When did the 'Detective Special' begin?
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Yes, there are well-known "Pre-Detective Special" 2-inch revolvers based on the Police Positive Special (but NOT so marked), and several forum members have examples. The revolvers were introduced in 1926 with the early-style small butt frame, but have 1928 range serial numbers. They generally letter as being shipped in 1926. There are several threads that address the revolvers in detail. It is interesting to note that the guns have wood stocks, when hard rubber was the standard stock material on the Police Positive Special when the guns were made.
Mine letters as a Police Positive Special, even though it is not so marked, and many of the later letters on these guns are headed "Detective Special," which is totally incorrect because the Detective Special name did not exist until 1928. I speculate that people request a letter for what they identify as a "Detective Special," thinking that must be what it is because it looks like one. The historian then issues a letter for a "Detective Special" shipped in 1926 when the name did not exist until 1928. Unfortunately, such errors are too common with letters.
A forum member has a boxed example and the box end label identifies the box contents as a "2-inch Police Positive Special." Other than not being stamped as such on the barrel, that is what the guns are. The ONLY marking on the guns is "38 SPECIAL" stamped on the barrels, and the stampings generally look hand-stamped since they are often just a little too crude to be a roll stamp.
Mine letters as a Police Positive Special, even though it is not so marked, and many of the later letters on these guns are headed "Detective Special," which is totally incorrect because the Detective Special name did not exist until 1928. I speculate that people request a letter for what they identify as a "Detective Special," thinking that must be what it is because it looks like one. The historian then issues a letter for a "Detective Special" shipped in 1926 when the name did not exist until 1928. Unfortunately, such errors are too common with letters.
A forum member has a boxed example and the box end label identifies the box contents as a "2-inch Police Positive Special." Other than not being stamped as such on the barrel, that is what the guns are. The ONLY marking on the guns is "38 SPECIAL" stamped on the barrels, and the stampings generally look hand-stamped since they are often just a little too crude to be a roll stamp.
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12,840 Posts
Thank you Judge Colt!
Very interesting.
Now I can have a better idea of what I am looking at if finding examples of this era.
Was the 'Detective Special' only offered in .38 Special? Or was it also offered in .38 NP, and or .32 or .22?
If I recall correctly? - the 'Banker's Special' was about the same thing as a 'Police Positive', or was in essense, a 'Police Positive', but not a 'Police Positive Special', and, was a 2 inch Barrel, and or also, available in .32 or .22...but, not offered in .38 Special.
Thus leading to the question, of, if the early or pre-Detective Specials were offered in .32 or .22 Calibre, did they do so with the same size Cylinder, as they would have had, if being in .38 Special?
While the 'Banker's Special' would have had the shorter Cylinder associated with the .38 NP Cartridge?
Very interesting.
Now I can have a better idea of what I am looking at if finding examples of this era.
Was the 'Detective Special' only offered in .38 Special? Or was it also offered in .38 NP, and or .32 or .22?
If I recall correctly? - the 'Banker's Special' was about the same thing as a 'Police Positive', or was in essense, a 'Police Positive', but not a 'Police Positive Special', and, was a 2 inch Barrel, and or also, available in .32 or .22...but, not offered in .38 Special.
Thus leading to the question, of, if the early or pre-Detective Specials were offered in .32 or .22 Calibre, did they do so with the same size Cylinder, as they would have had, if being in .38 Special?
While the 'Banker's Special' would have had the shorter Cylinder associated with the .38 NP Cartridge?
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10,725 Posts
This is one of my favorite threads regarding a very cool pre-detective that I would love to own:
http://www.coltforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18203&highlight=peter+frantzius
There's a little more info here and more pics:
http://www.coltforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33578
http://www.coltforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18203&highlight=peter+frantzius
There's a little more info here and more pics:
http://www.coltforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33578
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8,596 Posts
Your almost correct. The Detective Special (Police Positive Special) had the longer cylinder and was only offered in .38 Special. The Bankers Special (Police Positive) had the shorter cylinder and was offered in .38 NP and .22 caliber but not in .32.
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12,840 Posts
Thanks twaits, definitely some nice examples of the early ones in that Thread.
Thanks thecoltguy, I think I have a good over-view now.
The Police Positive Special short Barrel, or it's successor, the Detective Special, are very appealing.
I suppose in their day, or for quite a few decades, they were the most powerful-smallest 'package' one could have.
Thanks thecoltguy, I think I have a good over-view now.
The Police Positive Special short Barrel, or it's successor, the Detective Special, are very appealing.
I suppose in their day, or for quite a few decades, they were the most powerful-smallest 'package' one could have.
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