1936 Colt Detective Special

milkrun49 · November 1, 2015, 03:06 PM

Hopefully a simple question. I own a 1936 Detective Special that my grandfather carried for 30 years as a detective on the Chicago Police Dept. He gave it to me years ago and I carried it for another 25 Years as a backup weapon when I was a police officer. Because I carried it on my ankle I had a Armorloid finished put on. Did I loose any real value? Not sure how to post a picture.

P5 Guy · November 1, 2015, 03:20 PM

Guns in LNIB condition command the best prices. Refinished guns are considered shooter grade and are valued lower, in some cases much lower depending on the quality of the 'new' finish.

highpower3006 · November 1, 2015, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Did I loose any real value?

In a word, yes. Once a gun has been refinished it has 0% original finish and they are often valued as such. If it had been refinished by the Colt factory, the value wouldn't take as much of a hit. Pre war Detective Specials are somewhat sough after, so I would still say it would bring $400+ on the market. Since it is a family heirloom, it would be priceless if it was mine.

joe-lumber · November 2, 2015, 08:33 AM

I mistakenly purchased a refinished Det. Special and that was the first thing dealers at a gun show told me. True they were talking it down to purchase it at a lower price which I'm glad I unloaded it to a dealer. The timing was off and it only fired 5 shots out of the 6. My thought is if a gun has problems, sell it even if I have to take a loss.

Bill DeShivs · November 2, 2015, 01:11 PM

An old Detective Special with an Armoloy (proper spelling) hard chrome finish would actually be a very cool gun. While not a collector piece, it would be a great, practical, carry gun.

bedbugbilly · November 2, 2015, 08:50 PM

Hey . . . if I had my grandfather's Colt that he carried on the job for 35 years and it had been passed down to me . . . and I carried it on the job for 25 years . . . . I wouldn't be concerned at all what finish it had on it . . . to me . . it would be "Priceless" and nobody could put a value on it. If you have kids, I hope you pass it on to them . . . if not . . . I hope you pass it on to a close relative or someone who will really appreciate the history of it.

milkrun49 · November 3, 2015, 12:32 AM

As I read some of the reply I see many of you think like I do. The gun has been in the family for over 70 years and has never me down. I remember helping my grandfather clean it back in the early 50's. That gun never failed to amaze me. I remember him telling me that when he went on the Chicago police debt. in 1935 that he had to buy his duty weapon with his own money and when he made detective in the Missing Persons division he bought the Detective speci
As I read some of the reply I see many of you think like I do. The gun has been in the family for over 70 years and has never me down. I remember helping my grandfather clean it back in the early 50's. That gun never failed to amaze me. I remember him telling me that when he went on the Chicago police debt. in 1935 that he had to buy his duty weapon with his own money and when he made detective in the Missing Persons division he bought the Deceive Special at a sporting goods store for about $26.00. I have the Colt Letter stating the gun history. When I carried it I had to qualify once a year along with my department P 220 Range offer hated seeing me on the line because it was slow. Never bothered me. Once I became the range officer others saw the advantage of a small 2 in. Long story short, my 2 sons in their 40's (non gun believers) are out of the picture. Maybe it will go in the hole with me. lol

DaleA · November 3, 2015, 03:11 AM

Quote:

-my 2 sons in their 40's (non gun believers) are out of the picture. Maybe it will go in the hole with me. lol

Do NOT despair! People, even in their 40's and 50's can have a change of heart and mind. Even if they don't become 'gun folk' they still might change their minds and value something that belonged to their dad and THEIR kids might be gun folk.

kilimanjaro · November 3, 2015, 03:53 AM

It's value lies in it's being an heirloom. Buy another revolver and give one to each of your sons with the condition they not be sold outside of the family. They can trade each other for the one they want.

November 1, 2015, 03:06 PM	#1
milkrun49 Junior Member Join Date: April 15, 2009 Location: I spend time going between New Jersey and Florida Posts: 8	1936 Colt Detective Special Hopefully a simple question. I own a 1936 Detective Special that my grandfather carried for 30 years as a detective on the Chicago Police Dept. He gave it to me years ago and I carried it for another 25 Years as a backup weapon when I was a police officer. Because I carried it on my ankle I had a Armorloid finished put on. Did I loose any real value? Not sure how to post a picture.

November 2, 2015, 08:33 AM	#4
joe-lumber Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2013 Posts: 257	refinished Det. Special I mistakenly purchased a refinished Det. Special and that was the first thing dealers at a gun show told me. True they were talking it down to purchase it at a lower price which I'm glad I unloaded it to a dealer. The timing was off and it only fired 5 shots out of the 6. My thought is if a gun has problems, sell it even if I have to take a loss. __________________ NRA Life Member and Proud to live in Texas

November 2, 2015, 01:11 PM	#5
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,985	An old Detective Special with an Armoloy (proper spelling) hard chrome finish would actually be a very cool gun. While not a collector piece, it would be a great, practical, carry gun. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

November 2, 2015, 08:50 PM	#6
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 3,287	Hey . . . if I had my grandfather's Colt that he carried on the job for 35 years and it had been passed down to me . . . and I carried it on the job for 25 years . . . . I wouldn't be concerned at all what finish it had on it . . . to me . . it would be "Priceless" and nobody could put a value on it. If you have kids, I hope you pass it on to them . . . if not . . . I hope you pass it on to a close relative or someone who will really appreciate the history of it. __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

November 3, 2015, 12:32 AM	#7
milkrun49 Junior Member Join Date: April 15, 2009 Location: I spend time going between New Jersey and Florida Posts: 8	My Colt Detective Special As I read some of the reply I see many of you think like I do. The gun has been in the family for over 70 years and has never me down. I remember helping my grandfather clean it back in the early 50's. That gun never failed to amaze me. I remember him telling me that when he went on the Chicago police debt. in 1935 that he had to buy his duty weapon with his own money and when he made detective in the Missing Persons division he bought the Detective speci As I read some of the reply I see many of you think like I do. The gun has been in the family for over 70 years and has never me down. I remember helping my grandfather clean it back in the early 50's. That gun never failed to amaze me. I remember him telling me that when he went on the Chicago police debt. in 1935 that he had to buy his duty weapon with his own money and when he made detective in the Missing Persons division he bought the Deceive Special at a sporting goods store for about $26.00. I have the Colt Letter stating the gun history. When I carried it I had to qualify once a year along with my department P 220 Range offer hated seeing me on the line because it was slow. Never bothered me. Once I became the range officer others saw the advantage of a small 2 in. Long story short, my 2 sons in their 40's (non gun believers) are out of the picture. Maybe it will go in the hole with me. lol

November 1, 2015, 03:20 PM	#2
P5 Guy Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2005 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 1,804	Guns in LNIB condition command the best prices. Refinished guns are considered shooter grade and are valued lower, in some cases much lower depending on the quality of the 'new' finish.

November 3, 2015, 03:53 AM	#9
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	It's value lies in it's being an heirloom. Buy another revolver and give one to each of your sons with the condition they not be sold outside of the family. They can trade each other for the one they want.