Many people talk about the Colt Detective Special using the term "generation." I get emails asking which "generation" is best or which should be purchased. I recently got a nasty email from a potential client who asked if I could work on a certain "generation"; when I replied that I wasn't sure what he meant by 'third generation', he decided that I wasn't qualified to work on his guns because I "obviously don't know anything about Colts!"

Folks, here's Fact #1: The Colt factory, the people who made them, do not refer to any of the "D" frame guns by "generation." If you ask, they'll tell you that generations are something "the collectors invented" (their exact words!)

Fact #2: there is a lot of controversy, but not a lot of consensus, regarding the various incarnations of the Detective Special and into what "generation" any given one falls.

Some hold that there is a generation change between the square-butt (long) and round-butt (long) in 1933, but not when the "C" frame was changed to the "D" frame in 1947; some that the change from plastic stocks to wood stocks in the mid-50s was a generation, but the reintroduction (after a seven-year absence) in 1993 wasn't.

Like Colt, I prefer to refer to any given gun by its production date. This information is readily available through the Proofhouse site, and is a sure way to prevent miscommunication!

-=[ Grant ]=-

OK, so it's not a revolver - but it's still terrific news!

Ithaca shotguns are back, and being made by the recently christened Ithaca Guns USA. If you've never had the pleasure of using the classic Model 37 pump, you don't know what you're missing. They are smooth, reliable guns that are a far cry from what passes for a pump shotgun these days.



Generations of shooters grew up with the Model 37. (Sadly, I didn't - in our household the gun of choice was Ithaca's prime competitor, the Winchester Model 12. I discovered the joys of the 37 a number of years back, and I've been a fan ever since.)

The Ithaca is expensive relative to a gun like the Remington 870 (or the even cheaper Mossbergs.) Having had each, though, I maintain that the Ithaca is well worth the premium. The Ithaca is made from forgings and machined parts - no pot metal or plastic castings sourced from worlds unknown. It is a superbly made gun, and anyone - particularly you Python owners - who appreciates quality firearms should have one in their stable.

Now if someone could just resurrect Colt...(did I say that in my 'out-loud' voice?!?)

-=[ Grant ]=-

One of my childhood dreams was to build a submarine out of our above-ground diesel tank, and use it to explore the bottom of our pond. Despite the fact the the pond was only 8 feet deep at its deepest, the dream persisted.

Needless to say, I love the current generation of small research submersibles. Here are some great videos of an erupting volcano on the sea floor, taken from the Jason II sub as part of NOAA research.

(The site is very popular, so you may need to reload a couple of times to see the video.)

-=[ Grant ]=-

What brings on this question, you ask? Well, I'm sitting here considering yet another of my afflictions: fountain pens. Yes, those old-fashioned writing instruments that no one uses any more.

Except that people do use them!

I re-discovered the joys of writing with a fountain pen about a year ago. My interest was kindled by the fact that the most indestructible writing inks are available only in a bottle - from a company called Noodler's Ink. This stuff is so fraud-resistant that the only way to obliterate it is to literally dissolve the paper from under the ink.

Thinking that would be great for check-writing, I unearthed the fountain pen I'd been given as a gift a couple of decades ago. Now I had another weapon in my tool chest against identity thieves! But a funny thing happened: I discovered that writing with a fountain pen is, in and of itself, a wonderful experience.

A fountain pen lays down ink with NO pressure required - less even than the best rollerball. That means that, instead of a chore, writing becomes effortless and non-tiring. If you write a lot, a fountain pen will be a godsend to you aching hand muscles! The fountain pen is also more expressive; the ink also has "shading", which means that each different stroke produces differences in saturation or width. The "look" of a fountain pen's work is unmistakable.

As if that wasn't enough, fountain pen inks are available in hundreds of different colors - just the different shades of blue which are available is staggering! Blacks? You'd be surprised at how different a simple black can be from maker to maker - and there are still browns, greens, reds, purples, oranges...well, you get the picture.

You have a wide choice in pens, too. Of course there are the great vintage pens, but there are also dozens of manufacturers of new fountain pens from all over the world from which to choose. Prices range from $2.99 to multiple thousands of dollars, with most falling between $50 and $300.

