Colt Officer's Model (revolver)

Last updated

Colt Officer's Model
Colt Officers Model Match .22LR-2.jpg
Colt Officer's Model Match .22 LR
Type Revolver
Place of originUnited States
Production history
Manufacturer Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company
Produced1904–1972
Variants
  • Officer's Model Target
  • Officer's Model Target Rimfire
  • Officer's Model Special
  • Officer's Model Match
Specifications
Mass1075 g – 1220 g
Length286 mm
Barrel  length152 mm

Cartridge
Action double-action
Feed systemsix round cylinder
SightsFixed iron: Blade front, V-notch rear
ReferencesSpecs for 6 inches barrel versions [2]

The Colt Officer's Model is a double-action revolver with a medium frame, produced between 1904 and 1972 and which was mainly focused on sport shooting and of which four variants stand out: Officer's Model Target, Officer's Model Target Rimfire, Officer's Model Special and Officer's Model Match.

Contents

History and development

The first variant, the Officer's Model Target appeared in 1904 as a Premium model more focused on sport shooting than on common use, it was produced in 7.94 mm (.32) and 9 mm (.38) calibers, with barrels whose lengths ranged from 4 in (101.6 mm) to 7.5 in (190.5 mm), with 6 in (152.4 mm) being the most common. The first weapons were produced with a drum that rotated counterclockwise, however, after the introduction of the Colt Army Special in 1908, the direction of rotation of the drum was reversed. [2] [3]

In 1930 the Officer's Model Target Rimfire appeared, which was a .22 LR caliber version of the Model Target and was only produced with a 6-inch barrel. Both versions of the Target were discontinued until 1972. [2] [3]

In 1949 the Officer's Model Special was announced, which was only produced chambered for the .22 LR and .38 Special cartridges, which featured an adjustable Coltmaster rear sight. It was replaced in 1953 by the Officer's Model Match, which was produced in the same calibers until 1972, the only difference being that the Special had a Colt "E" frame, while the Match had a "J" frame, in addition, it featured an adjustable Accro rear sight. [2] [3] [4]

Design

Early versions of the Officer's Model were built with the Colt "E" frame just like its contemporary the Colt Official Police. The units manufactured before the World War II, being "Premium" weapons, received a heat treatment (not chemical) that left them with an intense blue bluing finish. [4]

Revolvers produced before the war used a flanged screw and bolt to hold the barrel in place. When the screw is removed, the flange of the screw pushes up on the drum retaining bolt. Postwar revolvers used a head screw, spring and bolt arrangement. The screw is actually a cap that retains the drum retaining bolt and spring. [4]

Related Research Articles

The 7.62 mm caliber is a nominal caliber used for a number of different cartridges. Historically, this class of cartridge was commonly known as .30 caliber, the equivalent in Imperial and United States Customary measures. It is most commonly used in hunting cartridges. The measurement equals 0.30 inches or three decimal lines, written .3″ and read as three-line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derringer</span> Small handgun

A derringer is a small handgun that is neither a revolver, semi-automatic pistol, nor machine pistol. It is not to be confused with mini-revolvers or pocket pistols, although some later derringers were manufactured with the pepperbox configuration. The modern derringer is often multi barreled, and is generally the smallest usable handgun of any given caliber and barrel length due to the lack of a moving action, which takes up more space behind the barrel. It is frequently used by women because it is easily concealable in a purse or a stocking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colt Single Action Army</span> Service revolver

The Colt Single Action Army is a single-action revolver handgun. It was designed for the U.S. government service revolver trials of 1872 by Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company and was adopted as the standard-issued pistol of the U.S. Army from 1873 until 1892.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colt Python</span> Revolver

The Colt Python is a double action revolver chambered for the .357 Magnum cartridge. It was first introduced in 1955 by the Colt's Manufacturing Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethan Allen (armsmaker)</span> American Arms maker

Ethan Allen was a major American arms maker from Massachusetts. He is unrelated to the revolutionary Ethan Allen. His first firearm, the "Pocket rifle" was developed in 1836, and his first patent was granted in 1837.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">.22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire</span> Rimfire cartridge

The .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire, also called .22 WMR, .22 Magnum, .22 WMRF, .22 MRF, or .22 Mag, is a rimfire cartridge. Originally loaded with a bullet weight of 40 grains (2.6 g) delivering velocities in the 2,000 feet per second (610 m/s) range from a rifle barrel, .22 WMR is now loaded with bullet weights ranging from 50 grains (3.2 g) at 1,530 feet per second (470 m/s) to 30 grains (1.9 g) at 2,200 feet per second (670 m/s).

