The Official Police's rear sight was a wide square groove in the topstrap, which had a matte finish to reduce glare.

Several other Colts were based on the I-Frame, including the deluxe Officer's Model target series and the .357 Magnum revolvers, which were basically the Official Police with heavier barrels, adjustable sights, and more substantial grips.

Economic, labor, and market forces pushed Colt into a period of decline, and little by little all of its fixed-sight, service-style revolvers were dropped. Production of the Official Police ended in 1969, although the name was briefly resurrected and attached to a revolver that used the much-simplified Mk. III mechanism, but sales were disappointing and manufacture ceased after only three years.

Shooting The Official Police
I borrowed fellow collector John Rasalov's Colt Official Police for the shooting portion of this report. His Official Police has a 4-inch barrel and checkered wood grips. Its serial number indicates that it was manufactured around 1929. The revolver shows a bit of holster wear, but considering its age, the overall condition is very good. Cylinder lock up is nice and tight, and it is graced with a very practical set of sights and the typical Colt double-action trigger pull with a distinct hesitation at the end of the stroke.

The 76-year-old Official Police revolver that Paul test-fired shot to point of aim and produced some very nice groups.

I thought test-firing should be performed with the type of ammunition that was most commonly used during this revolver's career. Accordingly, Federal supplied a quantity of its American Eagle .38 Special loaded with traditional 158-grain LRN bullets, and Black Hills provided some 148-grain LWC target loads. When fired from a rest at 15 yards, the Official Police printed dead-on to point of aim and produced some very respectable five-shot groups.

SHOOTING COLT'S POLICE .38 SPECIAL
FACTORY LOAD	MUZZLE VELOCITY (fps)	15-YARD ACCURACY (inches)
Black Hill 148-gr. LWC	681	2.13
Federal 158-gr. LRN	775	2.38
NOTES: Accuracy is the average of thee five-shot groups fired at 15 yards from a benchrest. Velocity is the average of five rounds measured 15 feet from gun's muzzle

To evaluate its offhand shooting capabilities, I set a USPSA target out at seven yards and proceeded to send 158-grain lead bullets downrange, firing the Official Police both one-handed and supported. I found the grips a bit too small for my hands, so I installed an aluminum grip adapter during this stage of my evaluation. The shooting resulted in a properly ventilated target. Thanks to the Colt's weight, recoil from the sedate .38 Special loads was very mild and fast follow-up shots were easy to make.

To my way of thinking, Colt's Official Police personifies the fixed-sight, service revolver. Despite lacking the "bells and whistles" demanded by today's shooters, it was a breed that for over a century showed itself capable of performing just about any task demanded of a defensive-type handgun. And did it darn well in the process.

Thanks go to John Rasalov, Charles Pate, Federal Cartridge and Black Hills Ammunition for providing materials used to prepare this report.