New to me OP

[JayinAZ]

I went to big gunshow in Phoenix today and picked up a 1943 vintage Colt OP in .38, with a 6" heavy bbl.

It came with fugly rubber stocks and Brauer Bros. holster. I put on set that came on my Army Special.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/12/07/ry6uvahu.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/12/07/8ajapare.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/12/07/ejysa7y5.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/12/07/apu9e3us.jpg

I'm going to break it in tomorrow. :)

[smoked turkey]

Those are nice revolvers. Typically the actions are smooth as silk. Yours looks very pristine. Looks like the gun show was a success. I'm sure you'll be grinning all over tomorrow when you give it a go.

[rintinglen]

I've a 5 inch nickled 1950 OP that I like but I sure wouldn't mind having one like yours. What a fine looking gun.

[jumbeaux]

Great revolver sir....

rick

[scattershot]

Nice score! Not many folks know that those share lockwork with the Python. They are great shooters, you'll enjoy it!

[Outpost75]

They are also strong and stand up to +P loads OK. Don't abuse it with heavy low-end .357 style Skeeter and Elmer loads, but for any factory equivalent .38 Special it is a sturdy and durable gun. My 4-incher is of similar age to yours and has been a reliable companion for many years.

[MtGun44]

Very nice example. The good news is that this has the same lockwork as the famed
Python. The bad news is that this has the same lockwork as the Python. . . . . .

Smooth, nice actions and usually accurate guns. Unfortunately gunsmiths that are familiar
with them are getting pretty thin on the ground and if they are shot a lot, they need
tuning occasionally. I like my Colts, but they are a bit persnickety.

Bill

[C. Latch]

Those are very, very nice revolvers. I've never shot a 6" model but I can't imagine it being anything but a laser-beam, and smooth as silk.

[bedbugbilly]

What year is the Army Special you have? This will certainly make a good companion to it!

I have a Army Special - 6" that was made in 1910 - a nice shooting revolver. I had a good excuse to buy the one I have - it came out in 1908 and my Dad was born in 1908 - the named was changed from Army Special to Official Police in 1927 - the same year my Dad graduated from high school. It just seemed to make sense to me to buy the AS since is sort of had close ties to my Dad . . . I'm still working on the excuse for buying the Smith pre 15 Combat Masterpiece and pre 10 . . . :-)

Your OP is a great looking revolver . . . let us know how it shoots!

[birch]

There is no no negative with the Official Police having a Python lockwork. They are very strong in every respect. I have had five or six OPs over the years and every one of them was smooth as silk and tight as a drum. If you could shoot one of those loose in a lifetime I would be surprised. I had a "shooting master" version that had thousands and thousands of rounds down the pipe and it shot like my new OP.

You would also be well served to find an original to period set of grips for that ol' girl.

[JayinAZ]

Thanks for the comments guys. I did shoot it and it is accurate but prints a bit left with the loads I've tried so far. I am going to have to take it to Frank Glenn though, it has the late bolt drop issue.

My AS is from 1923 and is a .32-20. It has a lot of end shake and I need to get it fixed too.

[waksupi]

I really enjoy my Official Police. It is my "go-to" gun if I want to do a lot of fast double action work. Some of the guys I shoot against wish I would loose it, or at least leave it at home.

[Char-Gar]

I am a fan of old Colt's and the Army Special/Official Police is a favorite of mine. Here is my 5" 1954 vintage Official Police. It is a good one.

[prs]

MTGUN, you are scaring me. My python has been in my regular use since 1976, maybe I should retire it? Nahhhh..... ;-)


prs

[300savage]

now thats sexy... love those classy grips on that old warrior.
my father has one i have shot considerable, what a sweet shooter it is. i actually shot it better than my python, go figure.
my only issue was the size in relation to the caliber, if anything it is a pistol that just says 357 magnum when you hold it.
dont want to be fed no wimpy 38's.. its a mans gun built for men who planned on using it to maximum effect in a bad situation.
its a fighting pistol,, and makes my python look and feel like its yuppy city pretty boy cousin.

[Scharfschuetze]

Nice OP Jay. Love those grips you put on it.

Here's my OP circa 1957. Given it's pedigree, it's with some of my old LE paraphernalia.

[rintinglen]

90363
You camera buffs make me ashamed! Here's my 5 inch 1950 gun.