Colt Army Special Photo Thread

68080 Views 185 Replies 81 Participants Last post by ArsenalFan, 1 mo ago

Colt-SL

Discussion Starter · Nov 10, 2012 (Edited)

2

I couldn't find a photo thread dedicated specifically to the Army Special. I know how popular they are and how much we love them in all calibers and barrel lengths. So, post 'em if ya got 'em!

This one is a nicely patina'ed 1923 in .38 Special caliber.

Revolver Firearm Gun Trigger Starting pistol

Revolver Firearm Gun Trigger Starting pistol

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JamesK

· #161 · 6 mo ago

Tall said:
If it says "Army Special" it's in 38 Colt Special caliber - not 38 LC. Only the early ones were 38 LC. You can spot them because the barrel has no shoulder and the cylinders have two sets of recesses for the hand and the stop.

Thanks, I was pretty sure it was 38 Special but not familiar enough with this model and the description is not helpful other than its all original and in Fine condition mechanically.
Can you run most standard pressure ammo through it or is it more tuned to black powder cartridges?

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Tall

· #162 · 6 mo ago

JamesK said:
Thanks, I was pretty sure it was 38 Special but not familiar enough with this model and the description is not helpful other than its all original and in Fine condition mechanically.
Can you run most standard pressure ammo through it or is it more tuned to black powder cartridges?

It was made for smokeless rounds. I would avoid the plus P stuff.

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up196

· #163 · 6 mo ago

Tall said:
If it says "Army Special" it's in 38 Colt Special caliber - not 38 LC. Only the early ones were 38 LC. You can spot them because the barrel has no shoulder and the cylinders have two sets of recesses for the hand and the stop.

The "early ones" you describe are the New Army (and New Navy). Those were a completely different design mechanically from the Army Special; even the cylinder turned the opposite direction. The very last of tthe New Army and New Navy revolvers were advertised as chambered for .38 Special, as were all the much improved Army Specials.

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Tall

· #164 · 6 mo ago

up196 said:
The "early ones" you describe are the New Army (and New Navy). Those were a completely different design mechanically from the Army Special; even the cylinder turned the opposite direction. The very last of tthe New Army and New Navy revolvers were advertised as chambered for .38 Special, as were all the much improved Army Specials.

I collect those too - there are other variations beyond the two you mention, but the one JamesK has is the later type that so far as I know was never chambered for the 38 Long Colt cartridge. I believe the cartridges for that design was limited to the 22 S/L/LR, 38 Special, and 41 Long Colt. There are also some few and rare 32 S&W Long versions if you include the Officers Model revolvers. Those are I think labeled 32 Colt New Police.

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up196

· #165 · 6 mo ago (Edited)

Tall said:
I collect those too - there are other variations beyond the two you mention, but the one JamesK has is the later type that so far as I know was never chambered for the 38 Long Colt cartridge. I believe the cartridges for that design was limited to the 22 S/L/LR, 38 Special, and 41 Long Colt. There are also some few and rare 32 S&W Long versions if you include the Officers Model revolvers. Those are I think labeled 32 Colt New Police.

I'm confused by what you are posting. It sounds like you are saying the Army Special is a later version of the New Army. It was not. It was a different design that replaced the New Army, and was made in .32-20, .38 Special and .41 Colt; never in .22 during regular production (1908-1927) as I recall. There were Officers Model versions of both the New Army and the Army Special, but again, two distinct designs mechanically.

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Tall

· #166 · 6 mo ago

up196 said:
I'm confused by what you are posting. It sounds like you are saying the Army Special is a later version of the New Army. It was not. It was a different design that replaced the New Army, and was made in .32-20, .38 Special and .41 Colt; never in .22 during regular production (1908-1927) as I recall. There were Officers Model versions of both the New Army and the Army Special, but again, two distinct designs mechanically.

Not saying that at all. It was made by Colt and the capacity is 6 rounds. Other than that the OP's question - the double action revolver he owns wasn't offered in 38 Long Colt, ever. Only the earlier ones were.

I forgot about 32 WCF and I own one like that!

up196

· #167 · 6 mo ago

Tall said:
Not saying that at all. It was made by Colt and the capacity is 6 rounds. Other than that the OP's question - the double action revolver he owns wasn't offered in 38 Long Colt, ever. Only the earlier ones were.

I forgot about 32 WCF and I own one like that!

