This early model retained the square butt grip frame of the Police Positive Special.

We've chosen to go with the most common usage of Issues.Īs introduced in 1927 the Detective Special was really nothing more than the Police Positive Special with a 2 inch barrel.

This is an entirely arbitrary system and collectors dispute the division of Issues.Īs example, while the Detective Special as made from 1927 to 1946 is usually referred to as the First Issue, some collectors claim that since from 1927 to 1933 the Detective Special had a square butt and in 1933 it was changed to a round butt, the 1933 to 1946 models should be a Second Issue and the 1927 to 1933 should be the First Issue. Major changes are signified by collectors as 'Issues'. The Detective Special was modified a number or times over the period of production. 'Generation' is a term usually limited to the Colt Single Action Army revolvers, while 'Issue' is used for most other models including the Detective Special. In dealing with Colt firearms the terms 'Generation' or 'Issue' is used. It's always been considered to be the finest 'snubby' revolver. The Detective Special was noted for it's better accuracy and higher quality of fit and finish.

It was compact, powerful, strong, and held six rounds. So popular was the Colt that S&W didn't offer a really competitive gun until the S&W Chief's Special of 1950.įor both police and civilian concealed gun carriers, the Detective Special was the 'Gold Standard' in small defensive revolvers up through the 1960's. It was not unusual in those days for the Detective Special to be as much a badge of office as the actual police badge, and detectives often opened their coat to show the gun to identify themselves instead of showing their badge. The Detective Special became so identified with law enforcement that it was known on the street as 'a cop gun' and anyone carrying it was assumed to be a policeman.

Colt decided that this new version should have it's own name and in a stroke of genius, the gun was named the Colt Detective Special.įor the next 50 years that was exactly what it was: the preferred revolver for police detectives, undercover officers, and off duty policemen.ĭuring those years the vast majority of police officers owned a Colt Detective Special. In 1927 Colt decided to offer the Police Positive Special with a 2 inch barrel. The Police Positive Special was made with a variety of barrel lengths in the early 1900's with the shortest standard length being 4 inches. The Police Positive Special action was made almost unchanged from 1907 to 1995. This was one of Colt's most popular designs and was used for more versions and models than any other Colt double action revolver. In the early 1900's Colt developed a small frame revolver known as the Police Positive Special.

Colt d frame