the South American countries. Puerto Rica 'Police Positive Special' with a 2 inch barrel Unlike the 'Detective Special', the 'Cobra' and the Philippines. In the difficult days of fitted as standard. It closely resemhles the is made in .22, though the majority arc 1940, the British Purchasing Commission 'Banker's Special', the only difference being sold in .32 and .38 calibre. also bought some. Apart from the quality, in the longer cylinder of the 'Detective', Courier Model 19S5. This revolver was in the 'Pequano' was outwardly identical with and some slight alterations in the frame. production for only two years. It is a ver­ the 'Police Positive'. The 'Detective' chamhers the same am­ sion of the 'Cohra', with a shorter butt and Police Positive Tarllct .22 Revolver 1910. munition as the 'Police Special' and is a 3 inch barrel. It appeared in .22 and .32 Although listed as a .22 revolver, this such a close twin that one wonders why it calihres only, and production did not wea?on was also offered in .32 calibre. was necessary to call it hy another name, exceed 3,000. Barrel length was standard at 6 inches, for it is nothing more than a short harrelled Agent Model 1966, Yet another variation mounted in a normal 'Police Positive' 'Police Special'. However, the naming of the 'Cobra', this model differs by having frame. Special sights were fitted, but other­ policy seems sound enough, for more than the shortcr butt of the 'Courier', combined wise the revolver was as similar as possible 400,000 have been sold since 1927, and with the harrel length of the 'Cobra'. The to the fuJI hore version. Overall weight was the design has only changed in thllt the only calihre offered is .38 Special, and a 220z for the early models, rising to 290z frame has been slightlY shortened, since hammer shroud is sold as a normal acces­ after 1925. All told, about 28,000 of these 1966. As an experiment, a few were pro­ sory. It appears to have been a commercial strong and serviceable weapons were made. duced with a shrouded hammer, to give a success, with healthy sales. Police Posithe .38 Model 1905. The Colt 'hammerless' effect. Trooper Model 19S3. The 'Trooper' was advertisement for 1905, describing this Border Patrol Model 19S2. Only 400 of introduced as a separate design, rather revolver, said of it that it had heen designed these special revolvers were made hy Colt, than a variant, intended to provide a large to meet the demand for an arm, similar and the order has not been repeated. They calibre, hard-hitting holster firearm of good to the 'New Police' .32, but larger in bore, were an ordinary 'Police Special' with a accuracy. It was a sizeable weapon, with with greater penetration, velocity and heavy duty harrel, 4 inches long. They a prominent ramp foresight and an adjust­ range. The design was ingenious; the result­ were designed to be exceptionally strong ahle target backsight. Barrel lengths were ing re\'olyer was only fractionally larger than and resistant to rough treatment. and were 4 inches and 6 inches, and the cylinder was the .32. but it weighed no more. The barrel chambered for the .38 special cartridge. chamhe red for .38 Special, .22 (for the tapered slightly towards the muzzle, but Diamondback Model 1966. Following the target shooter), and .357 Magnum for apart from tiny difference~ in the frame, recent Colt policy of naming some revolvers those who felt they needed a really heavy the .38 is indistinguishable from the .32. after snakes, this one was introduced in bullet of great power. It was made in substantial numbers, more 1966 as a combination of the 'Detective The frame and general design were than 200.000 heing sold before manufac­ Special' and the 'Cohra'. It used the almost identical with the 'Police Special', ture finished in 1943. and it was used hy shortened frame of the 'Detective Special', hut there were several options in the fittings. police forces throughout the United States. with the ventilated top rib, shrouded ejector Sales were quite good until the model was as well as in South America. In 1938 and rod, target hammer and sights of the discontinued in 1969. 