John Taffin’s Colt Army Special 6″ .32-20 Win. DA/SA Revolver 1926 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,200.00
LSB: LSB260521SS024
Make: Colt
Model: Army Special
Serial Number: 522956
Year of Manufacture: 1926 / C&R (Colt Serial Number Lookup)
Caliber: .32-20 Win. / .32 W.C.F.
Action Type: Single Action/Double Action with Swing Out Cylinder
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “COLT ARMY SPECIAL 32-20 W.C.F.”. The top of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.” / “PAT’D AUG. 5.1884. JUNE 5.1900 JULY 4.1905.”. The left side plate is marked with a Rampant Colt logo. The crane and crane cut are marked with “522956”.
Barrel Length: 6″
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a fixed blade at the muzzle. The rear sight is a U-notch and channel integral to the top strap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two piece checkered walnut with silver-colored Colt medallions. There is scattered wear and compression marks. There is verdigris around the escutcheons. The peaks are semi-sharp. There is a small chip out of the left panel’s toe. There are no cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Very Good-Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright, the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. There is light fouling in the grooves. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates at 9 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 90% of its metal finish. There is finish loss at the muzzle and the leading edges of the frame and cylinder. The finish is thinning along the barrel, topstrap, and backstrap. There are scattered scratches and compression marks. There are heavier scratches along the topstrap, backstrap, and right side of the frame. There is corrosion staining and freckling throughout. There is a turn line on the cylinder and carbon rings on its face. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver rates in about Good-Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder lockup is solid on all six chambers, the double action trigger pull is smooth and the single action pull is crisp. We did not fire this revolver. As with all previously owned firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: John Taffin Collection Certificate of Authenticity
Our Assessment: The Colt Army Special was introduced in 1908 as a robust medium-frame double-action revolver intended for military, law-enforcement, and sporting use. Although it never secured the major military contract its name implied, the design became an important foundation for Colt’s later Official Police series. Chambered in .32-20 Winchester, this 1926 example represents one of the more interesting sporting configurations, pairing Colt’s smooth double-action lockwork with a cartridge also widely used in lever-action rifles. Its 6″ barrel provides a longer sight radius and steadier balance, while provenance to the John Taffin Collection adds meaningful collector interest given Taffin’s extensive writing on classic sixguns and traditional American revolvers.
This Army Special retains approximately 90% of its original blue finish, with muzzle and edge wear, thinning along the barrel, topstrap, and backstrap, scattered scratches and compression marks, heavier scratching on the topstrap, backstrap, and right side of the frame, and corrosion staining and freckling throughout. The checkered walnut grips remain in Very Good-Fine condition despite handling wear, verdigris around the escutcheons, and a small chip at the left toe. The bright 9/10 bore has sharp rifling with light fouling and no visible erosion. The action functions correctly with solid lockup on all six chambers, a smooth double-action pull, and a crisp single-action pull. The included John Taffin Collection Certificate of Authenticity adds desirable provenance. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids!-MY