[KeysMia]

I have a 1977 that is polished blue. serial 985xxM. The parkerized is 1983.

That trio looks awesome!

 

[KeysMia]

She is coming home with me! I’m liking the ugly duckling more and more. She should fit in nicely among my Colt revolvers. Now I’m on the hunt for a nice Colt Lawman Snubby to go with it.

 

[KeysMia]

The grips where in much better than what I thought.

 

[WH1]

Nice looking Agent.

 

[saemetric]

And there was no rampant colt stamped in the sideplate on the park models. Mine is a great carry piece especially with the shroud and Herrett Ace grips & Tyler.

 

[Locktop]

Living in a military town has its benefits, especially the number of pawnshops and the quality of guns within. I picked up this beautiful Colt Agent at a local pawn shop for $175.00. It was definitely one of my better finds.

 

[KeysMia]

That is a nice Agent! For $175, you got a screaming deal! I paid 3 times as that for mine. Jeez!

 

[WH1]

Very nice. That is a great deal.

 

[Locktop]

There is a story that goes with that deal which involved the police and the pawnshop employee. I was totally legal as the purchaser; however, the pawnshop employee found himself in trouble and was fired.

 

[pittpa]

The first ones did have smooth, plain walnut - very utilitarian - but attractive in their own way.

Yup. You ain't a beauty, but hey, you're alright.

 

[andy3921]

From the introduction in 1962 to 1972 the Agent had the standard Colt bright blue/anodized finish.
From 1973 to the end of production the Agent had a matte black finish. During the Colt strike it was a rougher job, but earlier and later it was a better matte black finish.

From the introduction in 1962 to 1972 the Agent had the standard Colt bright blue/anodized finish.
From 1973 to the end of production the Agent had a matte black finish. During the Colt strike it was a rougher job, but earlier and later it was a better matte black finish.

When you look up the Colt Agent, some sources show manufactured started in 1955, others show 1962. Not sure where I got my source but mine SN 51493 LW showed 1956. I wonder why the confusion?

 

[dfariswheel]

Most sources show the Agent beginning production in 1962.
There are questions about that, so its possible the Agent started earlier. This is sort of a Colt gray area.

If 1962 is correct it's possible you have a Cobra that's been rebarreled in the past with an Agent barrel.

 

[KeysMia]

Did all Colt Agents have full underlugs? I thought that was a 2nd or 3rd Gen mod? Kind of like the 1st and 2nd were blued and the 3rds were parkerized.

Researching takes you all over the place.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

Post-'72 Agents had the shrouded ejector rod. Prior to that Agents all had exposed ejector rods. Many post-'72 Agents were blued and anodized blue...the parkerized examples were an '80s thing.

 

[andy3921]

Doing some research, my Agent Letters as one of a 6 gun shipment to Clark Hardware of Nashville TN, dated July 18, 1956. The photo shows my Agent's shortened grip. Colt Fever, Gun Digest and Wiki show the introduction as 1955. Previous threads here in the Forum show a number of other members with Agents starting in 1955 - 60. I don't think this is a Colt grey area, just someone picking up an incorrect 1962 date and it carried on.

Most sources show the Agent beginning production in 1962.
There are questions about that, so its possible the Agent started earlier. This is sort of a Colt gray area.

If 1962 is correct it's possible you have a Cobra that's been rebarreled in the past with an Agent barrel.

 

[dfariswheel]

A Colt Archive letter is the final answer....... looks like the Agent was introduced in the mid-50's and the 1962 date is wrong.

 

[JudgeColt]

The incorrect 1962 Agent introduction date is one of the major errors in "The Book of Colt Fire Arms," from which grew the "Wilson Charts" that continued the error in subsequent Wilson books. The Agent was introduced in 1955. My NIB Agent was build June 11, 1956.

 

[MickeyFrank]

I remember that article; I think it was in Gun Digest, and I remember the title: "Ugly Little Bastard That Shoots!" The reviewer wasn't thrilled with the look of the gun, but felt that it shot as well as any snub out there at the time.

I'm trying to recall where I saw a mid-1980's cover-story magazine-article about a particular black revolver. The magazine recommended the gun for those "on a 'beer drinker's budget.'"

I'm believing the magazine was probably Combat Handguns, and the firearm was probably a Colt Commando, Agent, or a parkerized CA Off Duty. I know this is like looking for a needle in a haystack, but might anyone remember this particular article?

 

[dfariswheel]

I'm no longer sure these guns were parkerized. I'm thinking they might be bead blasted blue.
Colt made a number of flat black pistols like the 1991 Series autos, and those appeared to be a blasted blue finish.

Colt made blasted black revolvers in several models, including the Peacekeeper version of the Trooper Mark V, the Commando Special version of the Detective Special, and the Agent and Cobra.

I've never heard of a Colt model named "CA Off Duty".

 

[MickeyFrank]

Thanks much! Regarding your last sentence, I was referring to a Charter Arms Off Duty. 😄