Colt Officer's Model Match - question

VonFatman · March 25, 2013, 09:50 PM

A friend showed me (and let me shoot) Officer's Model Match. I was hooked. I have since bought two Colts. An Officer's Special (.38 Special) and an Officer's Model Match (.22 Caliber)

I have had quite a time placing a date of manufacture on the OMM. The only number(s) I can locate on the revolver are inside the crane. (see pic)

Every serial number guide I have looked at lists OMM serial numbers (at least pre-69 guns) with six digits. My gun has five digits.

I'm sure a simple answer awaits me. Thanks.

So...what year is my Officer's Model Match w/serial number: 75965

and while I'm at it...

What is the mfg. date for my Officer's Special w/serial number: 783683

Thanks a bunch.

I just bought another OMM with some nice blue and target stocks. Hope to find out more about this new (to me) Colt soon.

Bob

OMM

Jim Watson · March 25, 2013, 09:56 PM

OMM 75965 goes to 1958 at Proofhouse.com
OMS 783683 goes to 1949.

Colt lookup agrees with the note that the OMS is numbered in with Official Police.

VonFatman · March 25, 2013, 10:01 PM

Thanks Mr. Watson! I appreciate your help.

Bob

James K · March 25, 2013, 10:12 PM

S&W pretty consistently put the serial number on the butt and the number under and on the crane is an assembly number. Colt, on the other hand, sometimes put the serial number on the butt and sometimes on and under the crane.

For the Colt Model 1917, which is a New Service, there are two numbers. The one on the butt is the Army serial number, starting at 1 and ending with the last gun delivered to the Army. The Colt serial number, in the New Service series, is on and under the crane. There are gaps because not all NS Colts were delivered to the military in that period, some going to the commercial market.

Jim

Bob Wright · March 26, 2013, 09:18 AM

The Officers Model Match should have target grips like this:

Bob Wright

dgludwig · March 26, 2013, 01:34 PM

VonFatman, my Officers Model Special has a serial number close to yours (7866xx) and it was made in 1951. Author James E. Serven, in his book Colt Firearms 1936-1960, reported that the Officers Model Special was introduced in 1950. The Blue Book of Gun Values claims that the Officers Model Special (Fourth Issue) was made from 1949 until 1952. And Modern Gun Values indicates that the Officers Model Special was introduced in 1949 and dropped in 1955. In any event, it appears that your Officers Model Special was one of the earliest made.
Does your Special have the "Coltmaster" adjustable sight?

VonFatman · March 26, 2013, 04:37 PM

Djludwig,
An early gun heh? That's neat. It's tight as a drum....very little use.
Here's a pic...as you can see, it has the Coltmaster rear sight...and VERY non-standard stocks...however, they are neat old stags.

Nice revolver Mr. Wright!

James K,
Thank you for the help with serial numbers.

Bob

22-rimfire · March 28, 2013, 08:59 PM

I swear that particular Officers Model Special is one I handled back in the early 1990's at a Knoxville TN gunshow. At the time, I passed because it did not have factory grips/stocks on it. The price was right, but I passed. Hope you enjoy it.

VonFatman · March 28, 2013, 09:53 PM

I bought the gun in KC a couple summers ago....the dealer was a friend from central MO....funny how guns get around.

Bob

March 25, 2013, 09:50 PM	#1
VonFatman Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2000 Location: Kansas City Posts: 587	Colt Officer's Model Match - question A friend showed me (and let me shoot) Officer's Model Match. I was hooked. I have since bought two Colts. An Officer's Special (.38 Special) and an Officer's Model Match (.22 Caliber) I have had quite a time placing a date of manufacture on the OMM. The only number(s) I can locate on the revolver are inside the crane. (see pic) Every serial number guide I have looked at lists OMM serial numbers (at least pre-69 guns) with six digits. My gun has five digits. I'm sure a simple answer awaits me. Thanks. So...what year is my Officer's Model Match w/serial number: 75965 and while I'm at it... What is the mfg. date for my Officer's Special w/serial number: 783683 Thanks a bunch. I just bought another OMM with some nice blue and target stocks. Hope to find out more about this new (to me) Colt soon. Bob OMM __________________ "Onward thru the Fog"

March 25, 2013, 10:01 PM	#3
VonFatman Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2000 Location: Kansas City Posts: 587	Thanks Mr. Watson! I appreciate your help. Bob __________________ "Onward thru the Fog"

March 26, 2013, 01:34 PM	#6
dgludwig Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2005 Location: North central Ohio Posts: 7,486	VonFatman, my Officers Model Special has a serial number close to yours (7866xx) and it was made in 1951. Author James E. Serven, in his book Colt Firearms 1936-1960, reported that the Officers Model Special was introduced in 1950. The Blue Book of Gun Values claims that the Officers Model Special (Fourth Issue) was made from 1949 until 1952. And Modern Gun Values indicates that the Officers Model Special was introduced in 1949 and dropped in 1955. In any event, it appears that your Officers Model Special was one of the earliest made. Does your Special have the "Coltmaster" adjustable sight? __________________ ONLY AN ARMED PEOPLE CAN BE TRULY FREE ; ONLY AN UNARMED PEOPLE CAN EVER BE ENSLAVED ...Aristotle NRA Benefactor Life Member

March 26, 2013, 04:37 PM	#7
VonFatman Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2000 Location: Kansas City Posts: 587	Djludwig, An early gun heh? That's neat. It's tight as a drum....very little use. Here's a pic...as you can see, it has the Coltmaster rear sight...and VERY non-standard stocks...however, they are neat old stags. Nice revolver Mr. Wright! James K, Thank you for the help with serial numbers. Bob __________________ "Onward thru the Fog"

March 28, 2013, 09:53 PM	#9
VonFatman Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2000 Location: Kansas City Posts: 587	I bought the gun in KC a couple summers ago....the dealer was a friend from central MO....funny how guns get around. Bob __________________ "Onward thru the Fog"

March 25, 2013, 09:56 PM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	OMM 75965 goes to 1958 at Proofhouse.com OMS 783683 goes to 1949. Colt lookup agrees with the note that the OMS is numbered in with Official Police.

March 25, 2013, 10:12 PM	#4
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	S&W pretty consistently put the serial number on the butt and the number under and on the crane is an assembly number. Colt, on the other hand, sometimes put the serial number on the butt and sometimes on and under the crane. For the Colt Model 1917, which is a New Service, there are two numbers. The one on the butt is the Army serial number, starting at 1 and ending with the last gun delivered to the Army. The Colt serial number, in the New Service series, is on and under the crane. There are gaps because not all NS Colts were delivered to the military in that period, some going to the commercial market. Jim

March 26, 2013, 09:18 AM	#5
Bob Wright Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2012 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 2,989	The Officers Model Match should have target grips like this: Bob Wright

March 28, 2013, 08:59 PM	#8
22-rimfire Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2005 Location: Tennessee Posts: 5,323	I swear that particular Officers Model Special is one I handled back in the early 1990's at a Knoxville TN gunshow. At the time, I passed because it did not have factory grips/stocks on it. The price was right, but I passed. Hope you enjoy it.