Colt Officers Model 22 Revolver Serial Numbers
Picked this up today. Serial number is 657XXX. Date of Birth 1941/1942. One of the last Pre-war OM's. Serial number is part of the Official Police Range from that time period.
Colt's Manufacturing Company - firearms, handguns, pistols, rifles, revolvers. Colt Officers Model Target The. My gun isn't listed there, and the serial number ranges for. As the other.22's. As an example, I own a 1954 Colt. Colt Officers Model Target The Harley. I've just acquired an Officers Model Target revolver. Here's what Colt's official serial number listing shows for the.
Which, according to R.L. Wilson, is correct. Haven't shot it it. It's in very good shape. Sorry about the photos. Paid $500.00 for it.
Very clean, shiny bore, great lock-up ect. Just for giggles here it is compared to my S&W K-38.
Yes I know it has rubber grips on it. I didn't have the time or inclination to dig out the Magna grips that came with it.
That's a good one, and you got it at a good price. These guns can be quite accurate, though I still have a problem trying to shoot them with my Smith-adapted hands.
I have been told that once I have come to terms with the different grip, I will get tighter groups from a Colt than a Smith. Maybe, but even if that turns out to be true I doubt I would attribute it to inherent target superiority in the Colt. The Colt OMs are built on a frame that is just slightly larger and slightly heavier than the S&W K-frame. I do better with heavier guns, and that might eventually give me an edge with a Colt. In my experience, the.38/44 Outdoorsman of any vintage is the best.38 target revolver ever made.
I admit I have not yet had a chance to work with a Colt Shooting Master in.38 Special, so I have not yet made a true large-frame comparison. One of my favorite non-S&W revolvers is this early Colt Officers Model from 1904 and built on the New Army and Navy frame.
SN 230308, only about 400 higher than the lowest number reported on one of these adjustable sight models, which were numbered together with the fixed sight models. At this time (and until 1908) the Colt lockwork involved a right-side sideplate and cylinder that rotated counterclockwise. With the introduction of the Army Special they adopted the basic configuration of the most successful Colt DAs of the 20th century. When I picked this gun up it needed some light repair, including a new hand spring (a notorious weak point on the New Army and Navy Model).
It's all together now, but I have not had a chance to get it to the range. I'm looking forward to the trip. Wonderful stocks on this one.
For an old Colt Officer's Model Target.22 caliber revolver, with an 5 digit serial number of 19317 and, with the last patent date(Year)of 1926, which issue would this version of these Officer's Model Target.22's be? Whatever issue this might be, is this one of the good issues or one with a lower collector value and/or just not being as good of an Officer's Model.22, as the better issues of these guns? The asking price for this particular OMT.22 is $850 and, is this too much to pay for this gun being in 98% condition, as estimated? What other information can anyone tell me about this particular issue of an OMT.22? Your OMT 22 dates out to be 1938 as serial numbers are reported to start with 18,000 in 1938 and start with 21,000 in 1939.
Little or no production ocurred during the WWII years and Colt assembled the early post war models from parts on hand prior to introducing the Officers Model Special. Using the Blue Book notation on 'issue', it would be considered a 'Third Issue'. The Third Issue is the 22 version of the OMT first introduced in 1930 and continued until 1949 when the Officers Model Special was introduced. Colt started a new serial number series with the introduction of this revolver relative to the older Officers Model revolvers which were first introduced in 1904 more or less with a counter clockwise cylinder rotation.
That was changed to the typical Colt clockwise rotation with the second issue OM. You are looking at a fine pre-war revolver. The dealer has the gun listed at the high end of current Blue Book values. Blue Book lists $825 for 100% and $750 for 98% with an additional 10% added to the value for the 22 models. Prices have been increasing on most Colt revolvers and I suspect that this is about current market price. Sounds like a very nice speciman and collectable.
I would probably jump on it if I were looking for one and could afford the price as the price has been climbing steadily. The Officers Model Special is the most rare of the OM models due to limited production prior to the introduction of the Officers Model Match ('Fifth Issue'). The OMM continued to be offered until 1969 when it was dropped from production. These were considered the premium Colt 22 Revolvers of the day and are all hand fitted like the Python. Welcome to the world of Colt 22 revolvers.
They are my thing!.22-rimfire: Thanks for your very authorative and complete information! I had thought that this OMT.22 that I was looking at, was a third issue-but, it has been a few years since I had even considered an Officer's Model revolver, so I hadn't been reading anything about these(And I didn't have any Colt reference books to view)! Right now, I only own a NIB Officer's Model Special.38. I have never found another OMS in.22 caliber!
