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299
LOT 299
Outstanding Rare Documented Special Order Factory Fitzgerald
Cutaway Colt Detective Special Double Action Revolver with
Factory Letter - Serial no. 461175, 38 Special cal., 2 inch round
bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1938, this is an
outstanding example of a factory special ordered, “Fitz Special” Colt
Detective Special revolver. The included factory letter confirms the
configuration, grips not listed, as well as shipment to Lynn G.
Adams in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on 25 August 1939. The
letter has an additional note stating that the revolver was
shipped as a “Fitzgerald cutaway special” with 3 to 3 1/2 pound
trigger pull and that the work was completed as factory
order number 8598. Also included with this revolver is a
document stating that Adams, a colonel with the Pennsylvania
State Police, purchased this revolver in this configuration
for his friend Colonel William G. Fisher. Also included is a
1952 dated Firearms Retention Authorization document for
European Command listing the revolver by serial number in
the possession of Colonel William C. Fisher. These so-called Fitzgerald Specials were hide away guns with the short barrels, cut away trigger guards, checkered triggers and cut away
(bobbed) hammer. J. H. Fitzgerald, or “Fitz” as he was called, was employed by Colt from 1918 thru 1944. He was Colt’s ballistic expert, police training consultant, and general public
relations man in the 1930s and 1940s. He was one of the more flamboyant personalities in the company’s history, attending the Camp Perry National Matches every year where he would perform custom work on Colt revolvers. He
also worked actively with law enforcement agencies to develop suitable new designs for handguns based on their specific needs. One of these unique designs was the “Fitz Special” style of revolver or cut-away pistol used as an
early hide-away gun that could be fired from inside a coat or suit pocket as the situation required. These revolvers were not standard inventory or cataloged items and were only manufactured for select law-enforcement and FBI
agents based on personal requests. Fitz actually carried one of those pistols himself as a form of advertisement. His book “Shooting”, which he published himself in 1930, is still a sought after text on the fast and fancy handling of
the revolver. The left side of the barrel is marked “38 DETECTIVE/SPECIAL”, and the right side has the two line address. The Rampant Colt is marked on the left side of the frame. Standard blade front and frame notch rear sights and
fitted with checkered walnut grips with German silver Colt medallions. As stated above, the revolver has the cutaway trigger guard, bobbed hammer, and checkered trigger, which are hallmarks of these very desirable “Fitz Specials”.
Includes the original factory box. Also included in a Tom Selleck signed letter where he states that this revolver was used as a template for the props department for the television show “Blue Bloods” to make a concealed sidearm
for Selleck’s character who is the police commissioner of New York City.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 98% plus of the original blue finish with some very light edge wear and a few extremely light handling marks. The grips are also excellent with only the slightest handling marks and crisp checkering.
Mechanically excellent. A rare opportunity to add a documented, factory special order “Fitz Special” Colt Detective Special revolver to your collection!
Provenance: The Tom Selleck Collection.
Estimate: 11,000 - 16,000