Oh OK. So just to clarify, by "earlier ones" you mean New Army and New Navy revolvers, not early production Army Specials, correct?

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Asta

· #168 · 6 mo ago

Air gun Sleeve Trigger Material property Shotgun

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Tall

· #169 · 6 mo ago

up196 said:
Oh OK. So just to clarify, by "earlier ones" you mean New Army and New Navy revolvers, not early production Army Specials, correct?

No the early New Army, New Navy and Marine issue revolvers were also chambered for the 38 Colt and based on the early style Colt DA revolver. There were also Police versions and

up196 said:
Oh OK. So just to clarify, by "earlier ones" you mean New Army and New Navy revolvers, not early production Army Specials, correct?

The early Army, Navy and Marines issue revolvers were built exactly the same as a New Army or New Navy civilian revolver and chambered for the 38 Long Colt. So I am including those early Army, Navy and Marines issue revolvers as being entirely different other than being Colt brand and double action six shooters.

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Tall

· #170 · 6 mo ago

Tall said:
Picked this one up last week. Waiting for it to be delivered.

The USPS lost this one until today it finally showed up. Glad it came, it is phenomenal. There is a black mark around each hole in the cylinder, so it has been fired at least once. There's barely a hint of a turn line. A tiny bit of wear on one side of the muzzle at the tip of the barrel on the LH side. Going to have to try this one at the range soon.

Air gun Trigger Revolver Gun barrel Gun accessory

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22_Matt

· #171 · 6 mo ago

Nice one.

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Scottz63

· #172 · 6 mo ago

Yes, nice one for sure.

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smkummer

· #173 · 6 mo ago (Edited)

So a success story. This 41 army special was offered on gunbroker missing most of the internals including hammer, trigger, sideplate and stocks. But it had a good 5” barrel ( my favorite barrel length for the A/S and official police), and it’s original crane and cylinder with extractor. I told another 41 colt enthusiast on this forum about it and hoped he would bid on it for the starting bid of $200. He wasn’t interested and I have a soft spot for these “pound puppys” that want to get out again. This other forum member supplied me with the internals and they dropped in and functioned perfectly. The hand just needs a bit of stretching to be perfect. I had a pair of chipped A/S stocks on hand and presto! Success. It shoots right to the sights at 22 yards on this 8” metal target. I shot both the older starting load of 3 grains bullseye and Rapines 386185 ( 190 grain hollow base cast bullet) and the max load of 3.5 grains. That doesn’t sound like much difference but it is. But of course I have been shooting so many cowboy loads these days I have probably forgotten what a “normal” load is. My chronograph is broken right now or I would have posted the results. If I did my part either single action or double action, I hit this plate every time. This “pound puppy” is sure wagging its tail!

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Scottz63

· #174 · 6 mo ago

Very nice! Good job bringing it back to life as well. I love doing that and seeing it done.

muddyboot

· #175 · 6 mo ago

Great to see an old Army Special come back to life, the perfect happy ending.

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Tall

· #176 · 3 mo ago

Tall said:
Picked this one up last week. Waiting for it to be delivered.

View attachment 815932

So I bought a box of ammo at a small local gun show a couple weeks ago. I didn't trust it so I pulled the bullets from all 50 rounds and used the box like primed cases. Reloaded all the rounds. Went to the range and they wouldn't chamber because the primers were high. This is a picture of me pulling the live primers with a face shield and hearing protection. None went off but I was ready!

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Fritz111

· #177 · 3 mo ago

3

Mine, just bought today early one made 1914 factory nickle

Revolver Air gun Trigger Wood Gun barrel

Revolver Trigger Air gun Gun barrel Wood

Wood Handwriting Material property Automotive tire Font

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ColtforBob

· #178 · 3 mo ago

Not much into nickel guns myself, but that is a beauty! Enjoy!

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Scottz63

· #179 · 2 mo ago

I like it as well. Nice.

JamesK

· #180 · 1 mo ago

2

Tall said:
If it says "Army Special" it's in 38 Colt Special caliber - not 38 LC. Only the early ones were 38 LC. You can spot them because the barrel has no shoulder and the cylinders have two sets of recesses for the hand and the stop.

When you say '38 Colt Special" is that the same as plain .38 special? Here's another at auction displaying Colt Army Special 38. Not 38 Special?

Revolver Air gun Trigger Gun barrel Wood

Office supplies Cylinder Office equipment Auto part Handwriting

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161 - 180 of 186 Posts