Odd Army Special 32-20 Official Police

4411 Views 23 Replies 14 Participants Last post by chaosrob, Nov 5, 2013

CJS57

Discussion Starter · Jul 15, 2011 (Edited)

Firearm Gun Revolver Trigger Gun accessory

Firearm Gun Revolver Trigger Gun accessory

Revolver Cylinder Muffler Titanium Metal

Metal Steel Fashion accessory

Gun Firearm Shotgun Revolver Trigger

Near mint original blue looks unfired. Odd because 1) it is Army Special barrel on serial 589,xxx gun in the 1935 Official Police range. 2) because it has smooth trigger, cylinder release and sighting grooves. I know the grips are from an earlier gun! I know it should have walnut checkered grips. It is unquestionably Colt blue. It is not refinished (VP, assemblers mark, pony are all stamped over the finished blue). I have found at least 2 other 32-20's with this Army Special barrel in this same 589,xxx serial range. Maybe Colt just used up the remaining barrels right then? What about the smooth parts? Comments appreciated!

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ButchG17

· #2 · Jul 16, 2011

Here's an old thread about my transition OP: http://www.coltforum.com/forums/colt-revolvers/2531-32-20-official-police.html

CJS57

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 16, 2011

Butch, Thanks! But the replies to your situation were about pre-war vs. post-war. My question is why does an Army Special revolver show up in 1935, eight years after this Model was discontinued? The smooth trigger, smooth sighting groove and smooth cyl. release prove it is an Army Special, not just a re-barreled Official Police.

R H Dunn

· #4 · Jul 16, 2011

CJS57.You need a factory letter.If it letters as an army special you have a winner,if not,it's oh well. Bob

Colt75

· #5 · Jul 16, 2011

R H Dunn said:
CJS57.You need a factory letter.If it letters as an army special you have a winner,if not,it's oh well. Bob

"If not" you have a great high condition .32/20 shooter. You win either way. JMHO.

Abe Anglin

· #6 · Jul 16, 2011

CJS57 said:
View attachment 13516 Near mint original blue looks unfired. Odd because 1) it is Army Special barrel on serial 589,xxx gun in the 1935 Official Police range. 2) because it has smooth trigger, cylinder release and sighting grooves. I know the grips are from an earlier gun! I know it should have walnut checkered grips. It is unquestionably Colt blue. It is not refinished (VP, assemblers mark, pony are all stamped over the finished blue). I have found at least 2 other 32-20's with this Army Special barrel in this same 589,xxx serial range. Maybe Colt just used up the remaining barrels right then? What about the smooth parts? Comments appreciated!

this pistol is definitely a transition piece ...... OP frame with the 32-20 Army Special Barrel .... and a fantastic find!

I really hope that it letters "correctly" ..... wish it were mine ... good luck!

GeorgiaBoy

· #7 · Jul 29, 2011

CJS57 said:
Butch, Thanks! But the replies to your situation were about pre-war vs. post-war. My question is why does an Army Special revolver show up in 1935, eight years after this Model was discontinued? The smooth trigger, smooth sighting groove and smooth cyl. release prove it is an Army Special, not just a re-barreled Official Police.

Well now, I also have an old Army Special .32-20 which carries S/N 590xxx. I picked it up from a pawn shop and it has really been beaten up. (I have this addition to "rescueing" old Colt revolvers.) It has a smooth trigger, cylinder release and sighting grooves. It has the "narrow" rear sight and a checkered hammer. The barrel is marked "Colt Army Special .32-20 W.C.F." The last Patent Date mark is "October 5, 1926." She has the hard rubber grips embossed with the word "Colt" and "checkering" that I understand were standard through 1925. Looks like a "twin sister" to the one in CJS57's posted pix except nowhere near as good condition. I was considering doing some restoration work, but did not think the value was worth the expense. This thread has giving me pause to think again about that. I look forward to hearing the results of Colt letter request if you would share with us.

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CJS57

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jul 30, 2011

I was in rehab for a new hip joint, all better now. I will be ordering a Colt letter Monday morning! That is 4 guns now, in that serial range, that I have heard of having the same characteristics. Hmmmmm................ there is a trend here!