Intrigued? Your first stop should be the Fountain Pen Network discussion forums, where you can learn all you need to know. From there, go explore dealers like iSellPens (my favorite place to get real bargains), Pendemonium (sellers of my favorite color of ink, Noodler's Legal Lapis - be sure to check out their color charts), and Swisher Pens. There are lots of others, but these will get you started.

Hey, a fountain pen even makes my chicken-scratching look good!

-=[ Grant ]=-

Yes, it appears to be true.

Various "internet experts" have been littering the online forums telling anyone who would listen that Colt was going to start making revolvers again "real soon." That sounded odd to me, as Colt seems to have been doing everything possible to avoid making revolvers. So, I decided to call the source - Colt.

I talked to several people at the company, and I learned that:

- they hadn't actually produced any Pythons for "a couple of years";
- they'd sold their last Python from remaindered stock over a year ago;
- they didn't have "any plans at all for resuming Python production", and:
- the topic of revolvers wasn't even being discussed at any of their planning meetings.

One can only conclude that revolvers - at least, the Pythons - are dead as far as Colt is concerned.

All this happened about 6 months ago. I was speaking with a well-known industry figure recently (someone whose name you would instantly recognize), who passed along what he called a "credible rumor": Colt had sold all of their revolver tooling and jigs for scrap. Since this person has well-placed sources everywhere, including Colt, the chances of it being mere gossip were remote. Still, he referred to it as "rumor" - so I held out hope. However, I broke the story on the Colt discussion forum.

Well, the "other shoe" has now dropped. On the discussion forums at sixgunner.com, Michael Bane - well known and respected in the industry himself - confirmed the rumors. It seems Colt really is out of the revolver business - permanently.

I still hope that all of this is simply a put-on by someone at Colt, but as yet no one has been able to authoritatively refute the information given.

RIP, Python.

-=[ Grant ]=-

I make no secret of the fact that I love the Apple Macintosh computer line. I've been using Macs for about 8 years now, and those times when I'm forced to use a Windows PC are excruciatingly painful. I've gotten used to having a computer that "just works" without spending hours reloading operating systems, updating anti-virus software, worrying about spyware, searching for device drivers, and waiting for the machine to reboot after yet another crash.

Whew - sorry for the sales pitch, but I couldn't help myself! Anyway, this isn't about my Macs - it's about the new Apple Store on the ever-chic 5th Avenue in New York:



Get this: it's a glass cube that simply serves as a ground-level entrance to the subterranean store! The cube covers the curved glass staircase (and glass elevator) that leads you downward to the store below:



Very neat. I'd like to have a house built using this concept, but I shudder to think what it would cost...

-=[ Grant ]=-

I like reading the gun discussion forums - lots of, well, interesting stuff turns up - but I've lately become enamored of Michael Bane's Shooting Gallery site.

Based on his TV show (which I can't get because Comcast holds The Outdoor Channel hostage, demanding I pay them even more money than I already am), it has a great mix of articles from Michael and such luminaries as Walt Rauch. Wonderful site, and worth a visit.

-=[ Grant ]=-

Remember Lee Paige, the DEA agent who shot himself in the foot in front of a class of school kids - not to mention a video camera? Well, he's back - and suing the government because, well, because it's a sure way to get rich.

Favorite quote: "He also notes that he is no longer permitted or able to give educational motivational speeches and presentations."

No kidding?!?

-=[ Grant ]=-

Many people have been following the situation with the North Carolina Dep't of Corrections and their self-destructing S&W revolvers. If you haven't, here's a link to the story.

These pictures of one such occurrence have been floating around the net:





I've been exchanging emails with C.E. "Ed" Harris, who many will remember from his days as the head of Q.C. at Ruger - when they experienced a similar problem. Here's what he had to say:

"Old problem rearing its ugly head again, not really a new problem. A troublesome sporadic one when people forget about good shop practices and get sloppy.

Stress corrosion cracking is generally caused by contamination by solvents or cutting fluids too high in chlorides. Over-torquing barrels barrels creates a stress rise at the root of the thread which makes the problem worse. Microscopic examination of the failed barrels would be obvious to a competent
engineer, especially familiar to those with aerospace or nuclear power systems experience.

