Colt · Double-action revolver
Colt Detective Special Value
The Colt Detective Special is a compact double-action revolver chambered mainly in .38 Special, built on Colt's small D-frame with a short barrel intended for concealed carry by detectives and plainclothes officers. It was one of the earliest dedicated snub-nosed revolvers on the American market and remained in Colt's lineup for decades.
- Type
- Double-action revolver
- Production
- 1927 to 1995, produced across several recognized frame and configuration changes
- Maker
- Colt
About the Colt Detective Special
The Colt Detective Special is a compact double-action revolver chambered mainly in .38 Special, built on Colt's small D-frame with a short barrel intended for concealed carry by detectives and plainclothes officers. It was one of the earliest dedicated snub-nosed revolvers on the American market and remained in Colt's lineup for decades.
Over its long production run the Detective Special went through several recognized configurations, generally grouped by collectors into distinct series based on frame shape, sight design, and grip style. Early guns have a rounded frame profile while later production adopted a squared "square-butt" frame.
Because the Detective Special was widely carried by law enforcement and civilians alike, surviving examples show a wide range of holster wear and use, and identifying which production series a given gun belongs to is an important step in any evaluation.
Variations
Colt Detective Special variations that matter
Configuration is often the difference between two otherwise identical examples.
First issue (1927–1946)
Original round-butt configuration with fixed sights and a short ejector rod housing.
Second issue (1947–1972)
Introduced updated internal parts and, later in the run, transitioned toward the square-butt frame.
Third issue (1973–1986)
Square-butt frame became standard along with a shrouded ejector rod.
Fourth issue (1993–1995)
Final production run with updated internal lockwork before discontinuation.
Barrel length
Standard barrel length was 2 inches, though a small number were produced with a 3-inch barrel.
Valuation
What affects Colt Detective Special value
We do not publish a price chart. These are the characteristics that determine what a specific example evaluates at.
Factor 1
Production series
First through fourth issue guns are distinguished by frame shape and internal parts, and are evaluated according to which series they belong to.
Factor 2
Condition of finish
Blued and nickel finishes both show holster wear readily, and the extent of that wear is part of any assessment.
Factor 3
Originality of grips and sights
Factory grips and original sight configuration are weighed against aftermarket replacements.
Factor 4
Barrel length
The rare 3-inch barrel variant is treated as a distinct configuration from the standard 2-inch barrel.
Factor 5
Mechanical timing
As with other Colt double-action revolvers, cylinder timing and trigger function are assessed as part of overall condition.
Factor 6
Box and accessories
Original Colt packaging and documentation, where present, are considered alongside the firearm.
Colt Detective Special: common questions
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