The Ruger 10/22 is a series of semi-automatic rifles produced by American firearm manufacturer Sturm, Ruger & Co., chambered for the .22 Long Rifle rimfire cartridge. It uses a patented 10-round rotary magazine, though higher capacity box magazines are also available. The standard carbine version of the Ruger 10/22 has been in production continuously since 1964, making it one of the most successful rimfire rifle designs in history, with numerous third party manufacturers making parts and accessories for upgrading and customization. The 10/22's aftermarket is so prolific that a complete 10/22 can be built without using any Ruger-made components.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">H&R Firearms</span> Firearms brand

H&R 1871, LLC, or more commonly known as Harrington & Richardson, is an American brand of firearms and a subsidiary of JJE Capital Holdings. H&R ceased independent production February 27, 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smith & Wesson Model 15</span> Revolver

The Smith & Wesson Model 15, initially the Smith & Wesson K-38 Combat Masterpiece, is a six-shot double-action revolver with adjustable open sights produced by Smith & Wesson on the medium-size "K" frame. It is chambered for the .38 Special cartridge and is fitted with a 4-inch (100 mm) barrel, though additional barrel options have been offered at various times during its production. It is essentially a shorter barrel version of the Smith & Wesson Model 14 and an adjustable-sight version of the seminal Smith & Wesson Model 10 with target shooting features.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smith & Wesson Model 17</span> Revolver

The Smith & Wesson Model 17 is a six-shot double-action revolver chambered for .22 LR. It is built on Smith & Wesson's medium-sized K-frame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thompson/Center Contender</span> Break-action

The Thompson/Center Contender is a break-action single-shot pistol or rifle that was introduced in 1967 by Thompson/Center Arms. It can be chambered in cartridges from .17 Bumble Bee to .45-70 Government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruger Blackhawk</span> Revolver

The Ruger Blackhawk is a six-shot, single-action revolver manufactured by Sturm, Ruger & Co. It is produced in a variety of finishes, calibers, and barrel lengths.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snubnosed revolver</span> Type of gun

A snubnosed revolver is a small, medium, or large frame revolver with a short barrel, generally less than 4 inches in length. Smaller such revolvers are often made with "bobbed" or "shrouded" hammers and there are also "hammerless" models ; the point is to allow the gun to be drawn with little risk of it snagging on clothing. Since the external movement of the mechanism is minimal or nil, shrouded and hammerless models may be fired from within clothing. The design of these revolvers compromises range and accuracy at a distance in favor of maneuverability and ease of carry and concealment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colt Trooper</span> Revolver

The Colt Trooper is a medium frame, double-action revolver featuring a six-round cylinder, chambered for .22 Long Rifle, .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire, .38 Special, and .357 Magnum caliber cartridges. Designed as a less expensive alternative to the upscale Colt .357 and the later Colt Python and Colt King Cobra, it was marketed to law enforcement agencies as well as civilians.

Llama Firearms, officially known as Llama-Gabilondo y Cia SA, was a Spanish arms company founded in 1904 under the name Gabilondo and Urresti. Its headquarters were in Eibar in the Basque Country, Spain, but they also had workshops during different times in Elgoibar and Vitoria. The company manufactured moderate-priced revolvers and self-chambering pistols in a wide variety of models. These were popular mainly in the European and Latin American export market, as well as domestically in Spain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Wesson Firearms</span> American handgun manufacturer

Dan Wesson Firearms (DW), part of CZ-USA, is an American handgun manufacturer. The corporate headquarters, customer service and manufacturing plant is located in Norwich, New York. Dan Wesson Firearms is known for its revolver expertise and for some types of ammunition it has introduced over the years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruger Standard</span> Semi-automatic pistol

The Ruger Standard Model is a rimfire semi-automatic pistol introduced in 1949 as the first product manufactured by Sturm, Ruger & Co., and was the founding member of a product line of .22 Long Rifle cartridge handguns, including its later iterations: the MK II, MK III, and MK IV. It is marketed as an inexpensive .22 caliber rimfire intended for casual sport and target shooting, and plinking. Designed by company founder William B. Ruger, the Standard model and its offspring went on to become the most accepted and successful .22 caliber semi-automatic pistols ever produced.

The Winchester Model 67 was a single-shot, bolt-action .22 caliber rimfire rifle sold from 1934 to 1963 by Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Based on the earlier Model 60, the Model 67 was the mainstay of Winchester's inexpensive single-shot rifle lineup. A rare variant, the Model 677, was produced with telescopic sights and no provisions for iron sights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CZ 455</span> Hunting/Target rifle

The CZ 455 is a series of magazine-fed bolt-action rimfire repeating rifle manufactured by the Czech firearms manufacturer Česká Zbrojovka Uherský Brod and imported into the United States by CZ-USA. It is a successor of the highly popular CZ 452 rifles, and is chambered for the .22 LR, .22 WMR and .17 HMR calibers.

References

  1. "Officer's Model". 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Hogg, Ian; Weeks, John (1992) [1978]. Pistols of the world: The definitive illustrated guide to the world's pistols and revolvers (3rd ed.). Northbrook, IL.: DBI Books Inc. pp. 66, 255. ISBN   0-87349-128-9.
  3. 1 2 3 Miller, David (2022). The Illustrated Directory of Guns: A Collector's Guide to Over 1500 Military, Sporting and Antique Firearms. Skyhorse Publishing. p. 155. ISBN   978-1-5107-5657-1.
  4. 1 2 3 "Colt Officers Model Target & Match". Tony's Bullseye Blog. 2011. Retrieved June 25, 2023.