Colt serial numbers

pwc · September 17, 2019, 02:51 PM

Is there a site that can give date of mfg for a Colt Detective Spl?

burrhead · September 17, 2019, 04:27 PM

http://www.coltautos.com/DA/Detectiv...especialpd.htm

pwc · September 17, 2019, 07:16 PM

Thank uou, but that only shows S/Ns up to 59999; not close to 95XXX

KyJim · September 17, 2019, 09:18 PM

Take a look at this site: http://proofhouse.com/colt/index.html

Jim Watson · September 17, 2019, 09:34 PM

If it doesn't show at
https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup
call and ask. They have guns on file but no online.
Of course you will have to reveal the actual serial number, Internet Xs don't count.

pwc · September 18, 2019, 10:16 AM

Thank you Jim; it appears the revolver began as a Colt Cobra Agent. Maybe it was returned for barrel work and they replaced it with a Det. Spl. Barrel.

Jim Watson · September 18, 2019, 01:26 PM

Is the frame aluminum? Cobra and Agent were lightweight models.

pwc · September 18, 2019, 10:30 PM

That's the stumper, I believe it's steel.

Jim Watson · September 18, 2019, 11:33 PM

A magnet will tell you quick enough.

pwc · September 19, 2019, 11:36 AM

Jim - Well, duh...boy do I feel dumb; yes it is steel.

I wonder if Colt just built a lot of D frames and threw them in a box, and 2", 3" and 4" barrels, and then just built a "kit gun" from all the parts? Why would a steel D frame get marked with a SN meant for an alum. D frame? Maybe it was built on a Monday....

Jim Watson · September 19, 2019, 12:31 PM

Colt is not real careful about such stuff. My ACE .22 is numbered like a .45. They sent out a lot of early Combat Commanders with Commander Model marked slides. Etc.

pwc · September 19, 2019, 12:36 PM

Mystery solved! Operator error, I feel even dumber... The SN on the frame inside the crane is:
B0XXXX
4
I assumed the 4 was part of the SN. Rechecking proof house and Colt look up, the revolver is indeed a Police Positive / Detective Special made in 1970

The 4 must be a model or series number.

I want to thank all of you who tried to help lead me. I got my tongue over my eye tooth and couldn't see what I was saying.

Dfariswheel · September 19, 2019, 05:11 PM

The "4" under the serial number is a Colt inspectors stamp.
It's the final inspectors mark.

There will also be the assemblers stamp on the left-rear of the trigger guard web, and the Colt Verified Proof stamp of a tiny "VP" in a triangle on the left-front of the trigger guard web.

September 17, 2019, 02:51 PM	#1
pwc Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2018 Location: AZ Posts: 236	Colt serial numbers Is there a site that can give date of mfg for a Colt Detective Spl?

September 17, 2019, 04:27 PM	#2
burrhead Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 1999 Location: Chihuahuan desert, Texas Posts: 1,148	http://www.coltautos.com/DA/Detectiv...especialpd.htm __________________ Join the GOA, SAF and the TSRA I'm offended by people that are easily offended.

September 17, 2019, 07:16 PM	#3
pwc Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2018 Location: AZ Posts: 236	Thank uou, but that only shows S/Ns up to 59999; not close to 95XXX

September 17, 2019, 09:18 PM	#4
KyJim Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2005 Location: The Bluegrass Posts: 9,142	Take a look at this site: http://proofhouse.com/colt/index.html

September 17, 2019, 09:34 PM	#5
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	If it doesn't show at https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup call and ask. They have guns on file but no online. Of course you will have to reveal the actual serial number, Internet Xs don't count.

September 18, 2019, 10:16 AM	#6
pwc Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2018 Location: AZ Posts: 236	Thank you Jim; it appears the revolver began as a Colt Cobra Agent. Maybe it was returned for barrel work and they replaced it with a Det. Spl. Barrel.

September 18, 2019, 01:26 PM	#7
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	Is the frame aluminum? Cobra and Agent were lightweight models.

September 18, 2019, 10:30 PM	#8
pwc Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2018 Location: AZ Posts: 236	That's the stumper, I believe it's steel.

September 18, 2019, 11:33 PM	#9
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	A magnet will tell you quick enough.

September 19, 2019, 11:36 AM	#10
pwc Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2018 Location: AZ Posts: 236	Jim - Well, duh...boy do I feel dumb; yes it is steel. I wonder if Colt just built a lot of D frames and threw them in a box, and 2", 3" and 4" barrels, and then just built a "kit gun" from all the parts? Why would a steel D frame get marked with a SN meant for an alum. D frame? Maybe it was built on a Monday....

September 19, 2019, 12:31 PM	#11
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	Colt is not real careful about such stuff. My ACE .22 is numbered like a .45. They sent out a lot of early Combat Commanders with Commander Model marked slides. Etc.

September 19, 2019, 12:36 PM	#12
pwc Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2018 Location: AZ Posts: 236	Mystery solved! Operator error, I feel even dumber... The SN on the frame inside the crane is: B0XXXX 4 I assumed the 4 was part of the SN. Rechecking proof house and Colt look up, the revolver is indeed a Police Positive / Detective Special made in 1970 The 4 must be a model or series number. I want to thank all of you who tried to help lead me. I got my tongue over my eye tooth and couldn't see what I was saying.

September 19, 2019, 05:11 PM	#13
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	The "4" under the serial number is a Colt inspectors stamp. It's the final inspectors mark. There will also be the assemblers stamp on the left-rear of the trigger guard web, and the Colt Verified Proof stamp of a tiny "VP" in a triangle on the left-front of the trigger guard web.