Colt Detective Special Question

fnewguy · June 19, 2008, 01:07 PM

While i was checking out some completed detective special auctions, so that i may better gauge appropriate prices, i came across what appears to be an anomaly in the world or DS's. here's the link, check out this pic;

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...=100390919#PIC

It doesn't say in the descrition what type of finish this is, only that it is a LE (law enforcement) model. am i wrong, or does this appear to be a stainless steel detective special? i know that Colt supposedly never made one in ss until the later DS-II and SF-VI's, right?

The gun in this auction is definitely not one of those early 90's DS', so what is it? Did Colt make LE models in SS?

Bill DeShivs · June 19, 2008, 01:10 PM

Industrial hard chrome refinish.

45_Shooter · June 19, 2008, 02:12 PM

I can tell you it's a 3rd generation, made post 1970 or so. I'd agree, it looks like hard chrome. The overpolished pony on the side would tend to indicate it's been refinished, and I've never heard of a factory DS in hard chrome. Probably a good carry gun though, hard chrome fares better than Nickel in the wet.

I really love the Colt snubs, they are some of the best CCW guns around!

fnewguy · June 19, 2008, 02:28 PM

Yeah, that's what I hear. I am currently looking to buy my first CCW and I've decided on the 3rd issue Detective Special. I live in the south, and though i like the colt blue, i am leaning towards nickel. That is, until i saw this pic, of what appeared to be a SS DS, but as noted, is apparently refinished hard chrome.

Since the gun in the pic was a law enforcement gun is it possible that this gun never had an original finish put on, rather, it went right from manufacture to whoever put the chrome on it? Or is it more likely that it began life as a blue or nickel, and was then refinished in the hard chrome?

If that is the case, and if I were to have a detective special refinished in hard chrome, would it be more advantageous to have a nickel plated gun, or a blue? I wonder if the copper under the nickel would be something that chrome could also work well with, or would either finish need to be completely sanded down for the gun to be refinished in chrome?

mnw42 · June 19, 2008, 02:41 PM

It looks like a gun that had the finished stripped off as evidenced by pony and the polish marks on the gun. They did make the SF-IV and DS-II in SS as well as the Magnum Carry, but these guns were marked as such.

As far as I know, Colt never marked their revolvers "LE". I'm pretty sure those are proof/inspection marks.

Dfariswheel · June 19, 2008, 07:14 PM

The gun is a definite post-factory re-finish.
Note the plating OVER the pitting on the cylinder in picture 5.

Also, the "L" and "E" stamps are inspectors and assemblers stamps.

Bottom line, this is nothing more than a used Detective Special someone sent out to have a probable hard chrome finish applied, and the underlying metal was rough and pitted before the finish.

The price was a fair one for a good carry gun, but this was no safe queen even before the plating was done.

fnewguy · June 19, 2008, 07:36 PM

So, then the "L" and the "E" stamps had nothing to do with this being a law enforcement gun?

Makes you wonder about the rest of the description.

Dfariswheel · June 20, 2008, 12:13 AM

Rule Number One Of Gun Buying: Buy the gun, NOT the story.

It very well may have been OWNED by a police officer, but usually, guns purchased by a police department for issue have department stamps on them.
"L" and "E" are not department stamps.

gvf · June 20, 2008, 02:55 AM

I have a cop-DS,a series II, stamped on bottom of hilt: "NPD", meaning Niagara Police Dept. or Niagara Falls Police Dept , whichever it was in 1964, year of manufacture. No "LE" anywhere.

Anyway. I love mine. They are getting pricier though. Check local stores used dept's, including Gander Mtn if one is around you. They just sold one in store in my area (Western New York), for around $400, while in another local store a year ago I paid $287 for mine. They seem really high on auction.

whitebb · June 20, 2008, 08:13 AM

Didn't they make some stainless Det spl's in around 1995-96 before they were disco'd? This may be one.

Dfariswheel · June 20, 2008, 07:26 PM

There were no stainless Detective Specials ever made.

In 1996 Colt discontinued the DS for the last time and replaced it with an entirely new gun built on the "SF" frame.
The first model was the Colt SF-VI, followed by the DS-II, which is NOT the Detective Special Two, it was officially the DS-II. Last in the series was the Magnum Carry.

These later Colt's were stainless and look very much like a Detective Special, but are totally different guns with no parts interchangeability.

fnewguy · July 7, 2008, 01:30 PM

DFARISWHEEL

I recently laid away my first Colt, a nickel Mustang. You seemed to have a lot of information regarding questions I previously had.

My question is -- what should I so to really make the nickel finish shine. There are no scratches or wear marks, but has the potential to look like new it appears. What would you do?

