Colt Detective Special Second Issue .38 Special Revolver, 2 in Barrel, Blued, 1964
This 1964 Colt Detective Special is a Second Issue snubnose in .38 Special with a 2-inch barrel and six-shot D-frame. It features the classic Second Issue configuration: unshrouded knurled-tip ejector rod, serrated top rib, fixed sights, and checkered walnut stocks with silver Colt medallions. Built in the United States with a polished blue finish over carbon steel, it presents as a compact, collectible plainclothes revolver with an excellent bore.
Its period-correct details and 1960s manufacture give it strong appeal to Colt enthusiasts. The exposed hammer DA/SA action and Colt Positive Safety Lock reflect the model’s well-known carry credentials. Overall condition is good, with a bright, clean bore and sharp rifling noted.
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: Light surface rust is present in some areas from prior handling and use. Assorted handling marks are visible.
What’s Included
- Colt Detective Special Second Issue .38 Special revolver
Produced in 1964, this Second Issue Detective Special carries the hallmark updates of its era, including the unshrouded, knurled-tip ejector rod and a serrated top rib on the 2-inch barrel. The compact D-frame design retains a full six-round capacity in .38 Special.
Construction is all carbon steel with a polished blue finish, complemented by a blued cylinder. Sighting is straightforward and durable, with a fixed frame notch rear and an integral ramped front blade for a clean, snag-resistant profile.
The action is DA/SA with an exposed hammer, and it incorporates Colt’s Positive Safety Lock. These features contribute to the model’s reputation as a dependable plainclothes revolver from its period.
Factory-style stocks are checkered walnut with silver Colt medallions in the short, rounded Detective profile. Recognized as a classic snubnose revolver, this configuration is widely associated with mid-century American plainclothes carry.