Sir, thank you for this informative video on the Colt Revolver presence in law enforcement, and backing up your presentation with the various models and calibers that were used. I too, packed a postwar production Colt Official Police .38 Special as my on-duty revolver. I served in a midsize city PD that in 1971 when I started, was given to me on Christmas Eve 1971, by my parents. My Dad thought I would be better served with a Colt than the Smith & Wesson Model 10-5 I was issued. And better it was. I carried this Colt OP on duty for the rest of my law enforcement career. I was grand-fathered in with it in 1992, when our PD went to the semi-automatic pistol. My Dad had bought this OP from a local gun store. It had been purchased by the store's FFL from a firearms distributor that specialized in the purchase of trade-in surplus revolvers from different agencies. The local gun store had purchased several of these trade-in Colt OP's. Dad picked the best looking one of the lot and took it home to be wrapped up by Momma, and placed under the Christmas tree as a present for their oldest son. The 4+decades that I served, my Colt .38 shared most of them. The untold number of patrol miles driven in an 8-hour shift. The sometimes violent chaos that accompanies police work, it was a silent witness to. One shooting incident, and numerous close calls, resolved by my Colt within casualties. And all the secrets that a beat cop keeps to himself, my OP was well aware of them. During 40+years of duty carry, I had my Colt retimed once, refinished once, and sporting black rubber finger-groove Combat Grips by Hogue at the end line. I had my Mom and Dad's name and date engraved into the side-plate. More, much more to me than just David's service revolver. It witness my worst and best times in cop world. These guys and gals in law enforcement today, play the game under different rules than I did in my youth. I much prefer the first over the other, any day! They can't police anymore, just do reports by way of a computer in the squad car and be a social worker in domestic disputes. The kids today have to pay respect to felons or else they will suffer the consequences of not being woke. Thanks again for this video, and forgive an old cop for speaking so long about my on-duty Colt Official Police, serial number 869943.
I own a 4” barreled Colt Trooper MK III, and I think it is one of the finest modern revolvers ever made. They are definitely less finicky than a Python. They’re less expensive than a Python, but they still have that wonderfully buttery smooth DA/SA trigger. I think the Trooper and Trooper MK III have been under appreciated and have been unfairly overshadowed by their more famous Python sibling.
When my Father went on the police (NJ), they were issued the Colt in .32. When they switched to the S&W Model 10 .38, their qualifications scores went way up.
Also from the late 80s to the late 90s Colt produced the Colt Carry Magnum which was a short barreled .357 and some detectives carried them; and if you can find one now they’re worth the money
Revolvers were obsolete by the end of WW2 but were still present after the 1990s among grandfathered personnel until phased out finally by retirement attrition. A detective I once encountered in a gun store about 15 years ago complained that his agency would schedule annual qualifications for those still clinging to revolvers at the most inconvenient times and days, to encourage transition to Glocks.
Great info, while I was waiting for my new Python to ship I was hunting for information on peak revolver culture in the 50s-90s. I think it's odd how the 1911 had 7+1 and two world wars (along with the luger and other semis) but never ended up putting the revolver to bed. Can I ask what the trigger on that vintage 4" python is called? Never seen one that wide before!
The accessory is known as an ACE trigger shoe. popular with target shooters there was a question as to its use on a service revolve. It tended to extend beyond the walls of a trigger guARD AND IN THEORY IF YOU PUT IT IN A TIGHT HOLSTER YOU COULD GET A DISCHARGE. the OTHER ISSUE WAS THAT SINCE THEY WERE ATTACHED BY TWO SCREWS THAT FRICTION FIT ON THE TRIGGER THEY COULD SLIDE DOWN AND TOUCH THE BOTTOM OF THE TRIGGER GUARD AND PREVENT THE GUN FROM FIRING.
