Colt Official Police .38 Special, Pre-War 1940, 5-Inch Barrel, Blued DA/SA Revolver
This pre-war 1940 Colt Official Police is a classic E-frame service revolver in .38 Special with a 5-inch barrel and a blued carbon-steel build. It features the period-correct half-moon front sight, matted topstrap and top barrel flat, and checkered walnut stocks with Colt medallions. Factory markings include the Colt rampant horse on the left frame and the triangular VP proof on the left front of the trigger guard, with assembler/inspector marks on the crane/yoke. The bore is bright and clean with sharp rifling.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good condition, showing some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Overall Condition: Excellent - Clean, mirror finish, no signs of wear.
Bore Rifling: Excellent Rifling - Sharp lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: There are handling marks consistent with prior use. The finish shows areas of wear, including holster wear and localized finish loss.
What’s Included
- Colt Official Police .38 Spl. revolver (5-inch barrel)
Built on Colt’s medium E-frame, this Official Police carries the hallmark pre-war configuration: a six-shot fluted cylinder, square-butt grip frame, and an unshrouded, knurled ejector rod. The cylinder closes clockwise and uses Colt’s rearward-pull latch, reflecting the company’s period design.
The revolver is constructed from carbon steel with a blued finish. Functional details include an exposed hammer, a serrated trigger, and Colt’s Positive Lock internal safety. The matted topstrap and top barrel flat help reduce glare, complementing the revolver’s service-focused layout.
Sighting is fixed and period-correct, with a half-moon blade up front and a topstrap groove at the rear. The bore condition is excellent, with a clean, mirror finish and sharp lands and grooves.
Original-style two-piece checkered walnut stocks feature inset Colt medallions. Factory markings include the Colt rampant horse logo on the left frame, the triangular VP proof on the left front of the trigger guard, and assembler/inspector marks “L” and an asterisk on the crane/yoke. This example was manufactured in the United States in 1940.