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Dropped by the local gunsmith to see if he had any Marlin parts, (especially a crescent buttplate for my 1888 project!)
While waiting for him to get done with a repair, I looked at the used guns he had for sale. There in the display was a Colt Official Police. Not bad shape, and I generally haven't found them too interesting, but the tag on the trigger guard caught my eye! A .32-20 caliber, my favorite!
I asked him what he had on it, and he was asking $200. A little friendly negotiating and he let me have it for $160! Hope the weekend gets here quick, cause I can't wait to shoot it!
Marlinman,
Looks clean--used, but not abused. I have one just like it. It loves 3 grains of Bullseye and the Lyman 3118 115 pb. Those old double action Colts have a habit of not locking in right. After cocking it real slow, see it the bolt engages. Some do and some don't. If it does not, don't touch the cylinder, but slowly release the hammer and the bolt should kick in the cylinder notch. Some people tell me its part of the design.
Looks like an early twenties gun. Give me the first three numbers and I can tell you when it was made.-------Sixgun
Vall, I do believe that you might be blessed a little more than necessary,not really,I am real proud for you. I have had two 32-20 pistols years ago, one was a S&W and the other was a 4" Colt I think it was the police positive I don't remember for sure.That was back when you could still buy the 80 grain HV loads. Any time one happens to show up around here they go for 400 to 500 dollars. You done good boy.
JerryB II Corinthians 3:17, Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
marlinman93 wrote:Thans Hobie! Didn't know hey made them that early. Patent date on barrel reads Oct. 1926.
You know those darn things get me confused... Let's see here, it is an Official Police (formerly the Army Special) with a 492xxx serial. Proofhouse showed a 1918 date but as you pointed out that can't be. The Army Special was introed in 1908 and the name changed in 1928... Oh heck! I reversed the numbers from 492 to 429... so it is actually 1923!?! I think it was in 1930 or thereabouts that the grips changed to wood. Rebarreled? Assembled/shipped out of sequence?
Dang, who cares, I want one!
Sincerely,
Hobie
"We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best that we find in our travels is an honest friend." Robert Louis Stevenson
Maybe some of you Colt boys could help me out. My grandpa was a freighter over the Clockum pass here in Wa. St. about 1910 and family lore says he carried a Colt double action .32-20. Now they made a Police Positive and an Official Police or something like that didn't they?? Which double action Colt would it most likely have been in 1910???? I know it was .32-20 FOR SURE and a Colt double action.
The colt guys seem to think what I thought, that the frame was manufactured in 1923 but not assembled or released until after the 1926 pat date barrels came out.
Sincerely,
Hobie
"We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best that we find in our travels is an honest friend." Robert Louis Stevenson
Hobie wrote:The colt guys seem to think what I thought, that the frame was manufactured in 1923 but not assembled or released until after the 1926 pat date barrels came out.
Thanks again Hobie! That's sort of what I've come up with in my search of reference amterial here too. Seems this one is a bit of an odditiy, with the early serial number, but later patent date. Appreciate the footwork you did!-Vall
I think that is a 1918 gun.
I think it was in 1930 or thereabouts that the grips changed to wood. Rebarreled? Assembled/shipped out of sequence? 
