Colt Diamondbacks

buster

buster

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Just got back from the range today trying some reloads thruogh two revolvers.Recently,my mother-in-law gave me the last of her guns.Yes my dear sweet mo-in law gave me 2 colt diamondbacks and a S&W in 357.



The Colts are in 38 special and 22lr.

Question: I just don't see any posts regarding these pistols,I know,or beleive I know that Colt no longer produces revolvers,but are these guns that uncommon?

I compared the 38sp to the S&W 357 today using the same bullet,just loaded appropiatley for each.38 case for the 38,357 case for the 357.powders were set in the mid range of loading tables for each and the colt was definatey a tighter grouping gun.Not the definative test for accuracy I know.


What are your thoughts on these colts,good or bad doesn't matter.


The usual [What are they worth?] question applies here.











p.s. you are so right prproulx,threads need pics.



http://s70.photobucket.com/albums/i94/bluediver_dog/colts/
 
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PICS!!! They are well made but little revolvers. Very well balanced for me anyway. I like them more than the Pythons.
They don't come up much and I've never seen one in pristine condition yet. (Or I would buy it!)
 
Your mother-in-law has great taste in Colt revolvers. These two revolvers command a premium price if in excellent condition.
 
Colt revolvers are wonderful shooting sixguns indeed.
I have a Colt Model 357 with a six inch barrel and factory target grips made in about 1952.
For accuracy alone, it shoots about neck and neck, with my S&W Model 624 in 44 special.
However, because these Colts are no longer made & gunsmiths with extensive Colt six gun knowledge are few and far between in Canada.....I tend to baby this Colt of mine.
IE: Not often is it used in the double action shooting mode, and very little magnum loads are shot in it.
Shame shame on Colt for dropping thier revolver line.
You are lucky indeed to have two Diamondbacks buster.....it's not often they are up for sale, and not for very long on this EE.

By the way, in case you did not know, your Diamondbacks share the same frame size as the Colt Detective Special.(grip size)
And is not the same frame size as Colt Official Police, Officer's Match, Trooper, Model 357, or Python.
 
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I used to have both those exact models. The .38 was a good shooter on 5 of 6 cylinders; the .22LR was iffy and load-sensitive. Both needed action jobs to be shootable, in the opinion of this writer, who had truly world-class actions on his other stuff.

They were pretty revolvers, and fun plinkers, but I sold them away when I got into more serious competition. Can't say I miss the .22, at all. The .38, though, with an action job and a well-greased fire control goup, was a wonderful, competent revolver for falling plates. If I didn't have its great uncle (four-digit Colt .357, the Python's precursor), I'd have kept it. But it never came out of the vault, so...

Think about replacing the rear sights. The Accros they shipped with suck donkey ####. Millett makes a drop-in for that cutout, and it's a big improvement. Flat blade, positive clicks. An Eliason will drop in, too, if you find one somewhere. I'd also flipped the front sight on my .38 around and filed it into an bubba-ed undercut Patridge. Worked a treat.

I may still have a set or two of the Milletts stashed. Took 'em off when I sold the revolvers, I hope.

Last thing: They scream for Pachmayr Grippers. D-frame stocks should be pretty easy to find; same frame as the Detective Special, these. I still have a set in the parts trunk. PM me if you want 'em (yours for the price of postage and a roll of tape), or if you want the part number for the Millett sights.
 
I had a 4" .38 Diamondback and while I liked the looks of it, I never cared for the stacking trigger. I replaced it with a S&W and never looked back, but I still would like a 2.5" barreled Diamondback in .38 special.

Got to be worth over $700 at least.
 
I have three of them. Nice revolver. Built on the Colt D frame (same as the Detective special and Police Positive, although with the shorter grip frame), basically a smaller version of the leaf spring powered Colt I frame guns (Pyton, original Trooper, Official Police). Not quite as nicely finished internally as the Python, but once you smooth over the action they can be very, very nice indeed. The "stacking" of the DA is something you either care for or don't, personally I find it easier to shoot well then similar sized S&W's. As to value, as they are restricted only and no longer in production, $500-700 shouldn't be a problem. Oh, and if you are looking for a great DA revolver for kids and other small handed folks, these things shine. - dan
 
Thanks for the replies,A couple of questions though.


1; The stacking trigger? I'm not familiar with this.What is it?

2] I am very much in the dark as to how a revolver is fine tuned or smoothed out.What is involved?


I must say I am developing a liking to these guns.[revolvers in general]My only revolver before these is a 1851 replica in 44. I just couldn't get enough Clint Eastwood growing up. I find I don't rip through my reloads so fast at the range,which is a good thing ,really.
 
I have used Colt Diamondback revolvers in .38 special and .22 LR the Diamondback is in my opinion, the best revolver Colt ever made. Perfect sized for my grip, and very smooth and accurate. You have two treasures there.
 
Does your wife have a sister? Does your mother in law need another son in law?
Make sure you thank her a lot and often! Those are a couple of very sweet revolvers and the ones I have handled and fired were smooth, accurate and a dream to shoot!

Scott
 
m39a2 said:
Does your wife have a sister? Does your mother in law need another son in law?
Make sure you thank her a lot and often! Those are a couple of very sweet revolvers and the ones I have handled and fired were smooth, accurate and a dream to shoot!

Scott
Click to expand...



I said the mother in law is sweet,I said nothing about my wife and especially her sister.:runaway:

Mom does get a lot of hugs and kisses though, My late father in law once said that if it didn't work out with his daughter[this was when we were dating] that I should keep coming around .He took me shooting and 4x4ing quite alot.These were his guns origionally,but has been gone for almost 10 years now.
 
The Colt Da mechanism works by compressing a leaf spring (V spring actually) within the frame in such a manner that that what you feel while pulling the trigger in DA mode feels like a two stage trigger. Softer at first, then slightly harder. Hence the term "stacking". A trigger job, or smoothing involves polishing (very, very little) the rough edges of the trigger mechanism and everything it comes in contact with. I'd go real easy on your Diamondbacks, it's not hard to over do it, and these days getting and fitting replacement parts is a #####. As far as I know, there are no longer any top notch Colt revolversmiths left in Canada. - dan
 
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