Well used Colt Officer's Model has been passed down the line

Gun Watch ^ | 26 May, 2015 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

My father had a Colt officers model .38 for many years.  I first remember it being in the house about 1960 or so, but he likely had it well before that.  I recall shooting it as a child, and thinking that it was powerful, and loud.  My brother was given the pistol; I did not feel slighted, as there were plenty of guns to go around.  One of the interactions that I had with the old Colt was when it was impounded when my brother got into some legal difficulties.

The Colt was sent to the Crime Lab in Madison, Wisconsin.   I was going to graduate school in Madison at the time.   My father still owned the pistol, and he asked if there was anything I could do to check on it.    I made a visit to the Crime Lab and inquired as to what the status of the revolver was.  They asked if I was a lawyer.  I said that I had studied the law a bit (which was true).   A couple of weeks later, the pistol was back in my father's possession (about 300 miles away).

Now several decades later, the revolver has been refinished.  Perhaps it had picked up some rust, I never understood the reason for the refinish.  I recall it being in better shape, but a lot can happen in 40 years.

It has been passed on to the next generation.    I know that there are experts who can give me an idea of some of the quirks of the pistol.   I do not have a serial number.

Is the cylinder pin/ejector rod standard?   Examples that I have seen have a different end shape, that is not as broad as this one.

The cylinder latch is different than most Officer models that I have seen.  Was it a substitute, or an older version?   Maybe it was an economy measure during WWII?

While the pistol has considerable sentimental value to the younger set, the finish has been rather beat up, and the refinish job left much to be desired.

When I took the pictures, it still locked up tight, but the double action trigger was a bit stiffer than the Smith & Wesson models that I have become accustomed to.   The single action pull was delightful.

I always liked the sight adjustment system on these guns, even if the notch and bead were very fine, smaller than what I now prefer.


©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch 

Update: I am told that my Grandfather traded for the pistol, sometime between 1905 and 1950....  might have been in the 20's.   That would mean that the Colt has been in the family for five generations.  I also recall a very nice walnut ammuntion box that went with the gun.  It held 50 or 60 rounds in individual holes, with brass fixtures for the lid.  I do not know what happened to it. 

[marktwain]

I have always prefered the long barrelled revolvers, even though they are more difficult to conceal. Six inches seems a very nice length for a revolver barrel.

[marktwain]

Ping on an Officers Model Colt.

[Lazamataz]

Are you Dean Weingarten? If you are, can we become family?

[yarddog]

I don’t know much about that model but I had a Colt DA Navy .38 which was made in the late 1800s and it had a cylinder latch which was similar to that one.

Makes me think it is probably an old gun.

[Tijeras_Slim]

That is the earliest example I have seen. The one I posted is sometimes referred to as "2nd Change". Yours has the cylinder latch of pre-1920's guns like the 1917.

The grips are apparently original like the ones in this photo.

Also curiously, yours looks to be chambered in .38 Colt, not .38 Special (like every other one I've seen). That would also point to it being an early gun, as the .38 Special dates to 1899 (IIRC). The picture should also help in answering your query about the ejector rod.

This is clearly a pre-WWI gun IMO. It even looks like the one on my Great Grandfather's NJ National Guard Pistol Marksmanship medal, which dates to 1909-1912. Thank you for sharing.

[Monterrosa-24]

I like long tubes too but sometimes the snubbies can be mighty fine.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Due to the popularity of Cowboy Shooting, .38 Long Colt (which was Army issue from 1892 until 1909) is commercially available, and not too pricey, considering.

http://www.midwayusa.com/find?dimensionids=10068

Your gun may chamber .38 Special (some Long Colt guns can), but firing such is a risky proposition.

[marktwain]

I recall the cartridges that were kept with the revolver were wadcutter rounds that were seated nearly flush with the case mouth. Probably a mild load. I doubt that the revolver has had more than a few hundred rounds fired through it. It simply was not shot much. The action and barrel are in excellent condition.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Wadcutters would likely have been .38 Special, but as you said, mild.

Interesting thread on THR about this.

http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-567258.html

[marktwain]

I like the snubbies as well... but I like the long barrelled ones better.

[Tijeras_Slim]

The DS is my favorite snubby, thanks for reminding me what an idiot I was for selling the one I had. ;)

[Farmer Dean]

I have the same gun.It’s my back-up gun on an ankle holster.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Is it in Colt .38 long or S&W .38 special?

[riverrunner]

My colt book shows a page from a 1905 catalog showing it was offered in 38 colt and 38 spl. at that time.

There was a 38 colt short 38 colt long and then 38 S@W spl

Then to confuse things more the 38 S@W that has a bit different case Dia.

[gunsmithkat]

It appears to be a first series Officers Model. This model is interesting because it has the cover plate on the right side of the gun, unlike the later models which are all on the left. Also it rotates counter-clockwise while modern Colts revolve clockwise.

[Tijeras_Slim]

The .38 Short Colt is the .361 as well as the .38 S&W. Colt also made the .38 New Police later, which was a .38 S&W clone.

[Yardstick]

I agree a six inch barrel looks great on a revolver. I’m looking to buy a S&W model 66 and my struggle is between a four or six inch barrel.

[Kickass Conservative]

I’ve had my S&W Model 29 for Decades. 6-1/2” Barrel, 44 Mag.

My favorite Pistol. Grip is just right for my hand and it is pretty accurate, though I’m no Dirty Harry. LOL

IMHO - Short Barrel if you Carry, Long Barrel for Fun.

[Yardstick]

I hear you. This gun will probably be for fun and to sit on the night stand, which points towards six inch.

[marktwain]

No problem with a six inch for carry, if you do not need to conceal it.