The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

I purchased a Colt 38 Army Special a few years ago. From what I understand it once belonged to a Sheriff’s deputy in AZ around 1914. The pistol came with the notched grips like the old West. Different times back then. Just interesting as to the current climate.

Could be snakes, probably not, nice find.

1914, That was the old West. Az. still had Bandito's. I guess they still do.

Reminds me of mine but not the grips LOL. This was my dad's from WWII. Sweet shooter and super smooth double action trigger. He was a radar operator on Eniwetok Atoll (later blown up with the atom bomb) so they evidently weren't issued 1911's. Your's sounds to be an older version.

toms356 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 14, 2020 11:51 am I purchased a Colt 38 Army Special a few years ago. From what I understand it once belonged to a Sheriff’s deputy in AZ around 1914. The pistol came with the notched grips like the old West. Different times back then. Just interesting as to the current climate.

Colt serial numbers are great, really easy to confirm year of manufacture on a Colt. The Army Special Model was manufactured from 1908 to 1927 In 1927 the model became the Official Police. Serial number range for a revolver made 1908 thru 1914 is 291000 - 360500

Yes, great historical references by Colt! In addition, my pistol came with the name of the deputy and other information written on the gun leather, which was unexpected.

toms356 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 4:37 pm Yes, great historical references by Colt! In addition, my pistol came with the name of the deputy and other information written on the gun leather, which was unexpected.

This Army Special model is one worth sending for a letter from Colt if possible? A letter could really enhance the value both historically and of course monetarily for you.

Any pics of the revolver or the accessories?

Pre WWI Colt Army 38 Special (Mfg. 1914). This gun was carried by a sheriff in Yuma, AZ. It has the original holster with some of the Sheriff's info written on the back of the holster. It has definitely been used, and it has 5 or 10 (see picture, I'm not sure how to count them) notches carved into the grip, so it has been in quite a few gun fights. This is a beautiful, shootable piece of history!

There should be some written history there on a Sheriff that shot 10 men. Or 5 men. Seeing both sides makes me wonder if it was done for a better grip in his palm .

On the back of the holster, I think what is written:
R. Mosley
"His"
Yuma, AZ
S.D

I Googled, but nothing came up.

Interesting. That would be two years after statehood and Yuma was a pretty wild place then. Not certain whether records from that era would still exist. It would be interesting to look up the records to try to identify the former owner. Arizona still is the Wild West in many ways-we still have Indian Country and the Pima County and Maricopa County Sheriff's Departments both maintain active posses. The posse in Pima County, Arizona is the Sheriff's Auxiliary Volunteers and they perform all sorts of duties from administrative to community outreach, search and rescue and law enforcement.