Thanks

Dfariswheel · July 7, 2008, 07:48 PM

Depends on WHICH nickel finish.
Colt used a Satin Electroless Nickel (also known as "Coltguard") and standard bright nickel.

You can use a very mild polish like Flitz to GENTLY polish the plating.
Note that Satin Electroless Nickel is not intended to shine like a mirror, and attempting to polish it will damage the finish.

Bright nickel is intended to have a mirror-like shine, but use the polish with great care. Bright Nickel is not a particularly durable finish, and can be damaged by heavy or often use of polishes.

Gently use the Flitz to clean and lightly polish the gun, then apply either a thin coat of CLP Breakfree or a paste wax to protect the finish and keep it looking good.

fnewguy · July 11, 2008, 06:35 PM

Hello Dfariswheel. Another little Colt Detective Special question for you if you don't mind.

The more examples of 3rd and 4th series detective specials that I see (by 4th series I mean the 1993-?, not the SF-VI, DS-II's (which you mentioned before aren't detective specials at all)) the more I seem to notice a difference.
Is it me, or when looking at the profile of the 4th series det. specials is the line atop the rising front site of the gun seem pretty sharp, or rigid compared to the 3rd issue guns? The profile line atop the raised front site on the 3rd issue guns just appears to be much softer, smoother, and better looking really.

Have you noticed this?

dogngun · July 11, 2008, 06:44 PM

I have owned a few nickel revolvers, have an old S&W Chief Special nickel right now. I use a jewelery poliching cloth, very lightly, to polish out dull spots or just polish the finish. DO NOT rub hard - this removes the surface of the metal to polish. Do not use any type of metal polish other than what was stated. Be aware that some bore cleaners may cause the plating to lift over time.

I love nickel plated guns, and they wear well in humid areas. Take good care of them.

mark

John Moses · July 11, 2008, 07:01 PM

$285 was a total steal for that revolver...wish I had seen it...there would have been another pony in the stable

June 19, 2008, 01:07 PM	#1
fnewguy Member Join Date: May 28, 2008 Posts: 51	Colt Detective Special Question While i was checking out some completed detective special auctions, so that i may better gauge appropriate prices, i came across what appears to be an anomaly in the world or DS's. here's the link, check out this pic; http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...=100390919#PIC It doesn't say in the descrition what type of finish this is, only that it is a LE (law enforcement) model. am i wrong, or does this appear to be a stainless steel detective special? i know that Colt supposedly never made one in ss until the later DS-II and SF-VI's, right? The gun in this auction is definitely not one of those early 90's DS', so what is it? Did Colt make LE models in SS?

June 19, 2008, 01:10 PM	#2
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 11,101	Industrial hard chrome refinish. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

June 19, 2008, 02:28 PM	#4
fnewguy Member Join Date: May 28, 2008 Posts: 51	Yeah, that's what I hear. I am currently looking to buy my first CCW and I've decided on the 3rd issue Detective Special. I live in the south, and though i like the colt blue, i am leaning towards nickel. That is, until i saw this pic, of what appeared to be a SS DS, but as noted, is apparently refinished hard chrome. Since the gun in the pic was a law enforcement gun is it possible that this gun never had an original finish put on, rather, it went right from manufacture to whoever put the chrome on it? Or is it more likely that it began life as a blue or nickel, and was then refinished in the hard chrome? If that is the case, and if I were to have a detective special refinished in hard chrome, would it be more advantageous to have a nickel plated gun, or a blue? I wonder if the copper under the nickel would be something that chrome could also work well with, or would either finish need to be completely sanded down for the gun to be refinished in chrome? Last edited by fnewguy; June 19, 2008 at 03:59 PM.

July 7, 2008, 01:30 PM	#12
fnewguy Member Join Date: May 28, 2008 Posts: 51	Question About A Mustang DFARISWHEEL I recently laid away my first Colt, a nickel Mustang. You seemed to have a lot of information regarding questions I previously had. My question is -- what should I so to really make the nickel finish shine. There are no scratches or wear marks, but has the potential to look like new it appears. What would you do? Thanks

July 11, 2008, 06:35 PM	#14
fnewguy Member Join Date: May 28, 2008 Posts: 51	Another Detective Special Question Hello Dfariswheel. Another little Colt Detective Special question for you if you don't mind. The more examples of 3rd and 4th series detective specials that I see (by 4th series I mean the 1993-?, not the SF-VI, DS-II's (which you mentioned before aren't detective specials at all)) the more I seem to notice a difference. Is it me, or when looking at the profile of the 4th series det. specials is the line atop the rising front site of the gun seem pretty sharp, or rigid compared to the 3rd issue guns? The profile line atop the raised front site on the 3rd issue guns just appears to be much softer, smoother, and better looking really. Have you noticed this?