Ruger had a short run of this back in the 1980s when they first starting making stainless magnums. I saw a few dozen guns come back when I worked there. All were traced to one guy on night shift who was over-torquing barrels on Redhawks which didn't quite line up, instead of taking a pass off the front of the frame on a Blanchard grinder as he should have done. He also used a wrong, slippery high sulphur thread lubricant intended for chrome-moly instead of the anti-seize compound used with SS.

This condition is aggravated by tight fit of barrel threads, such as when using a class 3A, combined with high stress, high temperature, and high barrel torque. Ruger fixed their problem by changing to a looser 2A fit on the barrel threads and assembling barrels to the frames using a Loctite product to cement them solidly while reducing stress on the threads and positively preventing any seepage of cleaning solvents into the barrel threads after they left the factory."


If true, this wouldn't be the first time S&W has over-torqued a barrel: the Model 442 Airweight Centennials, particularly in nickel finish, are somewhat notorious for frame cracks under the barrel. A phone conversation with a S&W representative confirmed to me that the cracked frames were caused by barrels that had been screwed in "too tightly."

However, there's always the possibility of user error, such as the use of certain products that contain chlorine compounds (brand name removed for obvious reasons):

"Use of [lubricants containing chlorine compounds] "could" do it, as could any number of other cleaners, especially if used with an ultrasonic which enhances thread penetration."

There are certain "miracle" gun lubricant products out there that contain chlorine compounds, and have become popular amongst the more "martial" crowd. In addition, ultrasonic cleaners have been very popular at many police agencies over the last decade or so.

Well, I got an email from one of the employees at the agency, and he claims that they use Hoppes bore cleaner, and that they do not have an ultrasonic!

So we're back to the first possibility. Given Ed's expertise, I suspect that his analysis is the correct one.

-=[ Grant ]=-

There is an assertion that comes up with surprising frequency, particularly in the internet age where everyone is an expert: the Colt Python (and all other Colt revolvers) are "delicate", "go out of time easily", or "not as strong/durable as a S&W."

Let's start with the construction: a Colt revolver, for any given frame size, is as strong as any gun with that frame size. Their metallurgy is absolutely the best, and their forged construction is of superior quality. They are superbly made, and their longevity is a testimony to that fact. You are never compromising when you choose a Colt!

How about the charge of "delicate" or "goes out of time easily"? In my work, I see a lot of Colts; I shoot them extensively myself. With proper maintenance, I've seen no tendency for any Colt to go out of time. Yet, the rumors persist!

Why do such opinions exist if there wasn't some basis to them? Is there some amount of truth? I think I can answer that!

Let's start with some facts: Colt revolvers have actions which are very refined. Their operating surfaces are very small, and are precisely adjusted to make the guns work properly. Setting them up properly is not a job for someone who isn't intimately familiar with their workings, and the gunsmith who works on them had better be accustomed to working at narrow tolerances, on small parts, under magnification.

Colt's design and construction is unique; it uses the hand (the "pawl" which rotates the cylinder) and the bolt (the stop at the bottom of the frame opening) to hold the cylinder perfectly still when the gun fires. The action is designed so that the hand - which is the easiest part to replace - will take the majority of the wear, and is expected to be changed when wear exceeds a specific point.

This is considered normal maintenance in a Colt revolver, which is not the case with any other brand. To get their famous "bank vault" cylinder locking and attendant accuracy, you have to accept a certain amount of maintenance; it goes with ownership of such a fine instrument.

I've often made the statement that a Colt is like a Ferrari; to get the gilt-edged performance, you have to accept that they will require more maintenance than a Ford pickup. Unlike gun owners, however, folks who own Italy's finest don't complain that they are more "delicate" than an F-150!

I truly think that the negative reputation that Colts have in some quarters is because their owners - unschooled in the uniqueness of the Colt action - apply the same standards of condition that they would to their more pedestrian S&W guns.

What standards? A Colt, when the trigger is pulled and held back, should have absolutely no cylinder rotation. None, zip, zilch - absolutely no movement at all! Not a little, not a bit, not a smidgen - zero movement. A S&W, on the other hand, normally has a bit of rotational play - which is considered absolutely normal and fine.

