[lifesizepotato]

A very general question, perhaps. What pre-war Colt is usually considered by aficionados to be the most premium? I'm talking about the most care given to the build, construction and materials, fit/finish, accuracy, factory trigger tuning, etc. Essentially, which specific models are the Triple Lock Target, Registered Magnum or Python of the pre-war Colts, in any caliber? Officer's Model Target, maybe?

Edit: And I don't necessarily mean "most desirable" or "rarest." Just the most prestigious, best made, all that. Also, I think I'm mostly interested in the years between 1910-1940.

 

[big_gus]

I guess this depends mostly on the person and variables like the what they like/personal experience/etc., but I would guess the Shooting Master. My personal favorite is the "3rd Series" Pre-war Officer's Model.

 

[ssgunnip]

The Shooting Master!

 

[skilled]

Yep.. Shooting Master for sure.

 

[lifesizepotato]

Sounds like there's a unanimous consensus building...That's what I was hoping for.

 

[dfariswheel]

I'd go with both the New Service based Shooting Master and the Officer's Model Target.
Both were Colt's premium Target revolvers and both were built to Colt's highest standards of the day.

 

[JudgeColt]

The Shooting Master was the most expensive Pre-war revolver. That makes it the "Premium" Pre-War Colt revolver by default, does it not?

In 1936, the Officers Model Target list price was a mere $40.75, while the New Service Target listed for $50.00 and the Shooting Master topped out at a whopping $52.50. For comparison, the National Match and Super Match listed at $44.25 with adjustable sights, and only $40.75 with fixed sights.

 

[Oyeboten]

The two which come to my mind first, as above, would be the New Service 'Shooting Master', or really any New Service Target Models, and, the 'Officers Model' Target versions of the Army Special.

Probably too, with these, would be the Police Positive Target Models as well, of course.

But musing on this a moment longer, I think we would have to include the Target version the Colt SAA and of the SAA Bisley Model, also!

As for overall Fit & Finish and 'Quality' of these various ones, I am sure, they were all on par.

 

[John Fugate]

The shooting master was and still is the Cadillac,, hands down.

 

[JudgeColt]

"Pre-War" is generally considered to mean the time between the two world wars, but surely not before 1910. The Single Action Army Target and the Bisley were not made "Pre-War." (Yes, I know that the Bisley was made until 1912, so I am stretching the 1910 limit a bit.) The Police Positive Target" was only $30.00 in 1936, so, in my opinion, it is far from being the "Most premium Colt Pre-War Revolver." There can only be one "most premium." That has to be the Shooting Master.

 

[CJS57]

 

[greekgeek]

having recently acquired a Shooting Master I will say that I am very impressed with the quality of the fit & finish, would be difficult to top.

 

[MtnSpur]

I'd go with both the New Service based Shooting Master and the Officer's Model Target.
Both were Colt's premium Target revolvers and both were built to Colt's highest standards of the day.

I'll side with "the wheel" though I find the New Service and the New Service Shooting Master almost redundant except for barrel length, so I'll slightly deviate with the New Service .45COLT over the .45ACP (personal preference) and the Officers Model Target. I find the OMT action to be one of the best I've experienced. Pre-war Colt DA swing out cylinder revolvers are in a class by themselves and it's so very difficult to side with one over the other, though we manage to maintain favorites.

 

[jbs4570]

Shooting Master, Officers Model Target, New Police Target .32 and Police Positive .22 Model G. In no certain order. Thanks, Joe

 

[skilled]

IMO ( as stated before) the shooting master is on the top of the OMT, OMM , PPT and we are just splitting here hairs really.

 

[weagle99]

the Shooting Master topped out at a whopping $52.50.

According to an inflation calculator I referenced using data from Oregon State University, $52.50 in 1936 = $890 today.

 

[dfariswheel]

I'm not all that familiar with the Shooting Master since they just didn't come across the bench.

Considering that they cost $10.00 more then the Officer's Model Target, does anyone know WHY. Was it fit and finish, or features the OMT didn't have?

 

[JudgeColt]

I move that all responses mentioning more than one revolver be stricken as nonresponsive.

This thread is entitled "Most "premium" pre-war Colt revolver?" It is not entitled "Name several nice Colt revolvers." "Revolver" is singular. "Most premium" is not "more premium." "Most" is absolute. That means there can be only ONE "most." "Premium" can mean "most expensive" or "best." There is no Pre-War Colt revolver more expensive than the Shooting Master. It therefore meets the first qualification.

Colt catalogs describe the Shooting Master this way: "It is a de luxe product of Colt ingenuity and Colt craftsmanship - and stands out as the finest and most accurate target Revolver yet produced." "Finest and most accurate" certainly qualifies as "best." Even the box is a special "premium" box, different from every other Pre-War Colt box.

I rest my case.

 

[Collects]

Objection overruled!

[I always wanted to say that to a Judge!]

 

[lifesizepotato]

Exactly what I was going for, Your Honor.