CJS57

Discussion Starter · #9 · Oct 26, 2011 (Edited)

Update! It lettered all correct! Even the "rubber" grips were mentioned. Part of a 12 gun shipment to a big hardware store called Beck & Gregg in Atlanta, Georgia. But was ordered through another outfit in Wash. DC, not a Gov't agency though. So all the books are mistaken and the Army Special was continued to be made and shipped until at least October,8, 1936.

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adowns

· #10 · Oct 27, 2011

I have the opposite! A 32-20 Army Special, SN 316492, that has an Official Police barrel.

CJS57

Discussion Starter · #11 · Oct 27, 2011 (Edited)

Not really the opposite of mine! Mine is pure original Army Special all the way, the gun itself and the letter prove that. What is interesting about my gun is that all the books say production stopped around 1928 or so. Now we know they were still being made well into the mid-1930's.

Abe Anglin

· #12 · Oct 27, 2011

CJS57 said:
Update! It lettered all correct! Even the "rubber" grips were mentioned. Part of a 12 gun shipment to a big hardware store in Georgia. But was ordered through another outfit in Wash. DC, not a Gov't agency though. So all the books are mistaken and the Army Special was continued to be made and shipped until at least 1936.

Congratulations! what a find!!

gopguy

· #13 · Oct 27, 2011

CJS57 said:
Update! It lettered all correct! Even the "rubber" grips were mentioned. Part of a 12 gun shipment to a big hardware store called Beck & Gregg in Atlanta, Georgia. But was ordered through another outfit in Wash. DC, not a Gov't agency though. So all the books are mistaken and the Army Special was continued to be made and shipped until at least October,8, 1936.

Wow, that is very cool.

DCWilson

· #14 · Oct 27, 2011

Very nice revolver! And interesting to find evidence that the Army Special designation was still in use into the mid-1930s. Just to exclude the highly improbable: that is a four-inch barrel, right? Not one of the bizarro lengths on some early AS models like 4-1/4 or 4-1/2?

I don't quite understand about the smooth cylinder release. My .32-20 AS from the mid-1920s (521519) has a knurled knob on the release. It does have the smooth trigger and smooth sight channel on the frame (round top and narrow notch, to no one's surprise given its date). The last patent date on the barrel is July 4, 1905. Can someone educate me about the knurled/smooth distinction on the cylinder release?

ADDED: One of the most interesting things about this thread is that you got a Colt letter in less than three months.

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ButchG17

· #15 · Dec 16, 2011

CJS57 said:
Not really the opposite of mine! Mine is pure original Army Special all the way, the gun itself and the letter prove that. What is interesting about my gun is that all the books say production stopped around 1928 or so. Now we know they were still being made well into the mid-1930's.

The letter actually called the gun an Army Special? Neat!

Thing is, as mentioned by others, the frame appears to clearly be an Official Police frame. I'd have to guess that they found some old Army Special barrels and grips and simply decided to use them up......and since the barrel says Army Special on it, it would be hard to call it an Official Police.

Here's a pic of my 1960's vintage OP (on the right) next to my 1920's vintage .32-20 OP with an Army Special frame (and hammer & cylinder latch). Compare them to yours.

An excellent find regardless!

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CJS57

Discussion Starter · #16 · Dec 16, 2011

Help me on the frame differences. I know the Army Special has smooth top frame sighting channel. What else is different? I am talking late pre-war only here in the 1930 range.

Hopalong

· #17 · Nov 3, 2013

I'm pretty sure I have one, too. This is serial number 588003.

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Oyeboten

· #18 · Nov 3, 2013

So...as far as we know so far...these examples of really 'late' Army Specials, occurring well into the 1930s...

Are they limited only to those of the .32-20 Chambering? ( ie: none we know of, in .38 Special or .41 Colt? )

Hopalong

· #19 · Nov 4, 2013

Oyeboten said:
So...as far as we know so far...these examples of really 'late' Army Specials, occurring well into the 1930s...Are they limited only to those of the .32-20 Chambering? ( ie: none we know of, in .38 Special or .41 Colt? )

So far I've only heard of this occurring with 32-20s.

ssgunnip

· #20 · Nov 4, 2013

Another Colt "Parts Cleanup Gun" I assume. Maybe Cam/Coltguy can chime in with his wisdom?

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