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Colt Shooting Master - .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .44 Special, .45
Colt, .45 Automatic
The Colt Shooting Master revolver was introduced as a .38 Special target
revolver for NRA match competition. It was shown privately to the top
marksmen at the August 1931 National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio. It was
unveiled to the public with the Colt Ace .22 LR model in a
September 1931
two page spread in the American Rifleman magazine.
The Shooting Master uses the Colt New Service Target frame except the
Shooting Master has a slightly narrower and rounded butt and a parkerized
finish is used on the top of the frame and extended to the grip just above
the checking on the rear grip. The top of the hammer is also parkerized, but
the rear of the hammer is blue.
The barrel length is 6 inches and is tapered from the bolster at the frame
to the muzzle. The cylinder latch is rounded and unchecked. The pistol has
traditional Colt Patridge target sights. Front and back grip straps are hand
checked. The action is hand-fitted and polished for smooth double and single
action.
Shooting Masters were packaged in special simulated leather boxes that were
marked COLT SHOOTING MASTER on the lid.
It was available in .38 Special, .357 Magnum (introduced in 1936 as a
special order), .44 Special, .45 Colt and .45 Automatic. One
experimental example is known in .22 LR and one production example is known
in .455 caliber.
The Shooting Master carried a price of $52.50 and was the most expensive
model in Colt’s line of standard revolvers. |
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