The years from 1946 through 1964 form one of the most useful Colt research windows for modern collectors. This was the period when returning veterans, post-war prosperity, expanding suburbs, police modernization, and the rise of target shooting helped shape the Colt firearms most often found in collections today.
This page is a practical Baby Boom-era road map. It does not replace a Colt factory letter or a model-specific serial chart, but it points collectors toward the right family before they start interpreting a number.
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Why the 1946–1964 Colt Era Matters
The Baby Boom period sits between wartime production and the later changes of the late 1960s and 1970s. For Colt collectors, these years include the post-war return of commercial production, the continuation of the Woodsman and Match Target pistols, the maturing of Colt's D-frame revolvers, and the 1955 introduction of the Colt Python.
Collector note: Colt serial number research is model-specific. Two Colt firearms made in the same calendar year may not share similar serial formats. Always compare the serial number against the correct model family, not against Colt production as a whole.
Baby Boom Era Colt Models Covered
The central models in this period include the Python, Woodsman and Match Target, Cobra, Detective Special, Police Positive, Officers Model Special, 1911 Government Model, and 1903/1908 Pocket Hammerless pistols. The important rule is simple: identify the family first, then use the serial number.
Colt Serial Number Tables by Model: 1946–1964
All ranges below are collector-reference ranges. They represent approximate production or shipping windows and should be verified with a Colt Archive letter for authentication, valuation, or high-value purchases.
Colt Government Model (Commercial) — .45 ACP
Second Issue • C-Prefix Era → C-Suffix Transition (1950) • Frame: Steel • Caliber: .45 ACP • Barrel: 5″
| Year | Serial Number Range | Prefix / Suffix | Collector Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | C221001 – C222001 | C- prefix | Immediate postwar resumption; scarce transition year |
| 1947 | C222001 – C232000 | C- prefix | Full postwar commercial production resumes |
| 1948 | C232000 – C238501 | C- prefix | Pre-Korean War civilian market |
| 1949 | C238501 – C240001 | C- prefix | Very low volume; short production year |
| 1950 | C240001 – 240228C | C- prefix → -C suffix | Mid-year prefix flip — C240228 is approx. crossover point |
| 1951 | 247701C – 253180C | -C suffix | Suffix format now standard |
| 1952 | 253180C – 259550C | -C suffix | Korean War era; commercial output steady |
| 1953 | 259550C – 266350C | -C suffix | — |
| 1954 | 266350C – 270550C | -C suffix | — |
| 1955 | 270550C – 272550C | -C suffix | Lowest annual output of the era (~2,000 units) |
| 1956 | 272550C – 276700C | -C suffix | — |
| 1957 | 276700C – 282000C | -C suffix | Gold Cup NM introduced same year; companion model |
| 1958 | 282000C – 283800C | -C suffix | Very low volume year |
| 1959 | 283800C – 285800C | -C suffix | — |
| 1960 | 285800C – 288000C | -C suffix | Baby Boom peak demand |
| 1961 | 288000C – 289850C | -C suffix | — |
| 1962 | 289850C – 291300C | -C suffix | One of the lowest-volume years of the decade |
| 1963 | 291300C – 293800C | -C suffix | Final full year before 1964 market shift |
| 1964 | 293800C – 296000C | -C suffix | Transition year; verify features against range |
Collector Notes: The mid-1950 prefix-to-suffix flip (C- to -C) is one of the most commonly misread transitions in postwar Government Model research. Examples in the C240001–240228C window can appear either way on actual guns. The 1946–1949 C-prefix guns are genuinely scarce given very low annual output. All postwar commercial 1911s through 1964 carry the five-inch barrel, fixed sights, and Colt's standard blue or nickel finish.
