Colt Detective Special The Colt Detective Special is a carbon steel framed double - action short - barreled revolver , and is an example of a class of firearms known to gun enthusiasts as " snubnosed " , " snubbies " , or " belly guns " . As the name " Detective Special " suggests , this model revolver was used as a concealed weapon by plainclothes police detective s . Introduced in 1927 , the Detective Special was one of the first short - barreled revolvers produced with a modern swing - out frame . It was designed from the outset to be chambered for higher - powered cartridges such as the . 38 Special , considered to be a powerful caliber for a concealable pocket revolver of the day . Design development . The Detective Special is by design a shortened and somewhat streamlined Colt Police Positive Special , sharing that revolver ' s slim ' D ' size frame and six round capacity . The DS uses a slightly smaller frame than the Colt Official Police or Smith & Wesson ' K ' Frame revolvers , but is larger than the compact ' J ' frame used in Smith & Wesson five - shot revolvers . The Detective Special went through several issues or series . The First Series was produced from 1927 until 1946 . Compared to later production models , the First Series used a narrower frame , with reduced clearance between the frontstrap of the gripframe and the rear of the trigger guard . Other distinctive features included a shorter ejector - rod with an ungrooved , knurled tip ; a checkered hammer spur and cylinder latch , a " half - moon " - shaped front sight , and an overlapping screw and locking pin set - up on the right side of the frame . Grip panels were wooden . A rounded butt on the metal frame became standard in 1933 , but pieces with the original square butt ( like that of the Police Positive Special ) continued to be produced into the 1940s . The Second Series ran from 1947 to 1972 . The ejector - rod was longer and had a groove in its knurled tip ; a three - inch - barrel variant was offered , with a yet longer ejector - rod . The cylinder latch was smooth , and the trigger spur serrated . The right side frame screw has no locking pin , and the rear half of the front sight is a serrated ramp . The grip panels were plastic in 1947 , but were changed back to wood starting in 1955 ( first with a silver - tone Colt medallion , and later a gold - tone ) . An optional hammer shroud was available from the factory to prevent the hammer from catching on clothing . The transition from First to Second Series was gradual , with some post - WWII Second Series guns retaining short ejector rods and checkered hammers . Because of this , assigning a given revolver to a particular issue is best done by serial number . During the 1960s , the grip frame of the Second Series Detective Special was shortened , matching that of Colt ' s other snub - nosed pistols , the Cobra and Agent . Despite this alteration , the Detective Special ' s overall grip size remained unchanged , as Colt fitted the Second Series with new , lengthened gripstocks that extended below the frame . The Third Series ran from 1973 to 1986 . A new shroud extended down from the barrel , enclosing and protecting the ejector - rod , and the front sight was changed to a full ramp . New , oversize wood gripstocks were introduced that covered the front frame strap . The Third Series featured improvements to the revolver ' s internal lockwork as well . As with the previous two Series , a few nickel - plated guns were produced , and a 3 - inch - barrel variant was again offered . In 1986 , facing stagnant sales numbers as well as rising production and labor costs , Colt discontinued production of the Detective Special . Colt filed for bankruptcy protection in 1992 . After reorganization , the company restarted production of the Detective Special in 1993 . The post - 1992 Detective Special is sometimes called the Fourth Series , and featured " composite " ( rubber ) , wrap - around grips with a gold medallion . Only a two - inch barrel was offered , in blue or hard chrome finish . The new production run continued only until 1995 , when Colt introduced its stainless - steel SF - VI as a replacement for the Detective Special . From its introduction , the Detective Special used Colt ' s ‘ Positive Safety Lock ’ ( hammer block ) , first featured on the Police Positive ; the mechanism interposes a bar between hammer and frame until the trigger is pulled , preventing accidental discharge if the hammer is struck ( e . g . , if a dropped gun falls onto its hammer ) with the trigger forward . First and early Second Series Detective Specials are becoming highly sought after by collectors , particularly if they are in prime condition and still have the famous Colt ' Royal Blue ' finish . Calibers and Finishes . The Detective Special was initially available in both bright blued and nickel finishes ; a stainless steel finish replaced the nickeled option during the Fourth Series . For the Second Series , caliber options were . 32 New Police , . 38 New Police , and . 38 Special ; only . 38 Special was offered for the other Series . The standard barrel length was 2 inches , but also a ( rare ) three - inch - barrel was offered during the Second and Third Series . Submodels and Variants . One early variant based on the DS frame was the Colt " Banker ' s Special " . First produced in 1928 , it was chambered in . 38 Colt New Police ( . 38 S & W ) and . 22 Long Rifle . Few were made , particularly in . 22LR caliber . The " Banker ' s Special " was popular with railway clerks , who often carried them on mail and parcel freight trains prior to World War II . During World War II production was discontinued , and the type was not revived following the war ' s end . The Colt " Commando Special " was a version of the Detective Special with a matte finish and rubber grips ; produced from 1984 to 1986 , it was chambered in . 38 Special and weighed 21 . 5 oz . During the Fourth Series production run of 1993 – 1995 , Colt offered the Detective Special with an optional de - spurred ' bobbed ' hammer and double action only lockwork , direct from the factory . The DAO or ' Bobbed Hammer ' Detective Special was otherwise the same as the standard Fourth Series Detective Special . Ammunition . Interest has arisen over the use of higher - pressure ( + P ) . 38 Special ammunition in the Detective Special . In their more recent owners manuals , Colt authorized limited use of + P ammunition in steel - framed revolvers ( including earlier versions ) , citing 2000 to 3000 rounds before recommending the gun be returned to the factory for inspection . Many believe that this is was due to potential liability rather than engineering requirements , as the standard pressure ammunition of yesteryear was about the same pressure as modern + P ammunition . SAAMI lowered the pressures in 1972 . The DS series was discontinued in 1995 . While no longer manufactured , Colt still supports the DS with parts and repair services . Usage . Due to the good concealment qualities of the revolver , the Colt Detective Special was used as a weapon mostly by plainclothes police detectives , though it was also a popular off duty and backup firearm for uniformed police officers . It was also used by bodyguards , and for personal defense and shooting sports . The Colt Detective Special was a popular weapon before the semi - automatic pistol replaced the revolver in many police departments as well as law enforcement units and armies . Myanmar Police Force and some other countries are still using the batches as officers ' sidearms . Use in films and television . The Colt Detective Special has been widely used in films and television as the weapon of police officers , private investigators and criminals , appearing in such films and television shows as : Films Television Shows Replacement . Designated as the " 9 . 65mm handgun " , the Detective Special was used by the Japanese Self - Defense Forces along with the M1911 pistol designated as the " 11 . 4mm handgun " , only to be replaced by the Minebea P9 semi - automatic pistol , the Japanese license - made SIG Sauer P220 . The six - shot Colt Detective Special was the standard issue sidearm of Crime Wing inside Hong Kong Police Force , only to be replaced by SIG Sauer P250 after multiple years of use . The Colt Detective Special was also the first revolver issued to French customs agents , meant to replace the old Browning 10 / 22 and MAB D pistols . They were used from 1975 to 1988 , being progressively replaced by Smith and Wesson revolvers ( mostly SW model 13 ) along with French Manurhins and Sig Sauer SP 2022 in 2005 .