There's another measurement to consider: at rest, a Colt cylinder should move front-to-back no more than .003" (that's 3/1,000 of an inch.) This is - in the absolute worst case - about half of the allowable S&W movement!

Now, let's say a S&W owner, used to their looser standards of cylinder lockup, buys a Colt. He goes and shoots it a bit, and the hand (which probably has a bit of wear already, as he bought it used) is approaching the normal replacement interval. He checks his gun, and finds that the cylinder has just the slightest amount of movement when the trigger is back, and half of his S&W's longitudinal travel. Heck, he thinks, it's still a lot tighter than his Smith so it must be fine to keep shooting it.

WRONG! It's at this point that he should stop shooting, and take it to an experienced Colt gunsmith to have the action adjusted. Of course, he doesn't do this - he keeps shooting. The cylinder beats harder against the frame, compresses the ratchet (ejector), causing the hand to wear even faster, and the combination of the two leads to a worn bolt. If left unchecked, the worn bolt can do damage to the rebound lever. When it finally starts spitting lead and misfiring, he takes it in and finds to his astonishment that he's facing a $400 (or more!) repair bill, and perhaps a 6 month wait to find a new ratchet.

Of course, he'll now fire up his computer and declare to anyone who will listen that Colts are "delicate" and "go out of time easily" and are "hard to get parts for." That, folks, appears to be the true origin of these fallacies.

Colts do require more routine maintenance, and a more involved owner; that's a fact. But, as long as the maintenance is performed properly, a Colt will happily digest thousands upon thousands of rounds without complaint. The owners who take care of them will be rewarded with a gun that is a delight to shoot, wonderfully accurate, and visually unmatched. Those who don't will sell them off at a loss and complain on the internet.

I sincerely hope that you will choose to be the first type of Colt owner. If, however, you are the second, please drop me a note - I'm always in the market for Colt revolvers at fire-sale prices!

-=[ Grant ]=-

Lots of people ask me about speedloaders - as in "what speedloader should I buy?"

Well, there are really only a couple of choices these days: Safariland and HKS. (The superb SL Variant models are no longer imported, the Maxfires don't - at least in my mind - qualify for the "speed" part of the name, and the Australian "Jet" loaders are close enough to the Safariland Comp III that we'll consider them the same.)

Personally, unless I'm using a gun for which they don't have a model, I use only Safariland speedloaders. Here's why.

First, they're simply a whole lot faster to use. Not only are they faster to release their payload, they hold the rounds in a solid, fairly rigid package. That rigidity makes it faster to align the bullets with the chambers than the "floppy" HKS style. This is an important, and often overlooked, advantage.

Second, they're more secure. Over the years I've listened to people bad-mouth the Safariland speedloaders, with the statement that they release their rounds too easily - when in a pocket or dropped, the story usually goes.

I've been carrying Safarilands on my person for about 10 years now, and I've never had a single round released when I didn't want it to. They won't, unless you forcibly jam an object into the release button which is in the middle of the rounds. I've had more than one HKS let go while in the speedloader pouch, let alone my pocket!

Dropping? When this argument comes up I pull out the oldest, most used Comp II that I have. (It's been used for practice for a decade, and I stopped counting when it reached 5.000 reload cycles. I keep it loaded with dummy rounds - regular bullet, case, but no primers- for practice.) I drop it on the floor or ground, then pick it up and throw it on the ground; if there's a wall nearby, I'll either kick it or throw it into the wall. I've done this little demo hundreds of times, and I've never had a round fall out.

However, the only way to get this kind of performance and reliability is to load the things correctly! Safariland doesn't help their case, as they sell competition "loading blocks" that force you into loading the things improperly.

Most people will put the rounds into the speedloader, then turn it face-down onto a table so that they can push on the button to lock the rounds. This is almost guaranteed to leave a round (or two or three) that isn't fully seated, and when the speedloader is dropped it/they fall out. No wonder people think they don't work well!

The key is to hold the speedloader BULLETS UP, and push the button up while simultaneously turning it to the right. You'll feel the rounds "lock in", and they won't come out until you want them to!

UPDATE: I've now seen several guns whose cranes (yokes) have been bent apparently due to the side loading forces of Maxfire speedloaders. I strongly recommend that you not use Maxfires!

-=[ Grant ]=-