Description
Colt Detective Special 38 2nd Series 1969 Excellent condition.
Second Series
The Second Series ran from 1947 to 1972. The ejector-rod was longer and had a groove in its knurled tip; a 3-inch (76 mm) barrel variant was offered, with a yet longer ejector rod. The cylinder latch was smooth, and the trigger spur serrated. The right side frame screw has no locking pin, and the rear half of the front sight is a serrated ramp. The grip panels were plastic in 1947, but were changed back to wood starting in 1955 (first with a silver-tone Colt medallion, and later a gold-tone).
An optional hammer shroud was available from the factory to prevent the hammer from catching on clothing.[5]
Transition from the First to Second Series was gradual, with some post-WWII Second Series guns retaining short ejector rods and checkered hammers. Because of this, assigning a given revolver to a particular issue is best done by serial number.
During the 1960s, the grip frame of the Second Series Detective Special was shortened, matching that of Colt’s other snub-nosed pistols, the Cobra and Agent.
Despite this alteration, the Detective Special’s overall grip size remained unchanged, as Colt fitted the Second Series with new, lengthened gripstocks that extended below the frame.[5]