i saw a Colt Police Positive Special with serial # 59-xxxx, with plastic grips, the left grip upper part is protruding where the thumb of a right hand shooter could rest. The bottom part of the barrel is marked CAI. STv. What could be the year of production? Tyvery much
Sir, thank you for this informative video on the Colt Revolver presence in law enforcement, and backing up your presentation with the various models and calibers that were used. I too, packed a postwar production Colt Official Police .38 Special as my on-duty revolver. I served in a midsize city PD that in 1971 when I started, was given to me on Christmas Eve 1971, by my parents. My Dad thought I would be better served with a Colt than the Smith & Wesson Model 10-5 I was issued. And better it was. I carried this Colt OP on duty for the rest of my law enforcement career. I was grand-fathered in with it in 1992, when our PD went to the semi-automatic pistol. My Dad had bought this OP from a local gun store. It had been purchased by the store's FFL from a firearms distributor that specialized in the purchase of trade-in surplus revolvers from different agencies. The local gun store had purchased several of these trade-in Colt OP's. Dad picked the best looking one of the lot and took it home to be wrapped up by Momma, and placed under the Christmas tree as a present for their oldest son. The 4+decades that I served, my Colt .38 shared most of them. The untold number of patrol miles driven in an 8-hour shift. The sometimes violent chaos that accompanies police work, it was a silent witness to. One shooting incident, and numerous close calls, resolved by my Colt within casualties. And all the secrets that a beat cop keeps to himself, my OP was well aware of them. During 40+years of duty carry, I had my Colt retimed once, refinished once, and sporting black rubber finger-groove Combat Grips by Hogue at the end line. I had my Mom and Dad's name and date engraved into the side-plate. More, much more to me than just David's service revolver. It witness my worst and best times in cop world. These guys and gals in law enforcement today, play the game under different rules than I did in my youth. I much prefer the first over the other, any day! They can't police anymore, just do reports by way of a computer in the squad car and be a social worker in domestic disputes. The kids today have to pay respect to felons or else they will suffer the consequences of not being woke. Thanks again for this video, and forgive an old cop for speaking so long about my on-duty Colt Official Police, serial number 869943.
I own a 4” barreled Colt Trooper MK III, and I think it is one of the finest modern revolvers ever made. They are definitely less finicky than a Python. They’re less expensive than a Python, but they still have that wonderfully buttery smooth DA/SA trigger. I think the Trooper and Trooper MK III have been under appreciated and have been unfairly overshadowed by their more famous Python sibling.
When my Father went on the police (NJ), they were issued the Colt in .32. When they switched to the S&W Model 10 .38, their qualifications scores went way up.
Also from the late 80s to the late 90s Colt produced the Colt Carry Magnum which was a short barreled .357 and some detectives carried them; and if you can find one now they’re worth the money
Revolvers were obsolete by the end of WW2 but were still present after the 1990s among grandfathered personnel until phased out finally by retirement attrition. A detective I once encountered in a gun store about 15 years ago complained that his agency would schedule annual qualifications for those still clinging to revolvers at the most inconvenient times and days, to encourage transition to Glocks.
1:12 ah, reminds me of a certain new york architect who likes his nightly strolls near the waterfront, or his trips on the subway.
Great video. I love the old police wheel guns
Very nice video guys , awesome work once again Stan.
I loved my Model 15, it was accurate, but I don’t think I would want to get in a gunfight with it. In the early 90’s we went Sig.
Great info, while I was waiting for my new Python to ship I was hunting for information on peak revolver culture in the 50s-90s. I think it's odd how the 1911 had 7+1 and two world wars (along with the luger and other semis) but never ended up putting the revolver to bed. Can I ask what the trigger on that vintage 4" python is called? Never seen one that wide before!
The accessory is known as an ACE trigger shoe. popular with target shooters there was a question as to its use on a service revolve. It tended to extend beyond the walls of a trigger guARD AND IN THEORY IF YOU PUT IT IN A TIGHT HOLSTER YOU COULD GET A DISCHARGE. the OTHER ISSUE WAS THAT SINCE THEY WERE ATTACHED BY TWO SCREWS THAT FRICTION FIT ON THE TRIGGER THEY COULD SLIDE DOWN AND TOUCH THE BOTTOM OF THE TRIGGER GUARD AND PREVENT THE GUN FROM FIRING.
Minor correction. The Colt Army Special was in 38 Smith and Wesson SPECIAL caliber.
No it was 38 Special
Colt would not allow a competition makers name on their guns. 456 Elry not 556 Webley is another example.
455 Eley not 455 Webley
i saw a Colt Police Positive Special with serial # 59-xxxx, with plastic grips, the left grip upper part is protruding where the thumb of a right hand shooter could rest. The bottom part of the barrel is marked CAI. STv. What could be the year of production? Tyvery much
Que venga la policia 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮
Llamen a la policia de los asesinatos 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