June 19, 2008, 02:12 PM	#3
45_Shooter Senior Member Join Date: June 11, 2008 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 1,050	I can tell you it's a 3rd generation, made post 1970 or so. I'd agree, it looks like hard chrome. The overpolished pony on the side would tend to indicate it's been refinished, and I've never heard of a factory DS in hard chrome. Probably a good carry gun though, hard chrome fares better than Nickel in the wet. I really love the Colt snubs, they are some of the best CCW guns around!

June 19, 2008, 02:41 PM	#5
mnw42 Senior Member Join Date: March 3, 2008 Location: Bucks Co., PA Posts: 210	It looks like a gun that had the finished stripped off as evidenced by pony and the polish marks on the gun. They did make the SF-IV and DS-II in SS as well as the Magnum Carry, but these guns were marked as such. As far as I know, Colt never marked their revolvers "LE". I'm pretty sure those are proof/inspection marks.

June 19, 2008, 07:14 PM	#6
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,554	The gun is a definite post-factory re-finish. Note the plating OVER the pitting on the cylinder in picture 5. Also, the "L" and "E" stamps are inspectors and assemblers stamps. Bottom line, this is nothing more than a used Detective Special someone sent out to have a probable hard chrome finish applied, and the underlying metal was rough and pitted before the finish. The price was a fair one for a good carry gun, but this was no safe queen even before the plating was done.

June 19, 2008, 07:36 PM	#7
fnewguy Member Join Date: May 28, 2008 Posts: 51	So, then the "L" and the "E" stamps had nothing to do with this being a law enforcement gun? Makes you wonder about the rest of the description.

June 20, 2008, 12:13 AM	#8
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,554	Rule Number One Of Gun Buying: Buy the gun, NOT the story. It very well may have been OWNED by a police officer, but usually, guns purchased by a police department for issue have department stamps on them. "L" and "E" are not department stamps.

June 20, 2008, 02:55 AM	#9
gvf Junior member Join Date: July 31, 2006 Posts: 1,226	I have a cop-DS,a series II, stamped on bottom of hilt: "NPD", meaning Niagara Police Dept. or Niagara Falls Police Dept , whichever it was in 1964, year of manufacture. No "LE" anywhere. Anyway. I love mine. They are getting pricier though. Check local stores used dept's, including Gander Mtn if one is around you. They just sold one in store in my area (Western New York), for around $400, while in another local store a year ago I paid $287 for mine. They seem really high on auction.

June 20, 2008, 08:13 AM	#10
whitebb Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2006 Location: ga Posts: 313	Didn't they make some stainless Det spl's in around 1995-96 before they were disco'd? This may be one.

June 20, 2008, 07:26 PM	#11
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,554	There were no stainless Detective Specials ever made. In 1996 Colt discontinued the DS for the last time and replaced it with an entirely new gun built on the "SF" frame. The first model was the Colt SF-VI, followed by the DS-II, which is NOT the Detective Special Two, it was officially the DS-II. Last in the series was the Magnum Carry. These later Colt's were stainless and look very much like a Detective Special, but are totally different guns with no parts interchangeability.

July 7, 2008, 07:48 PM	#13
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,554	Depends on WHICH nickel finish. Colt used a Satin Electroless Nickel (also known as "Coltguard") and standard bright nickel. You can use a very mild polish like Flitz to GENTLY polish the plating. Note that Satin Electroless Nickel is not intended to shine like a mirror, and attempting to polish it will damage the finish. Bright nickel is intended to have a mirror-like shine, but use the polish with great care. Bright Nickel is not a particularly durable finish, and can be damaged by heavy or often use of polishes. Gently use the Flitz to clean and lightly polish the gun, then apply either a thin coat of CLP Breakfree or a paste wax to protect the finish and keep it looking good.

July 11, 2008, 06:44 PM	#15
dogngun Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2002 Location: South east PA Posts: 570	I have owned a few nickel revolvers, have an old S&W Chief Special nickel right now. I use a jewelery poliching cloth, very lightly, to polish out dull spots or just polish the finish. DO NOT rub hard - this removes the surface of the metal to polish. Do not use any type of metal polish other than what was stated. Be aware that some bore cleaners may cause the plating to lift over time. I love nickel plated guns, and they wear well in humid areas. Take good care of them. mark

July 11, 2008, 07:01 PM	#16
John Moses Junior member Join Date: July 9, 2008 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 161	$285 was a total steal for that revolver...wish I had seen it...there would have been another pony in the stable