Not to be confused with Colt Police Positive.
The Colt Army Special, later sold as the Colt Official Police, is a double action revolver, designed and produced by Colt.
It was intended to supplant the over-complicated Colt New Army and New Navy revolvers in the US military, which were becoming outdated. While it didn't secure that many military contracts, it instead found use by the various American law enforcement agencies. Indeed, this lead to the revolver eventually to be renamed as the Official Police in 1927.
It was delivered in the largest quantity to police organizations in the United States. It was widely used as the standard firearm by police departments and other law enforcement agencies until the 1950s. It was gradually supplanted by Smith & Wesson revolvers chambered in the more powerful .357 Magnum [9 x 33mm R] cartridge.
A simplified version with a 4-inch barrel, parkerized finish, and plastic "Coltwood" grip panels dubbed the Colt Commando was made during World War II. It was mostly issued to defense plant security guards domestically and merchant mariners and Army Military Police overseas. General Dwight D. Eisenhower carried one in the place of a Colt M1908 pistol. A snub-nosed model with a 2-inch barrel was used by aircrews, OSS and SOE secret agents and US Army intelligence and counter-intelligence personnel was dubbed the Colt Junior Commando.
History[]
Moonraker (novel)[]
James Bond has a 6-inch barreled Army Special stowed in a holster mounted in the glove compartment of his 1930 Bentley.
Goldfinger (novel)[]
It might also be the revolver concealed under the driver's seat in James Bond's Aston Martin DB Mark III in Goldfinger.
From a View to a Kill[]
James Bond carries a similar revolver in the short story .
Bond's revolver is erroneously described as chambered in .45 Long Colt [11.43 x 33mm R]. This means Fleming, who wasn't well-versed with firearms, didn't realize the Army Special didn't chamber the high-powered round. Either that or he might have confused the Army Special with the larger-framed M1873 Single Action Army or M1909 New Service.
Goldfinger (film)[]
Auric Goldfinger's uses a gold-plated Colt Official Police as his personal pistol.
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (film)[]
Marc-Ange Draco and his men are seen carrying Colt Official Police revolvers during the mountain assault on Piz Gloria.
Trivia[]
- The gun was offered in .22 Long Rifle Rimfire [5.6 x 15mm RF] (1927-1969), .32-20 Winchester Center-Fire (.32-20 WCF, AKA ".32 Colt Lightning") [7.9 x 33.4mm R] (1908-1942), .38 Short Colt (.38 SC) [9.1 x 19.4mm R] (1908-1927?), .38 Long Colt (.38 LC) [9.1 x 26mm R] (1908-1927?), .38 Smith & Wesson (.38 S&W, AKA ".38 Colt New Police") [9x20mm R] (1927-1947), .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special, AKA ".38 Colt Special") [9.1 x 29mm R] (1908-1969), .41 Long Colt (.41 LC) [9.8 x 29mm R] (1908-1938).