Colt .38 Special Army value?

Rembrandt

Have the opportunity to acquire a Colt .38 caliber revolver, with 6" barrel...marked "Special Army", or could be turned around..."Army Special". Very nice condition little if any use, no rust, no pits. Maybe 70-80%, some holster wear on the bluing. Has black hard rubber grips. Serial number 504,XXX. They want $300....too much or about right?

axlerfan

i have one of these, in near mint condition (yes it is, not a reblue, just very well taken care of), came with the box/papers, paid 400 for it....to be conservative, id give it a 98% overall, with the only wear indications on it being a faint line around the cylinder (hasnt worn thru the bluing, just shows its been turned a few times) and a lightening of the bluing onthe upper right side of the front site on the edge....most people would probably call it 99% or better, but maybe im finicky. anyway, very well made, very smooth action, trigger is crisp, bluing is beautiful, and one day before i die, ill find out if it shoots worth a darn.

Rembrandt

Thanks guy's for the info...much appreciated

JudgeColt

I must disagree with Dr. Pig. The Army Special is NOT a forerunner of the New Service. The Army Specual is the forerunner of the Official Police, Officer's Model, Python, Trooper, Marshall, .357, Commando etc.. It is a successror to the New Army and New Navy. It is an I-frame that Colt considered a .41 caliber-size frame. It was introduced in 1908.The New Service is a .45 caliber-size frame and was introduced in 1898. The New Service is a huge revolver. The Army Speical is comparable to the L-frame Smith & Wesson in size. The New Service is larger than the N-frame Smiths.A huge number of I-frame Colts were made and the Army Speical is not a high-priced gun unless mint and boxed. Many people think any old Colt is worth a lot, and sometimes at estate auctions and the like, two people will run one of these up, but the gun described is probably worth $200 to $250 tops.