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BLASPHEMY!!!

Back in the late 80's I bought 5 of the Police Positives (second issue) that had been surplused by some South American police dept for $65 each. They were beat up, well worn..etc as you might expect. I used them for tackle box / boat guns. Kept a couple in my pickups, and every day basic beaters. Then one day I woke up and realize, that those were still very fine guns. I've managed to replace some of the worst worn parts and they now reside in places of honor amoung my other revolvers. They have handled some of my hottest reloads for 38 Spec with no problems. I love the small size, but they are a handful with hot ammo.

Okay, then I'll double-down on blasphemy.

There are plenty of BIG dollar handguns out there. A guy can spend $5K on a 1911, so the 'too expensive to make' argument doesn't hold water. If the Colt DA designs were superior in any way there would still be some sort of new gun market - they're not, so there isn't.

But, the there's no denying the appeal Colt DA's have with some folks and that's fine. Owning a piece of old time craftsmanship and history are good reasons, IMO.

That's a legitimate way to look at it. I'm also a fan of the old S&Ws. Like you say, tuned up right, they're just as good, as a practical matter, as the old Colts, some say better. But then you could also argue that a $50.00 quarts wristwatch is just as good as a hand assembled Swiss mechanical wristwatch, as it keeps time just as well, if not better.

There's still a new market for hand-assembled Swiss watches.

I got 5 from AIM 10 years ago for destructive test, and then realized I had found treasure.
I have been collecting Colts ever since.
Don't try to re time them without first doing it by the numbers per this book
http://www.amazon.com/Colt-Double-Action-Revolvers-Manual/dp/B000IXMGDS

Thanks Clarkm, I placed an order for one of the books. I have one pistol that is very marginal on lock up and timing. Usually have to rock the hammer back a little a second time to get everything aligned and locked.

This is my simplistic view of how the double action timing works:
The trigger pushes on the hand that pushes on the ejector & ratchet that rotates the cylinder.
But before the hand reaches the ratchet, the trigger pushes on the strut that pushes on the hammer that pushes on the rebound lever that pushes on the tang of the bolt that causes the bolt to pivot and releases the cylinder for rotating.
As the trigger moves back further, the tang of the bolt falls off the cam of the rebound lever, allowing the bolt spring to push the bolt against the cylinder. As the cylinder revolves further the bolt drops into the cylinder slot, locking the cylinder. As the trigger pulls further, the trigger clears the strut and the hammer falls.

My simplistic way is adjusting timing:
a) Shorten the strut.
b) File on the cam on the rebound lever.
c) Bend the tang on the bolt.

My simplistic warning:
The problem that there are lots of constraints, and one can't put material back on an action bar or hand.
So that is why one should follow the directions in the book and go through all the tests to determine exactly what should be done first. If you had a handful of rebound levers and hands, you could go around in circles wasting parts.
New replacement parts are too big and don't work right until fitted.
Existing parts that were fitted at the factory should probably not have any more material removed.

Thanks for everyone's input. I went to look at the PPS Sat morning and it was nice but I decided against it. The asking price was not negotiable and even though it had been reblued by Colt, there was something at the end of the barrel that didn't look right. I am not a collector but if I had bought it and then went to sell it, I would had gotten beaten up because of the reblue.

I did however go the the local gunshow and after much fondling of many revolvers ,I came home with a very nice (but not perfect) original S&W Model 66 no dash with a 4" barrel. Anyone have a set of carbide dies they need to part with?

Thanks again,

I was going to that gunshow yesterday but came down with the flu. Better today, but not until too late to head down. Glad to hear you scratched your itch. Lots of guys like the old Colts and indeed they were fine weapons in their day. Lots of them are wore out though. If you didn't feel right about it, it probably wasn't right.