[smithrjd]

Newbie with a question, not all that familiar with Colt's. LGS has an Officers Model Target 6" that looks interesting. Adjustable front and rear sites. My question is the date of the revolver. They have it as a 1959 model. From the little that I know the Target model stopped around 1950 and became the Special, then the Match. 7803** serial number which does not seem to match well with what I have seen. In research it seems these were always an issue to date as they fell into several categories and model ranges for serial numbers. Is a 1959 Officers Model target real?

 

[smithrjd]

I did do a quick search on the Colt website, and it came up with a couple of possibilities. One was an Officers Model Special. Other were not even related. I do know enough to know this revolver is not a Special and is indeed a Target unless the barrel was changed. It has the early style crane figure 8.

 

[smithrjd]

That is my thought, '49 or '50 It would be a replacement for the '52 Officers Model Match that I should never have sold.. To me they are priced High at $650 but they will deal. Pachmeyers, and no original grips good lockup and timing blueing has some wear. It is a .38 Special and is so marked.

 

[smithrjd]

It does have the adjustable front sight with no real ramp. Adjust screw, lock screw. Rear sight is the same, but for windage with a marker of hash lines for adjustment. Figure eight crane lock. I will look at it again tomorrow and perhaps purchase it. I do not remember all the roll marks, but the barrel is marked Officers Model target. It is a 6" 38 special.

 

[smithrjd]

Well I went back to the LGS today and looked it over. I guess I looked at to many the other day.. It does not have the early crane lock, It is a single screw. The backstrap and trigger were serrated and not checkered. The barrel and sites however were Officers Model Ttarget and roll marked as such. No idea, a transitional? At any rate it is on consignment for $650 and think I will pass.