Make: Colt

Model: Official Police

Serial Number: 872562

Year of Manufacture: 1960

Caliber: .38 Special

Action Type: DA/SA Double Action and Single Action 6-Shot Revolver with Swing-Out Cylinder

Barrel Length: 4"

Sights/Optics: The front sight is a serrated ramped blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a square notch at the rear of the top strap. The topstrap is serrated for glare reduction.

Stock Configuration and Condition: The grips are two-piece floral textured W. Murad "Pointer" target stocks with a thumb-shelf on the left panel for a right-handed shooter. The grips appear to have had custom texturing applied along the frontstrap. The grips otherwise show light handling wear with a few scattered minor marks. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Very Good condition as not original to the gun.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There are infrequent spots of minor erosion in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 8+/10.

Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 60% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is handling wear in the grip areas. There is other scattered wear, mostly along the sides of the barrel and around the outside of the cylinder. Most worn areas have light oxidation and minor erosion. There are some other scattered light marks. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this revolver. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork, and Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: The Colt Army Special was introduced with the Army in mind, and quickly came to be noted for its accuracy, winning the National Revolver Match in 1911 and establishing a new range record at Camp Perry the same year. Unfortunately, Colt was never able to interest the Army in a medium framed revolver, and changed its name to the "Official Police" in 1928 after they found that the New York Police Department, among others, were willing to adopt the revolver. The Colt Official Police is a medium frame, six-shot, double-action revolver with a six-round cylinder, primarily chambered for the .38 Special cartridge, and manufactured by the Colt Manufacturing Company. The intended target market for the Official Police was law enforcement and it became one of the best selling police firearms of all time, epitomizing typical perception of a police sidearm.

This Official Police was produced in 1960 and has a 4" barrel. It shows signs of use over the last 60 years, but retains a good bore and strong mechanics. The revolver has been equipped with a set of vintage target stocks from W. Murad. It will make a neat addition to a collection missing the Official Police and should be able to throw lead down range for another lifetime. Please see our photos and good luck!