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Colt Official Police

4.5K views 14 replies 6 participants last post by  Swag01  
#1 ·
I have the chance to buy later today a Colt Official Police revolver, serial #625XXX, which is clearly marked on the barrel: "Colt Official Police, 32 CTG, Heavy Barrel." I have looked thru a few books that I have on Colt Firearms, and none of them indicate the Official Police was ever made in 32 caliber; they do say that a few of the first ones were 32-20. The revolver is in excellent condition, both mechanically and cosmetically. It has a Micro adjustable rear site, a tall front site that is pinned in, and large non factory wood target grips. I don't have any pictures of it but I looked at it several days ago. So, my question would be is this a rare version, being in 32 caliber or am I missing something. Thanks for help.
 
#3 · (Edited)
"There she blows"...
The Official Police is a fixed sight revolver and does not have a "Micro adjustable rear sight" or "tall front pinned sight". Must be some other model revolver. The Officer's model fits your description and was offered in .32, but the serial number range does not extend as high as 625xxx. Here's what the sights on ALL Official Police models should look like (Pre-War and then Post-War):
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Here is a Pre-War Officers Model with adjustable sights:
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#4 · (Edited)
I'm quite puzzled by your description. Pics would be VERY helpful. The "Micro adjustable rear sight" sounds like a Post-War feature. The barrel stamping of "Colt Official Police, 32 CTG, Heavy Barrel" sounds very much like a correct stamping except for the caliber. The Pre-War "Colt Official Police 38 Heavy Barrel" is a relatively common model but only in .38 Special (as far as I know)...
 
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#6 ·
I have the chance to buy later today a Colt Official Police revolver, serial #625XXX, which is clearly marked on the barrel: "Colt Official Police, 32 CTG, Heavy Barrel." ....
If it is indeed an OP, the serial would put it in the 1930s. To my knowledge Colt did not use the CTG until after WW II. Does anybody have a pre-war Colt that uses the CTG on the barrel? Certainly not the Official Police, neither Heavy Barrel nor standard.
 
#7 · (Edited)
There was a run of Pre-War .32 Officers Model with heavy barrel made around 1939/1940. I believe they were a special order contract of around 1000 guns that was later cancelled. I've seen several that remain in "NIB" condition. This must be the model the OP is referring to. The serial number of the example pictured below is also in the same range (656579).
725583
 
#8 ·
Ok. Just got home after purchasing the Colt revolver. I initially read the barrel wrong as "Official Police." As you can see from the pictures (I hope), the barrel reads "Officers Model 32 Police CTG" and under that "Heavy Barrel." I purchased the gun from Logan Clark, Clark Custom Guns, Princeton, Louisiana, who is the son of Jim Clark, Jr. and the grandson of James E. Clark, the noted Shreveport pistolsmith. Logan said that they are selling some of his dad's and grandfather's guns, and this one that was one owned by his grandfather, James E. Clark. Sorry for the confusion but when you get older, you are not as sharp anymore. I now own a Smith and Wesson Model 14 .38 special revolver that belonged to Jim Clark, Jr. and this one that belonged to his father. I consider them to be an important part of firearms history and am
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very fortunate to be able to get them. If more pictures are needed, please advise. Thanks for your interest in this.
 
#9 ·
Very nice!!
My main collecting and shooting interest is in bullseye firearms. That one is really neat! The provenance is awesome. I love the cockeyed hammer! I'm sure its a wonderful shooter and I would be extremely happy if that one was in my collection. Well done!!
Let's see the S&W Target Masterpiece.
 
#10 ·
Here is the S&W Model 14 that Jim Clark, Jr. sold me in April, 2015; he passed away in December, 2015. Jim did the action job on it himself and converted it to double action only with a fiber optic front site. The double action pull is seven pounds and incredibly smooth. I especially like the old school Herrett stocks. He said that he used this revolver in several matches that he competed in in the late 1980's into
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1990.
 
#12 ·
The gun was originally an Officers Model Target, and had the Micro rear sight, modified front sight blade and cockeyed hammer added. I'm not familiar enough with the barrel markings on those guns nor does my reference library have enough details to know if the caliber marking .32 POLICE CTG is correct for the era of the frame. It is different from the markings on the barrel of the gun that Snakeman99 posted. But given that the sales of OMT's in .32 caliber must have been very low, the barrel may have been from an earlier era and laying around in a parts bin.
I think I would letter that one. The fact that it was modified by Clark adds to its provenance.
 
#13 ·
Knowing Jim Clark the way I did, it would not have been out of the ordinary for him to test several barrels and put the most accurate one on the gun. His dominance in several pistol matches that he competed in until 1975 is legendary. So, it would only have made good sense that he would want the most accurate barrel. The S&W Model 14 that I bought from Jim Jr. did not have the original barrel. He said that he had a bin full of 6" K frame barrels and he tried several on the gun until he got the one that was most accurate. Jim Jr was no slouch is matches also! I will eventually get a letter on the gun. Thanks for your input.
 
#14 ·
There should be a "Bullseye" gun Sub-Forum....
A little off the topic but I always like to share my 2 Clark Custom pistols.
Colt .38 Special Kit pistol assembled by Clark Custom in 1966 as their Model 61S

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Colt Government Model .45ACP built into a Clark Long Heavy Slide .45 in 1978
(Note the address on the pouch. The printer spelled Keithville wrong)

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#15 ·
Beautiful Clark 1911's!! I have a 1961 Colt AMU .38 pistol that Jim Clark, Sr. accurized in October, 1961, to shoot 38 wadcutters. I have the same pouch as yours with the misspelled Keithville, but mine is brown. Thanks for showing. I enjoyed seeing them.
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