1939. se\'eral thousands were sold to the 'Cobra'. It is quite heavy (290z), and has 3S7 Magnum :\-Iodel 19S3. This model was British, and other Purchasing Commissions either a 2t inch or 4 inch harrel. Chamber­ a de luxe yersion of the 'Trooper', fitted who were buying arms for Allied troops. ing is for .22 or .38. The weapon is with the target options. and chambered in Banker's Special 1928. The 'Banker's extremely well made. and has sold well in .38 Special and .357 Magnum. Barrel Special' was designed for "easy carrying what must be a highly competitive market. lengths were 4 inch and 6 inch, and there and quick access . primarily for bank Cobra Model 1950. The 'Cobra' is really were large grips, running well up the butt. employees". It was a .38 'Positive'. with a the 'Detective Special' with an alloy frame, Production neyer exceeded 15.000, and in 2 inch barrel. and the adyertising made thereby reducing the weight from 220z to 1961 the 'Magnum' was absorbed into the much of the fact that the full-sized grips 150z. A gO\'ernment contract for an 'Trooper' production. were retained. thus giving a good hold for aircrew-protection pistol, incorporated an Python Model 1955. This modern-looking snap-shooting. The weigh twas J90z. and a alloy cylinder as well. though Colt never revolver has become one of the leaders of few were made without the hammer spurs. used this feature for commercial sales. the Colt range. It was the first re\'olYer to The L' .S. Government equipped its rail­ way mail clerks with this re\'Olver. and it was also used by some police forces. About 35.000 were made in all. Production stopped in 1943. Police Posithe Special Model 1908. This was the first of the small frame swing-out cylinder revokers chambered for a power­ ful cartridge. It was. and still is a popular weapon with police forces in the United States. and with those who need to carry arms for persomt\ protection or in the course of duty. It is light (22ozl. com­ parath'ely small. yet fires a series of I rounds with ample hitting power. 11 is. in fact. chambered for no less' than nine , different cartridges in either .32 or .38. the gre,1I maierity being in .3R. The cylinder is { inch longer than the standard 'Police Posit in:' in order to accommodate the longer cartridges. Barrel lengths are vari· ous. ranging from H inch. which is rare, to (, inch. which is equally rare; the most popul"r sizes being 4 im:hes. Production has heen continuous since 1905. tlnd more than 700.000 have been made. Uetccti\'e Spedlll \\lodeI 1927. The 'Detec­ tive SpeciLl!' is nothing more than the COI.T .38 DETECTIVE SPECIAL. 70 :;35 and :32 Calibre Automatlc Pistols :35 Calibre Automatic Pistol, 1913-1921. Smith & Wesson were not keen on the automatic pistol concept, but with the con­ siderable popularity of the type eroding some of their traditional revolver market, the firm tried a model of their own in 1913. Instead of developing a new design, the patents of the French Clement were pur­ chased; this was a simple blow-back pistol, of unusual layout. The main points of interest were a long square bolt which worked in a slot in the body, and a barrel which hinged upwards. The heavy recoil spring was housed above the barrel, and there was a grip safety on the front edge of the grip. The firm decided that it was worth pro­ ducing a new type of ammunition for this pistol. A defect of the early automatics was that lead bullets jammed in the feed ramp, but jacketed bullets wore the barrel badly. Smith & Wesson produced a bullet with a jacketed nose, but a lead skirt, thus getting the best of both worlds. Unfor­ tunately, it was more expensive than the SMITH & WESSON .3S MODEL 1913. usual types, and the owners quickly found that .32 ACP would almost fit, at a lower price. The .32 ACP was a little more powerful than the .35, anJ jams were frequent, which did nothing for sales, and by 1921, when production sensibly ceased, only 8,350 had been sold. There were many variants on the original design, it being possible to identify eight types, all with minor changes, one from the other. .32 Automatic Pistol, 1924-1936. One might have thought that the experience of the .35 automatic would have been enough for any company, but Smith & Wesson were determined to continue trying. and the .32 seemed to be a more popular calibre. The new model was both smaller and simpler than the .35, but it was still most expensive to make, and despite con­ tinual cost cutting exercises, it was about 30 per cent dearer than its rivals. The mechanism was similar to that of the .35, but contained several worthwhile improve­ ments. Nevertheless, the U.S. firearms laws of 1926, together with the Depression. pre\'ented it making any impact, and less than a thousand were sold. 9mm Automatic Pistols 9mm Automatic, Model 39, 1954- . The Model 39 is the latest venture by the firm into the automatic field. It is a modified SMITH & WESSOI'; 9mm MODEL 39. Browning design, operated by recoil, with the Smith & Wesson preoccupation with weapons, The cylinder held five cartridges, a tipping barrel locking by a single rib.