i32.tinypic.com/2gwbby9.jpg

Colt Detective Special (cir 1951)
http://i25.tinypic.com/23uwz10.jpg

[Carlos]

Just joined this group and saw your post ref the .38 Colt. I have my dad's 6 in. Colt Trooper issued to him in 60. Not as accurate as the Mod. 19 I carried but just as fun to shoot. I wouldn't do anything to it. The wear tells of its purpose. There's a story behind that gun.
Carlos