.38 army special

overcome · October 5, 2010, 01:03 PM

Dont know if I should have put this in classifieds or not....if so please forgive me.

My dad has a .38 army special. long story short he lent the gun out and the barrel split. So for the past 25 years he has been looking for an army special barrel. Does anybody know a place where I can find one?

Buzzcook · October 5, 2010, 04:22 PM

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/

Try looking here.

You'll be able to get better advice if you post pics of the gun and tell us what's stamped on it eg patent dates etc.

RickB · October 5, 2010, 05:11 PM

The Army Special became the Official Police in 1929 (IIRC). What's in a name? Colt never sold any to the Army, but lots and lots to the cops. If you want the original barrel length and rollmarks, you may have to do some real searching, but I think it wouldn't be too tough to come up with an OP barrel that would fit.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=193287015
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=193682318

Dfariswheel · October 5, 2010, 07:39 PM

As above, in 1927 Colt changed the name of the Army Special to the Official Police. The barrels and all parts are interchangeable, so if you can't find an Army Special marked barrel an Official Police will work just fine.

You can often find Army Special marked barrels here:

http://www.jackfirstgun.com/

http://www.coltparts.com/pt_armyspecial.html

Now for the cautions.
Re-barreling a revolver is not something you can do without some special tools.
The old gag of putting the barrel in a vise and using a hammer handle through the frame to twist the frame off is a sure way to destroy the gun.
Re-barreling should only be done by a gunsmith who has the tools and knows how to use them.
These days there are very few people who will have the specific Colt tools.

Two places that can fit a new barrel for you are Cylinder & Slide Shop, and Heffron.

http://heffronfirearmclassics.com/default.aspx

8shot357 · October 6, 2010, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Now for the cautions.
Re-barreling a revolver is not something you can do without some special tools.

Is this a revolver?

overcome · October 6, 2010, 01:23 PM

Thanks for your help w/ the links and the history lesson, I love learning about old guns. The thing is the gun belonged to my great grandpa and he gave it to my dad when he got on the job. Dad lent the gun to grandpa who split the barel and then had an OP put on the .38. So I was looking for an orginal Army Special barell just like what RickB said w/ the "original barrel length and rollmarks"

Everybody on TFL is so helpful and does not make you feel like a idiot like some gun stores.

Thanks again

James K · October 6, 2010, 02:01 PM

Just FWIW, some time back on one site (maybe this one) a poster had a Colt revolver with an OP barrel but with a serial number too low for the OP. The reason was simply that someone had done just as RickB and Dfariswheel suggest and replaced a bad Army Special barrel with one from an Official Police. But some of the replies and theories were interesting.

Jim

Analytical · October 6, 2010, 10:57 PM

Coltparts.com was able to supply me with a nice 38 Army Special barrel in 2008. I've yet to find anyone willing to replace the old barrel though.

Dfariswheel · October 7, 2010, 12:56 AM

Few people have the necessary tools to work on Colt revolvers these days.
However, the Army Special/Official Police can use the same frame wrench as the Colt Python, so a real Colt qualified pistolsmith can do them.

As above, contact Cylinder & Slide Shop or Heffron to get your gun repaired.

October 5, 2010, 01:03 PM	#1
overcome Junior Member Join Date: August 12, 2010 Location: Chicago Posts: 8	.38 army special Dont know if I should have put this in classifieds or not....if so please forgive me. My dad has a .38 army special. long story short he lent the gun out and the barrel split. So for the past 25 years he has been looking for an army special barrel. Does anybody know a place where I can find one?

October 5, 2010, 04:22 PM	#2
Buzzcook Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2007 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 6,126	http://www.gunpartscorp.com/ Try looking here. You'll be able to get better advice if you post pics of the gun and tell us what's stamped on it eg patent dates etc.

October 5, 2010, 05:11 PM	#3
RickB Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2000 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 8,559	The Army Special became the Official Police in 1929 (IIRC). What's in a name? Colt never sold any to the Army, but lots and lots to the cops. If you want the original barrel length and rollmarks, you may have to do some real searching, but I think it wouldn't be too tough to come up with an OP barrel that would fit. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=193287015 http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=193682318

October 5, 2010, 07:39 PM	#4
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,555	As above, in 1927 Colt changed the name of the Army Special to the Official Police. The barrels and all parts are interchangeable, so if you can't find an Army Special marked barrel an Official Police will work just fine. You can often find Army Special marked barrels here: http://www.jackfirstgun.com/ http://www.coltparts.com/pt_armyspecial.html Now for the cautions. Re-barreling a revolver is not something you can do without some special tools. The old gag of putting the barrel in a vise and using a hammer handle through the frame to twist the frame off is a sure way to destroy the gun. Re-barreling should only be done by a gunsmith who has the tools and knows how to use them. These days there are very few people who will have the specific Colt tools. Two places that can fit a new barrel for you are Cylinder & Slide Shop, and Heffron. http://heffronfirearmclassics.com/default.aspx

October 6, 2010, 01:23 PM	#6
overcome Junior Member Join Date: August 12, 2010 Location: Chicago Posts: 8	Thanks for your help w/ the links and the history lesson, I love learning about old guns. The thing is the gun belonged to my great grandpa and he gave it to my dad when he got on the job. Dad lent the gun to grandpa who split the barel and then had an OP put on the .38. So I was looking for an orginal Army Special barell just like what RickB said w/ the "original barrel length and rollmarks" Everybody on TFL is so helpful and does not make you feel like a idiot like some gun stores. Thanks again

October 6, 2010, 02:01 PM	#7
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Just FWIW, some time back on one site (maybe this one) a poster had a Colt revolver with an OP barrel but with a serial number too low for the OP. The reason was simply that someone had done just as RickB and Dfariswheel suggest and replaced a bad Army Special barrel with one from an Official Police. But some of the replies and theories were interesting. Jim

October 6, 2010, 10:57 PM	#8
Analytical Member Join Date: December 18, 2007 Posts: 19	Coltparts.com was able to supply me with a nice 38 Army Special barrel in 2008. I've yet to find anyone willing to replace the old barrel though.

October 7, 2010, 12:56 AM	#9
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,555	Few people have the necessary tools to work on Colt revolvers these days. However, the Army Special/Official Police can use the same frame wrench as the Colt Python, so a real Colt qualified pistolsmith can do them. As above, contact Cylinder & Slide Shop or Heffron to get your gun repaired.