Pre-Detective Special
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The term "Pre-Detective Special" is usually used to describe the model that immediately preceded the 2" Detective Special that was first so named in 1927. These models are actually a 2" Police Positive Special and are marked "38 SPECIAL" on one side of the barrel and are blank on the other side with no address line. They also have no checkering on the trigger, smooth sight channel top strap and a narrowed square butte grip frame.
From the pic you supplied, your gun does indeed appear to be a "true" Detective Special model. Can you post the serial number?
First year Detective Specials have a strong following and I would expect yours would sell in the $1000 and $1500 range.
From the pic you supplied, your gun does indeed appear to be a "true" Detective Special model. Can you post the serial number?
First year Detective Specials have a strong following and I would expect yours would sell in the $1000 and $1500 range.
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Give us a serial number range and maybe we can help.
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Not a pre Detective Special, just a nice pre 1934 large square butt Detective Special. The barrel and it's markings are undoubtedly from the Detective Special era, not the pre D.S. era.
Unfortunately, it has some type of non factory/replacement ejector rod knob, but a nice old Colt nevertheless.
Unfortunately, it has some type of non factory/replacement ejector rod knob, but a nice old Colt nevertheless.
Sorry for the late reply guys. The serial number is 359348, I have attached a clearer picture showing the "38 Special" barrel markings. I have a factory letter from Colt somewhere but it has been misplaced during our move. It will turn up shortly. I believe it was manufactured in 1928.
![Revolver Shotgun]()
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That's not the same gun you pictured in the first post.
I probably will offer it for sale here. I am new to selling guns, so I am still working on my photography.
![Firearm Gun Revolver Trigger Starting pistol]()
![Firearm Gun Revolver Trigger Starting pistol]()
![Revolver Gun Trigger]()
I have some other interesting Colts I will be selling, such as a New Service 44 Special from 1916, assorted Cobras and DS models. Here are some more pics I have of the Pre-DS.
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It will be difficult to determine a market value because so few of the PDS's sell, and a lot of the people who own them don't know what they have. I have one, not as nice as yours, that I value at about $1400. Here would be a good place to sell it, since most members would recognize it's rarity, and thus value. Forum rules require that you list a price. I would start at $1500+ and see what happens. You can always lower the price if need be.
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Pic in post 1 was a mistake. See post 8 and 12. He put new pics of the correct gun.
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I believe the "value" could be in the $2500 range, based on this recent GB sale for a high condition example complete with box. It sold for $3525: http://www.gunbroker.com/item/637343770
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Neither gun posted can conclusively be called factory 2"bbl. Police Positive Specials because they both have the wider 1 7/8" square butts, instead of the older narrow 1 9/16" square butts. The butt configuration is just as an important feature as the barrel markings are. The wider square butts were introduced in 1928. The SN quoted by the original poster is also from 1928. Some "Pre Detective Specials" were shipped by the 2nd quarter of 1926 and all of 1927. By 1928, the revolvers had wider square butts and were officially called Detective Specials. They had a serrated matte top strap sight channel, a checkered trigger, the wide square butt, and the iconic pre WWII 38 Detective Special barrel stamping.
I see the barrel would be correct for a factory 2" bbl. Police Positive Special, but it could just be a left over 1927 barrel which Colt used on a first year (1928) Detective Special. If the 2nd gun doesn't have a narrow square butt, a smooth top strap, and smooth trigger, it is not a "Pre" Detective Special despite the correct barrel. We can't see the top strap or the trigger in the pictures. But without seeing them, the barrel marking alone doesn't make the gun a "Pre" or transitional D.S. model. We need pictures of the aforementioned parts and the factory letter.
With the wide butts, I don't think they will have all the correct criteria.
Criteria and dates, etc. are from Gary Peer's excellent " The Colt Double Action Snub-Nose (Pocket) Revolver" book, and my own humble observations collecting these guns over the past 10 years.
As I mentioned earlier in the thread, it's most probably 1st year Detective Special with a year earlier barrel. Still a valuable Colt, but not the same as a "Pre Detective Special" aka factory 2" bbl. Police Positive Special.
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