Colt Banker’s Special
The Colt Banker's Special is one of the most valuable of the small 'modern' Colts. It was made from 1926 to 1943 with a very short barrel (2 inches). A total of 35,000 were manufactured in the following calibers: 22 LR (very rare), 32 S&W Long, and 38 S&W (I have seen these advertised as being chambered for the 38 Special cartridge, I have never seen one in 38 SPL, and the cylinder is not long enough to hold a 38 SPL cartridge. I think that some get confused because it says Banker's Special along side the number 38, so they assume it must be 38 SPL). The Banker's Special was the official side-arm of the US Post Office railway clerks. The Hong Kong Police ordered quite a few of these in the S&W 38 caliber, and some of these Hong Kong revolvers were later exported to Uruguay when the Hong Kong police moved to a more modern handgun. An interesting footnote to the Banker's Special is that on the 60s TV programs from Hollywood (77 Sunset Strip and the FBI series) Efraim Zimbalist Jr. carried a Banker's Special. He was not a large man, so all other revolvers that were put in his hand made him look even smaller. Someone purchased a Banker's Special in the 32 Long Colt caliber and that is what he carried for the duration of those shows. I have no idea how many actual 'Bankers' purchased these guns designed for them - it seems that it was more popular with law enforcement officers and even military personnel than with Bankers themselves.
The photos here are of a Colt Banker's Special in my personal collection. It is serial # 355856 and is in almost mint condition with only a bit of surface rust on the right side. It has the two inch barrel and overall is 6 1/2 inches. What made these Colts popular and easy to use was that while they were small guns with short barrels they also had full-sized grips, so were quite easy to handle, and they were surprisingly accurate.
For some reason, I was convinced that this was 1935 model. The left side of the slide contains Colt's usual patent claims. I have the original box and the symbols listed inside the box would identify the gun as the'Bankers' Special, Detective Special or Police Positive. The box looks quite old. I am astounded that this gun would be that old. Technically speaking, Colt serial numbers tend jump all over the place with no set pattern. That’s why it’s difficult to understand them without a point of reference. Design changes can also change the look of the serial numbers. For example, there is the issue of the 1970s Colt M1911’s commercial production.
Make: Colt Model: Bankers’ Special.22 Serial Number: 368140 Year of Manufacture: 1933 – First Year of.22 Production Caliber:.22 Short, Long and Long Rifle Action Type: Single and Double Action Revolver with Swing-Out Cylinder. Colt Bankers Special Production Information In same serial number range as Police Positive.38: Year: Serial Number Range: 1928: 100: 1929: 185001-New serial series, in same serial number range as Police Positive.32 &.38 on.38 frame and Bankers' Special: 1930: 300: 1931: 300: 1932: 300: 1933: 360001. Colt Police Positive Banker’s Special Copy.38 S&W (C12296) Colt Police Positive Banker’s Special copy.38 S&W caliber revolver. This gun is an original Colt Police Positive that has a real Banker’s Special barrel screwed in.
Richard
Colt Banker’s Special
The Colt Banker's Special is one of the most valuable of the small 'modern' Colts. It was made from 1926 to 1943 with a very short barrel (2 inches). A total of 35,000 were manufactured in the following calibers: 22 LR (very rare), 32 S&W Long, and 38 S&W (I have seen these advertised as being chambered for the 38 Special cartridge, I have never seen one in 38 SPL, and the cylinder is not long enough to hold a 38 SPL cartridge. I think that some get confused because it says Banker's Special along side the number 38, so they assume it must be 38 SPL). The Banker's Special was the official side-arm of the US Post Office railway clerks. The Hong Kong Police ordered quite a few of these in the S&W 38 caliber, and some of these Hong Kong revolvers were later exported to Uruguay when the Hong Kong police moved to a more modern handgun. An interesting footnote to the Banker's Special is that on the 60s TV programs from Hollywood (77 Sunset Strip and the FBI series) Efraim Zimbalist Jr. carried a Banker's Special. He was not a large man, so all other revolvers that were put in his hand made him look even smaller. Someone purchased a Banker's Special in the 32 Long Colt caliber and that is what he carried for the duration of those shows. I have no idea how many actual 'Bankers' purchased these guns designed for them - it seems that it was more popular with law enforcement officers and even military personnel than with Bankers themselves.
Colt Serial Numbers By Model
The photos here are of a Colt Banker's Special in my personal collection. It is serial # 355856 and is in almost mint condition with only a bit of surface rust on the right side. It has the two inch barrel and overall is 6 1/2 inches. What made these Colts popular and easy to use was that while they were small guns with short barrels they also had full-sized grips, so were quite easy to handle, and they were surprisingly accurate.
Colt Bankers Special 22 Value
Richard