Colt det spcl

[TNsailorman]

[Winger Ed.]

Good looking.
In the scheme of things, those are among the more valuable revolvers.

[Der Gebirgsjager]

A 3 inch! Very nice. Looks close to new. Congratulations.

[georgerkahn]

Congrats!!!! Twenty-plus years back I chanced seeing one at a fairly local shop, and thought about buying it for quite a while before it was decided it should follow me home. My one and only prohibition was the rather -- scratch that, really -- high price. But, I've had zero regrets. Mine is the two inch version, in.38 S&W Special; s/n AE51xx which was made in 1993. There's just "something" about the way it fits in the hand and almost points to target without any aiming effort. You definitely, again, made a great choice; best wishes with it!
geo

[Outpost75]

3-inch in the DS is a rare gun. Great shooter. Yours is much prettier than mine.

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Professional repair and refurb is not inexpensive, but I now have an EDC I can trust my life to for a total cost much less than a collector-grade 3" Colt revolver off GunBroker which would still need to be gunsmith tweaked for carry.

[Petrol & Powder]

If you're looking for a 6 round, DA revolver in 38 Special with a tapered barrel and petite frame - The Colt Detective Special is a good candidate.
Those D frame Colts fit in the size/weight slot between S&W J-frames and S&W K-frames; which is what makes them so desirable.
There's really nothing else that fills that niche.

The Detective Specials are just a bit smaller/lighter than their S&W K-frame counter parts but they are easier to shoot than a J-frame. That extra round is just icing on the cake. However, they are well into the "collectors" range these days in terms of price and the number of competent gunsmiths that know how to work on them is drying up even faster.

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My second Gen has the shrouded ejector rod which isn't as slim as the first gen DS but it's still a compact gun.

[Texas by God]

Just send it to my FFL if you don’t mind

[9.3X62AL]

I GREATLY FAVOR the 3rd-generation Colt DetSpecs. They are the best snubnose 38 Special this country has produced. The S&W M&Ps are a close 2nd place, but the shrouded-rod DS beats them with size and ergonomics. The OEM grip sets on these are among the few that fit me well, the S&Ws require Pachmayr Compacs to suit me. Sad that both are out of print, along with the S&W Models 13/65 x 3". In this day of snubby pre-eminence in the wheelgun world, that any of these models hasn't been brought back is a travesty.

[TNsailorman]

I like the little Colt and here is his larger cousin, a 3”S&W Model 13.

[Petrol & Powder]

The S&W 3" RB model 13/65 was one of the best combat revolvers ever made for concealed carry. One of the only good ideas the FBI ever had.

In the world of snubnose DA revolvers I lean towards the S&W and Ruger types more than the Colts but the 2" steel Detective Special and the alloy framed Cobra's and Agents have their place.