Hello and some info....

[Bigcat]

Greetings all from the Peoples Republic of MD. Please don't hold it against me for (still) residing in this bastion of insane liberalism. When the wife retires next year..... we're outta here. Anyway, I have just come into possession of a very nice Colt Officers Model Special in 22LR. The SERNO is: 61XXX. I have estimated this to be a 1950 manufacture date? The revolver has about 85-90% blue still remaining with natural holster wear on the end of the barrel. This gun has definitely been used as the checkered grips (they appear to be original Colt grips) are nicely worn where they should be (palm and finger wear) and with a slightly darker right grip then the left. This I assumed will define a right hand grip shooter. The grip also has what appears to be a very old Pachmayr grip addition that thickens the overall grip. The Pachmayr part is labeled: Pachmayr Gun Works Los Angeles CA. This also adds to the interesting features of this gun. The trigger also has a set-screw device to widen the trigger; again I assume for competition. The rear sight looks different from pictures I have seen of OEM Officer Model Special's; but I can not find any markings on the sight. The front sight appears to be original. It has probably not been fired in many years. I will likely break it down piece at a time this weekend and give it a thorough cleaning and oiling before I take it out and run some 22LR through it. Oh yeah... it also came with a beautifully worn holster in a "yellowish leather with brown trim and a sheeps wool liner. The makers mark is very worn but looks like it says: Bradley Grimes Co. Can I clean the dirt and grit off the holster without lessening the value; or leave the wear (patina) on the leather? I certainly know NOT to touch the bluing on the gun; just oil and wipe only.

Can anyone supply some details about this gun? Was it a target pistol by design? A plinker? And a general value assuming nothing is mechanically broken once I get it open.

I also have a great Colt 1991A1 45ACP semi I bought new in 1991 (and I'm glad I did). The 1991 is my favorite shooter even more than my Sig P226 in 40cal. Thanks in advance for any light you can shed on the revolver.

Best regards............... Bigcat

[Kid Sopris]

Welcome, BUT we have a rule of sorts around here:

[flanman]

Bigcat- Greetings and welcome to our humble abode/forum. Please do not hold anything against my partner KidSorpis I think he is trying to tell you in his own way that a picture is worth a thousand words.
If you could post a pic two things will happen. The members will oogle over your new firearm and they will better be able to inform you about the firearm. I have on more than one occasion thougth I had one thing in a certain condition only to find out I had something else in an entirely different condition.

flanman

PS Kid remember to play nice with the new kids in the sandbox...lol

[A1A]

Welcome to the forum. Your gun appears to date to 1951. 22 caliber Officers Models have their own unique serial number assignments and they are the Officers Model category of Colt Double Action revolvers in the charts at Proofhouse.com. The 61xxx serials begin at 61650 in 1951 and apparently do not run into 1952. The Officers Model Special was made from 1949 through 1952 and was the only Officers Model revolver to have the Coltmaster rear sight and a bull barrel. During this time, the finish was Dual Tone blue in which the flutes and entire strap were matte and the remaining surfaces were polished. Original stocks in that period were Coltwood plastic, so if yours are walnut, they were replaced at some time. It was not unusual as many preferred wood. The Pachmayr adapters were and are a popular addition with the service size stocks. Trigger shoes were a not uncommon after market item for competition. The OMS, like all Colt Officers Models, are a very accurate target gun and were aimed at competition although you are welcome to plink. The 22 caliber Officers Models seem to bring a little premium over the 38s and I would value yours probably in the $500 to $700 range depending on actual condition. Photos would help. An after market rear sight and a trigger shoe may devalue it slightly for some. About the only aftermarket sight I have seen on them is a Micro and they are marked. Your gun should look something like this in original configuration, unless it has the wide spur target hammer which I have since added to this one. The wide spur hammer became available in 1951.

[Colt-SL]

I'll just add my "Welcome to the Forum" too; glad you're here.

[pawncop]

Welcome from Texas Bigcat. Great forum for all things Colt, have fun, learn lots, share what you know.

[Collects]

Welcome to Coltforum, from a former MD resident, now from OH!

[Bigcat]

Thanks all for the warm welcome and great info from A1A. I will take a couple pics in the next day or so and post them ASAP, and promise to not be delinquent in providing pictures with posts in the future Let's call it a "senior moment". hahaha

Pawncop: The Big D is one of the retirement options we are considering. I spent a lot of time in Grand Prairie and Fort Worth for the company I worked for, and close friends in Amarillo. But I'm not sure I'd like the wind and cold up there. hahaha SC and GA are getting some looks at too.


Bigcat

[big_gus]

Welcome to the Forum!

[Bigcat]

OK guys.... herer are some pictures. As you can see the grips appear to be Colt, however not original. Assumption: aftermarket. Also the trigger shoe is attached. As for wear, the pictures are not perfect by any means but there is wear of the bluing on the end of the barrel. This would appear to be from many years of removal from the holster. The holster is made by Beasley and Grimes and the gun slips so easily into it and the snap closes w/o any difficulty it almost seems as the holster was made and sized specifically for this pistol. Also notice the very old Pachmayr grip. I'll get junior to bring his Canon with the big dollar lenses and take some better pictures.

Thanks to all for the great info.

Bigcat