1877 Lightning
How would not having the gun box or papers with the third issue OMT.22, impact it's current value? Although this gun shop is asking $850 for this gun, the best price that I can get them down to is $800(Plus tax & fees)! I didn't want to overpay for one of these revolvers if this was considered to be too much, for what I'm going to get for this amount of money(Almost $900 OTD!)? Afterall, this price is very close to what Pythons are priced at in this shop(Which I was at first considering)! Of course, the bluing on these old OMT's isn't bright and shiny, like the Pythons(However, whatever type of bluing these OMT's have, seems to be a very durable, and long lasting finish)?
One thing that I happen to like about this old third issue OMT.22, is the Colt(Deep dark)redish brown wood service stocks(Looks like this is heart wood?)! Were these an extra cost option on these OMT's back in 1938? I also noticed the two tiny front sight adjustment screws(Looks like this might be frustrating to enable adjusting the front sights?)with one screw directly in front of the sight and one on the rear side of the front sight). The factory stocks were walnut and usually had the Colt insert medallion. Early Officer's Models sometimes did not have the medallion. I believe there were some other offerings for stocks, I would have to look it up in a catalog.
The front sights are called 'Patridge' which are adjustable for elevation and the rear sight for windage. Colt went to a different sight with the Officers Model Specials called the 'Coltmaster' which was adjustable for both windage and elevation. If the revolver is a 98% gun, I would seriously consider buying it. The box and paper work is always a bonus. Yes, the box and paper work have value and would increase the value of the revolver. But, I consider the price you were quoted to be fair if you are interested in one of these 22 revolvers.
The OMT was always the premium target 22 revolver with the Official Police being the standard production gun. Many matches were won with these revolvers until the automatics gained favor.
Pre-War
In particular the Woodsman Match Target was introduced in 1938 and match shooters went with the automatics for accuracy and consistancy. From the sound of things, this revolver is one I would tuck away for the future although you won't hurt a 98% revolver shooting it as long as you store it properly, don't holster it, or fail to clean it (ie wipe it down with oil). Well, I'm very much impressed about how well made these old OMT.22's are! Although I like this revolver, I'm still stunned with 'Sticker shock' regarding the original asking price of $850 and the fact that the party that owns this 'Consigned' gun, doesn't want to budge off of his lowest acceptable price of $800(Before tax and fees)!
What worries me, is that since these don't seem to be real popular revolvers with the masses, that I'm concerned that in the event that I should ever wish to sell this OMT.22, that this gun might be a hard sell(And, I would at least like to recoup my original investment, in this case?)? I just can't get over the fact that most gun shops are asking near Python prices for these OMT.22's(Private parties also!)? I'm really pondering over possibly buying this gun-but, since I'm sweating this out, I went and placed a hold on this gun, until next thursday! I am glad that I have just about all the guns I want because I certainly couldn't afford to build a collection at today's prices. I am not a collector so I wouldn't be interested in a pristine gun with box at $800, but if one can be found for $400 they are fantastic shooters. Here's #45XX, supposedly first year for the.22 caliber.
Chambers aren't even counter-bored. Apparently Colt didn't start doing that for a few years after the model was introduced. Hasn't stopped it from firing countless rounds in competition for many decades.
The stocks are from the 1950s. Click to expand.How many do you see for sale? Those of us who have them tend to hang on to them. Collectors are always on the hunt for them and the.22lr is the premium model (behind the.32 caliber which can have insane prices when you find one). While you may wince at the price consider that it is a premium target revolver in excellent condition and almost 70 years old. If you decide to pass it probably won't be long before someone snaps it up.
Post-War
That is a decent price for one in that condition today. It probably won't be long before they will cost $1000 or better. Majic: 1)Thanks! 2)Are you meaning everything that you said above also to the Third Edition of the OMT.22, like this 1938 vintage OMT.22 is? 3)Although I would liked to have found an OMS.22 to go with my NIB OMS.38 revolver, I kinda liked this particular OMT.22(Despite it not being an- OMS.22)! This sort of took me by surprise, because I had never before actually had taken to these earlier Officer's Model.22's?
I'm beginning to understand their certain beauty and charm! I know that for awhile, I was on a Python kick-but, now(Although I do like this OMT.22)I'm not yet, used to the idea of these guns being priced right up there with the Pythons? At first, I thought that this just might be a 'Rip off' in view of Colt not making any revolvers any longer-with everybody trying to make a quick killing on all Colt revolvers? IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER Although The High Road has attempted to provide accurate information on the forum, The High Road assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information. All information is provided 'as is' with all faults without warranty of any kind, either express or implied. Neither The High Road nor any of its directors, members, managers, employees, agents, vendors, or suppliers will be liable for any direct, indirect, general, bodily injury, compensatory, special, punitive, consequential, or incidental damages including, without limitation, lost profits or revenues, costs of replacement goods, loss or damage to data arising out of the use or inability to use this forum or any services associated with this forum, or damages from the use of or reliance on the information present on this forum, even if you have been advised of the possibility of such damages.