Description
Item Description
This Colt Detective Special Revolver is further distinguished by its documented shipment to the United States Government, consigned to a Commanding Officer during the Vietnam War era—an association that significantly enhances both its historical importance and collector appeal. Examples from this period were issued for official use and typically saw regular service, making high-condition survivors increasingly difficult to find. As a result, revolvers of this type and provenance rarely surface on the open market, particularly with strong original finish and overall preservation. From a collector’s standpoint, the combination of government contract shipment, Vietnam-era usage, and high-condition originality places this example into a highly desirable category. Colt military and government-associated revolvers have long been sought after, but examples that bridge official use with strong condition are especially scarce. This revolver represents a compelling opportunity for advanced collectors seeking a documented U.S. Government-issued Colt with both historical significance and exceptional preservation.
According to the Colt Factory Archives Letter, this example is documented as a Colt Detective Special Revolver, serial number B03335, chambered in .38 Special with a 2" barrel, finished in blue and fitted with checkered walnut stocks. The letter further confirms it was sold to the United States Government and shipped to the Commanding Officer at Letterkenny Army Depot in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania on September 21, 1970, as part of a shipment of 937 revolvers, establishing clear government contract provenance for this example.
Model: Detective Special - Third Issue
Serial: B03335
Date of Manufacture: 1970
Caliber: .38 Special
Finish: Blued
Barrel Length: 2"
Optics/Sights: Frame Notched Rear w/ Fixed Blade Front
Stock/Grips: Checkered Walnut Grips w/ Inlaid Golden Colt Medallions
Action: Double-Action
Markings: Standard / “U.S.” Stamped on the backstrap
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
The Colt Detective Special is widely regarded as the benchmark compact defensive revolver of the 20th century and one of the most influential handguns ever adopted by law enforcement. Introduced in 1927, it was derived from Colt’s immensely successful Police Positive Special, a small-frame revolver whose basic action remained largely unchanged from 1907 through 1995. By shortening the barrel to 2 inches and giving the revolver its own name, Colt effectively created the modern “snub-nose” revolver category. For the next five decades, the Detective Special became the preferred sidearm of police detectives, undercover officers, and off-duty lawmen, so closely associated with police work that it was commonly known as “a cop gun.” Compact yet powerful, chambered in .38 Special and holding a full six rounds, it earned a reputation for superior accuracy, strength, and fit and finish, establishing itself as the gold standard for concealed-carry revolvers well into the 1960s. Collectors divide the Detective Special’s long production life into several “Issues,” reflecting significant design changes over time. The First Issue (1927–1946) began as essentially a Police Positive Special with a 2-inch barrel and square butt grip frame; in 1933 Colt rounded the butt to improve concealability, creating the classic profile most closely associated with the model. Postwar refinements ushered in the Second Issue (1947–1965), which featured mechanical updates, a redesigned cylinder retention system, improved ramped front sights, a longer ejector rod, and various changes to the hammer, trigger, and grips, coinciding with Colt’s formal designation of the “D” frame. The Third Issue, introduced in 1966, adopted a shorter grip frame shared with the Colt Agent to streamline production, with grips extending past the frame to preserve handling. Together, these evolutionary changes illustrate Colt’s ongoing refinement of a revolver that set the standard for compact defensive handguns and remains one of the most respected and collectible double-action revolvers ever produced.
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Return Policy
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
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Additional Information
GunbrokerLink: |
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1173901143 |
BidPrice: |
0.01 |
AuctionEndDate: |
2026-05-17 22:00:00 |
CurrentBid: |
105 |
