Square butt DS Question

I was informed by more erudite collectors than I that a T denotes the gun was target regulated at the factory. Either by the customer's request, or in the case of certain target models, as standard procedure.

I've never heard of a target model DS.

I do know that the pistol is EXTREMELY tight and the cylinder to barrel mating is so tight that you cannot see light when a flashlight is held behind it.

I didn't say it was a "target" model Detective Special. A customer could request that any gun in the Colt line be target regulated via a special order. It didn't have to be a target model.

But I am pretty sure all target models were target regulated as a standard procedure.

Does that add any value to a DS?

For what it's worth, I have quite a few pre-war Detective Specials. All of them have the "T" stamp. In fact, I don't think I have ever seen a pre-war DS without the stamp. I have also read and heard the assertion that the marking means that the gun was "targeted" but I have never seen any evidence to support it.

If anyone has a pre-war DS without the "T" stamp, please let us know.

Haha... Man! I thought for a second there that I had a real rare goose. Ah well...

Where on the crane? Mine doesn't seem to have a T stamp. It's got a serial number and below that what looks like a 7. It's a capital T? Mine is one of those with the prewar features (double screw, half-moon sight sans ramp, etc.), but IIRC it lettered to 1947. Is it possible the T was applied just before a gun left the factory but the practice was discontinued after the war? Was it applied only to square-butt models? FWIW, the 7 is on both the crane and the frame. Maybe it just looks like a 7 and it's really a T, but the vertical line is curved. Hmmm.

I checked mine, a 1930 square butt and a 1933 round butt and both of them have a "T" stamped above the serial number.

I also checked my 1927 Police Positive Special 2" (lettered as such) which also has what looks like a "T" that was stamped a bit high so only the vertical part of the "T" is clear.

bayouboy said:

For what it's worth, I have quite a few pre-war Detective Specials. All of them have the "T" stamp. In fact, I don't think I have ever seen a pre-war DS without the stamp. I have also read and heard the assertion that the marking means that the gun was "targeted" but I have never seen any evidence to support it.

If anyone has a pre-war DS without the "T" stamp, please let us know.

Click to expand...

I am going to have to check my only pre war DS today, Rich. I'll get back to you.

1931 DS has the "T"
1933 DS has the "T"
1938 DS no "T"
1928 Pocket Positive no "T"
1931 Bankers no "T"

It appears this was an early DS and police positive marking

My 1944 Army Intel. Detective Special (1941 serial number frame) has an M and and L stamped into the crane recess in the frame. No T.

Malysh said:

My 1944 Army Intel. Detective Special (1941 serial number frame) has an M and and L stamped into the crane recess in the frame. No T.

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Mike, I thought about your gun after I posted my reply. The square butt military guns are a breed of their own. I have always thought they were produced on Police Positive Special frames since, at that time, the PPS still retained the square butt frame. That could explain the different markings. Also, assuming these are simply inspection marks and not a reference to "targeting", Colt may have used a particular inspector or inspectors because of the military contract and/or destination.

Another one of these Colt mysteries!

I agree. They were a special order of about 5,000 guns. It would only make sense it was filled with PPS frames. They are identical frames to begin with except to point out that the PPS was the "parent" gun, so to speak.

I wonder about the meaning of the "T." I checked every Colt revolver I have of all frame sizes, and the only one with a "T" is a Mid-1930s Official Police that letters as having an "adjusted pull." (I doubt that there is a connection there, but I mention it for what it is worth.) Even my targets model revolvers (Officers Models, Police Positive Targets, Shooting Masters, New Service Targets, etc.) do not have the "T," and one would think that if any would, the target models would.

All of this is migh-T-y puzzling!

JudgeColt said:

I wonder about the meaning of the "T." I checked every Colt revolver I have of all frame sizes, and the only one with a "T" is a Mid-1930s Official Police that letters as having an "adjusted pull." (I doubt that there is a connection there, but I mention it for what it is worth.) Even my targets model revolvers (Officers Models, Police Positive Targets, Shooting Masters, New Service Targets, etc.) do not have the "T," and one would think that if any would, the target models would.

All of this is migh-T-y puzzling!

Click to expand...

I am beginning to think a T is just another assembler or inspector marking and has no proven basis as denoted as target regulation.
We need Cam and a few other of you salty advanced collectors to eyeball any of your pre war Colt revolvers, including the DS.

My understanding of the T for targeting means on fixed sight guns that the factory took some extra time to regulate the sights to point of aim. This would not be necessary on guns with adjustable sights such as target guns and those like Troopers etc. On a DS or an Official Police or other fixed sight gun the extra care for targeting makes sense.

Food for thought . . .

I have a late (1927) vintage 4" Army Special in nearly new condition that has the "T" marking. When I got it, it shot very tight groups, but all off to the left by inches even at relatively close targets. After a lot of figuring, we realized the front sight was off because the barrel needed to be screwed in just a bit more than it was to bring the front sight to top center. We did that and the gun started to shoot to point of aim. So much for that one being "targeted" at the factory!