Old Colt appreciation thread... - Page 3

Mk VII · November 25, 2015, 03:42 PM

New Navy M1895, one of the last contract. Altered to shoot .38/200 by the British in 1940.

Driftwood Johnson · November 25, 2015, 05:54 PM

Howdy

I just picked up this New Service on Sunday. Have not shot it yet. 44-40, made in 1907.

Sevens · November 25, 2015, 07:58 PM

Quote:

EDC?

EDC is a term used often on gunboards, it means "every day carry", a carry gun that isn't just a "sometimes I carry this" kind of gun, it's the one that is counted on to be carried for defense on a daily basis.

I still don't have an OLD Colt revolver. And since my last post, I just parted ways with the one Colt revolver I did have. I'm not especially proud to admit that I rode a snippet of the snake gun wave and took in a nice sum for the early 90's Colt King Cobra that I had. The revolver was truly stunning to look at, IMO, I think it's better looking than -ANY- Python and I'm not trying to be a contrarian, it's just how I feel.

But the double action was ridiculous and the value of the revolver far, FAR outweighed my desire to keep it.

gyvel · November 25, 2015, 08:52 PM

Quote:

S&W's I and J-Frames were smaller than any DA revolver Colt ever made

I think the Pocket Positive was smaller than the I and J frame Smiths.

James K · November 25, 2015, 10:27 PM

See Post # 5. Remember, the original I frame was designed for .32; it was made to take .38 S&W only by reducing the number of rounds from 6 to 5. Later, the frame was lengthened and strengthened to become the J frame and to take .38 Special and then .357, still in 5 shot.

Jim

micromontenegro · November 26, 2015, 09:00 AM

Quote:

I think the Pocket Positive was smaller than the I and J frame Smiths.

Quite a bit.

SaxonPig · November 26, 2015, 12:35 PM

Sevens- Thanks.

rep1954 · November 26, 2015, 01:13 PM

Police Positive Spl.

outlaw2 · February 20, 2016, 10:37 AM

My 1970 Detective special 3 inch barrel

[IMG]

[/IMG]

Armybrat · February 21, 2016, 09:01 PM

NIB SAA .357 - made in 1979 - hasn't been fired since the factory testing, but soon will be:

CCH is still fresh:

**44 AMP** · February 22, 2016, 01:16 AM

I'm going to throw this out here, because you folks know old Colts better than I do.

When did the Colt DA revolver become considered "drop safe"? (model and approximate year?)

S&W underwent a design change from their turn of the century models to a more reliable drop safety (I think shortly before WWII, or just after -can look it up,), but I don't have reference for Colt.

I believe the Colt DA system was considered drop safe before S&W, and am curious about when that began.

I only have one Colt revolver, an Agent .38, one of the later guns with the shrouded ejector rod. I rather like it, despite the fact that I thought I wouldn't. I don't shoot it much, but it is a very comforting weight in my pocket when things go bump in the night.

**Mike Irwin** · February 22, 2016, 08:39 AM

S&W's design became truly drop safe with the adoption of the modern hammer block safety (the free floating L piece) in 1944.

Prior to that there were two earlier hammer block designs, but they could be disabled by dried greases, dirt, etc.

As for Colt, no clue.

Driftwood Johnson · February 22, 2016, 12:24 PM

Howdy

I believe the Police Positive was the first double action Colt that was 'drop safe'. They were first made in 1905.

James K · February 22, 2016, 01:06 PM

Colt didn't go to the positive hammer block all at once, and the name "Positive" in the model name indicates it has the block. They called it "positive" because it is mechanically controlled all the way, unlike the early S&W blocks which were pushed out of the way by mechanical action, but depended on spring tension to position them to block the hammer, not a good system.

AFAIK, the first Colt to have the "positive" safety was the Pocket Positive in 1905, succeeding the New Pocket, followed by the Police Positive in 1907, succeeding the New Police. The New Service got the block in 1909 at SN 21000, but not the "Positive" designation. All the Model 1909 Army revolvers have it.

Jim

**44 AMP** · February 22, 2016, 04:56 PM

Thank you James, I think that answers my question!

February 20, 2016, 10:37 AM	#59
outlaw2 Junior Member Join Date: March 22, 2013 Posts: 13	Colt Dectective Special My 1970 Detective special 3 inch barrel [IMG][/IMG]

February 22, 2016, 01:16 AM	#61
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,833	I'm going to throw this out here, because you folks know old Colts better than I do. When did the Colt DA revolver become considered "drop safe"? (model and approximate year?) S&W underwent a design change from their turn of the century models to a more reliable drop safety (I think shortly before WWII, or just after -can look it up,), but I don't have reference for Colt. I believe the Colt DA system was considered drop safe before S&W, and am curious about when that began. I only have one Colt revolver, an Agent .38, one of the later guns with the shrouded ejector rod. I rather like it, despite the fact that I thought I wouldn't. I don't shoot it much, but it is a very comforting weight in my pocket when things go bump in the night. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

February 22, 2016, 08:39 AM	#62
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,389	S&W's design became truly drop safe with the adoption of the modern hammer block safety (the free floating L piece) in 1944. Prior to that there were two earlier hammer block designs, but they could be disabled by dried greases, dirt, etc. As for Colt, no clue. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

February 22, 2016, 04:56 PM	#65
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,833	Thank you James, I think that answers my question! __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

November 25, 2015, 03:42 PM	#51
Mk VII Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2000 Location: England Posts: 455	New Navy M1895, one of the last contract. Altered to shoot .38/200 by the British in 1940.

November 25, 2015, 05:54 PM	#52
Driftwood Johnson Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2014 Location: Land of the Pilgrims Posts: 2,033	Howdy I just picked up this New Service on Sunday. Have not shot it yet. 44-40, made in 1907.

November 25, 2015, 10:27 PM	#55
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	See Post # 5. Remember, the original I frame was designed for .32; it was made to take .38 S&W only by reducing the number of rounds from 6 to 5. Later, the frame was lengthened and strengthened to become the J frame and to take .38 Special and then .357, still in 5 shot. Jim

November 26, 2015, 12:35 PM	#57
SaxonPig Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2006 Posts: 1,900	Sevens- Thanks.

November 26, 2015, 01:13 PM	#58
rep1954 Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2009 Location: Mid Western Michigan Posts: 1,187	Police Positive Spl.

February 21, 2016, 09:01 PM	#60
Armybrat Senior Member Join Date: May 10, 2009 Location: Round Rock, Texas Posts: 976	NIB SAA .357 - made in 1979 - hasn't been fired since the factory testing, but soon will be: CCH is still fresh:

February 22, 2016, 12:24 PM	#63
Driftwood Johnson Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2014 Location: Land of the Pilgrims Posts: 2,033	Howdy I believe the Police Positive was the first double action Colt that was 'drop safe'. They were first made in 1905.

February 22, 2016, 01:06 PM	#64
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Colt didn't go to the positive hammer block all at once, and the name "Positive" in the model name indicates it has the block. They called it "positive" because it is mechanically controlled all the way, unlike the early S&W blocks which were pushed out of the way by mechanical action, but depended on spring tension to position them to block the hammer, not a good system. AFAIK, the first Colt to have the "positive" safety was the Pocket Positive in 1905, succeeding the New Pocket, followed by the Police Positive in 1907, succeeding the New Police. The New Service got the block in 1909 at SN 21000, but not the "Positive" designation. All the Model 1909 Army revolvers have it. Jim