Colt Official Police .38 - The Firearms Forum

Cougarak47 · 03-21-2010, 12:53 PM

I have just purchased a Colt Official Police .38 in above excellant condition. The serial number is 429XXX which according to the Proofhouse website says my Colt is a 1918 Army Special model. From what little research I've done so far I've been told that there was a lot of Colt Army Special model left over from WWI and Colt put O.P. barrels on them and sold them to police depts. can anyone shed some light on this subject for me.No matter which model it is it's in perfect shape. It has a 4" barrel and the old black grips. The gun was sold to me as unfired and it looks like it.Not even a mark on the cylinder. Thanks,Cougarak47

Oneida Steve · 03-21-2010, 04:43 PM

You are correct about the Colt Army Special and the Official Police being the same gun. By the 1920's Colt realized the military wasn't going to buy many revolvers, but police departments would be big buyers.... so the Army Special got a new name.

O.P. revolvers are not scarce, but most have seen some use. One like yours in LN condition is a rare find. Congratulations.

Cougarak47 · 03-21-2010, 05:02 PM

Thanks for the info. I just needed some varification since the serial number didn't match the model.Cougarak47

trapper704 · 03-23-2010, 10:25 PM

nice looking gun. I have the army special nickel, with engraving and the 5 in. bbl in about 90 % cond., tight action and great rifling in 38 special, that I have been thinking about selling. If you don't mind what price range did you get yours for? thanks

Cougarak47 · 03-24-2010, 12:14 PM

I gave $575.00 for mine. That might be a little on the high side as far as cost,but it is in super fine condition. The pictures don't really do it justice. Hope that helps! Cougarak47

Jim K · 03-24-2010, 07:40 PM

I doubt Colt ever thought there was any possibility of military adoption of the "Army Special", it was just a name. They did change the name (1927) to Official Police, which may have sounded better to the law enforcement market. The guns, as noted, were the same.

Since they were the same, parts will interchange and in later years when a Army Special needed a new barrel, Colt or a gunsmith would simply install an OP barrel since Army Special barrels were no longer being made. No mystery, just a rebarrel job sometime in the gun's history.

Jim

Cleatis123 · 04-06-2010, 07:41 PM

I have a 1914 vintage Army Special with a 6" barrel, someone refinished it long ago, much holster wear, but otherwise fine condition, so it has zero collector value. Fine by me, I don't "collect" guns, I accumulate them.

That being said, that old gun, with its heavy trigger, horrible sights and wierd grip is the most accurate gun I have, more so than a Les Baer DCM Hardball, S&W 629DX, Custom Caspian Hi Cap or Ruger Mk III to name a few.

03-21-2010, 12:53 PM	#1
Cougarak47 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 25	Colt Official Police .38 I have just purchased a Colt Official Police .38 in above excellant condition. The serial number is 429XXX which according to the Proofhouse website says my Colt is a 1918 Army Special model. From what little research I've done so far I've been told that there was a lot of Colt Army Special model left over from WWI and Colt put O.P. barrels on them and sold them to police depts. can anyone shed some light on this subject for me.No matter which model it is it's in perfect shape. It has a 4" barrel and the old black grips. The gun was sold to me as unfired and it looks like it.Not even a mark on the cylinder. Thanks,Cougarak47 Attached Images -->

03-21-2010, 04:43 PM	#2
Oneida Steve Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 1,028	Re: Colt Official Police .38 You are correct about the Colt Army Special and the Official Police being the same gun. By the 1920's Colt realized the military wasn't going to buy many revolvers, but police departments would be big buyers.... so the Army Special got a new name. O.P. revolvers are not scarce, but most have seen some use. One like yours in LN condition is a rare find. Congratulations.

03-21-2010, 05:02 PM	#3
Cougarak47 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 25	Re: Colt Official Police .38 Thanks for the info. I just needed some varification since the serial number didn't match the model.Cougarak47

03-23-2010, 10:25 PM	#4
trapper704 Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 5	Re: Colt Official Police .38 nice looking gun. I have the army special nickel, with engraving and the 5 in. bbl in about 90 % cond., tight action and great rifling in 38 special, that I have been thinking about selling. If you don't mind what price range did you get yours for? thanks

03-24-2010, 12:14 PM	#5
Cougarak47 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 25	Re: Colt Official Police .38 I gave $575.00 for mine. That might be a little on the high side as far as cost,but it is in super fine condition. The pictures don't really do it justice. Hope that helps! Cougarak47

03-24-2010, 07:40 PM	#6
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: Colt Official Police .38 I doubt Colt ever thought there was any possibility of military adoption of the "Army Special", it was just a name. They did change the name (1927) to Official Police, which may have sounded better to the law enforcement market. The guns, as noted, were the same. Since they were the same, parts will interchange and in later years when a Army Special needed a new barrel, Colt or a gunsmith would simply install an OP barrel since Army Special barrels were no longer being made. No mystery, just a rebarrel job sometime in the gun's history. Jim Last edited by Jim K; 03-24-2010 at 07:41 PM..

04-06-2010, 07:41 PM	#7
Cleatis123 Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 7	Re: Colt Official Police .38 I have a 1914 vintage Army Special with a 6" barrel, someone refinished it long ago, much holster wear, but otherwise fine condition, so it has zero collector value. Fine by me, I don't "collect" guns, I accumulate them. That being said, that old gun, with its heavy trigger, horrible sights and wierd grip is the most accurate gun I have, more so than a Les Baer DCM Hardball, S&W 629DX, Custom Caspian Hi Cap or Ruger Mk III to name a few.