Colt Detective Special — .38 Special / .32 New Police
Second Issue (1947–1972) • Frame: Steel D-Frame • Barrel: 2″ • Capacity: 6
| Year | Serial Number Range | Prefix / Suffix | Collector Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | 481001 – 490000 | None (numeric) | Late First Issue — last of the pre-war-style guns |
| 1947 | 490001 – 494000 | None (numeric) | Second Issue begins — ramp front sight, postwar revisions |
| 1948 | 494001 – 501600 | None (numeric) | Early Second Issue; plastic stocks standard |
| 1949 | 501601 – 519410 | None (numeric) | Multiple production blocks this year |
| 1950 | 542401 – 571500 | None (numeric) | Large volume jump; civilian demand surge |
| 1951 | 571501 – 607400 | None (numeric) | High-output year |
| 1952 | 607401 – 624850 | None (numeric) | — |
| 1953 | 624851 – 648900 | None (numeric) | — |
| 1954 | 648901 – 662650 | None (numeric) | — |
| 1955 | 662651 – 672050 | None (numeric) | — |
| 1956 | 672051 – 695400 | None (numeric) | High-volume year; broad distribution |
| 1957 | 695401 – 710600 | None (numeric) | — |
| 1958 | 710601 – 725600 | None (numeric) | — |
| 1959 | 725601 – 750000 | None (numeric) | Serial range crosses 750000 |
| 1960 | 750001 – 776400 | None (numeric) | Strong Baby Boom demand |
| 1961 | 776401 – 797500 | None (numeric) | — |
| 1962 | 797501 – 819500 | None (numeric) | — |
| 1963 | 819501 – 839500 | None (numeric) | — |
| 1964 | 839501 – 861500 | None (numeric) | D-prefix era begins 1966; all 1946–1964 examples are numeric-only |
Collector Notes: The 1946/1947 transition from First to Second Issue is the most significant production boundary in Detective Special history. First Issue guns (through ~490000) retain pre-war machining quality and lack the ramp front sight. Caliber matters: .38 Special is the most common; the .32 New Police variant (also chambered as .32 S&W Long) is rarer and draws premium collector interest, especially in the 1947–1965 window. The D-prefix letter system does not begin until 1966, so every example in this table carries a plain numeric serial. The serial range is shared with the Police Positive Special — model identification must come from the barrel marking and frame rollmark.
Colt Python — .357 Magnum
No-Letter Era (1955–1969) • Frame: I-Frame (large) • Barrel: 4″, 6″, 8″ • Finish: Royal Blue or Nickel
| Year | Serial Number Range | Prefix / Suffix | Collector Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 1 – 299 | None (numeric) | First-year production — exceptionally rare; factory letter essential |
| 1956 | 300 – 1,649 | None (numeric) | Very early; fewer than 1,400 units; strong collector demand |
| 1957 | 1,650 – 5,549 | None (numeric) | Early no-letter era |
| 1958 | 5,550 – 7,049 | None (numeric) | Low-output year; desirable for early collectors |
| 1959 | 7,050 – 9,099 | None (numeric) | Still pre-1960; pre-Baby Boom collector territory |
| 1960 | 9,100 – 13,099 | None (numeric) | Early Baby Boom era Python production |
| 1961 | 13,100 – 18,799 | None (numeric) | Pre-64 interest strong |
| 1962 | 18,800 – 24,799 | None (numeric) | Hollow-underlug era; highly sought |
| 1963 | 24,800 – 30,799 | None (numeric) | Final complete pre-64 year |
| 1964 | 30,800 – 41,399 | None (numeric) | Transition year — study underlug, barrel, and configuration carefully |
Collector Notes: The no-letter Python is the benchmark of the model. All examples from 1955 through 1969 carry straight numeric serials with no letter prefix or suffix. The hollow underlug — a distinguishing feature of very early production — is most reliably associated with examples through the early-to-mid 1960s, but physical inspection is required because the transition was not tied to a precise serial boundary. First-year 1955 examples (1–299) represent some of the most document-intensive research in postwar revolver collecting; a Colt Archive letter is essentially mandatory for any transaction. The 1964 serial range (~30800–41399) is wide relative to prior years, reflecting growing demand — verify barrel contour, underlug style, grip frame, and finish originality before assigning collector grade.
Colt Cobra — .38 Special / .22 LR
First Model (1950–1972) • Frame: Alloy D-Frame • Barrel: 2″ standard, 3″, 4″ • Suffix: LW
| Year | Approx. Serial Range | Prefix / Suffix | Collector Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1LW – ~750LW | -LW suffix | Introduction year — very scarce; alloy frame; LW = Light Weight |
| 1951 | ~751LW – ~2,000LW | -LW suffix | Early production; aluminum alloy frame confirmed |
| 1952 | ~2,001LW – ~3,500LW | -LW suffix | Jack Ruby's Cobra (2744LW) falls in this range |
| 1953 | ~3,501LW – ~5,500LW | -LW suffix | — |
| 1954 | ~5,501LW – ~8,500LW | -LW suffix | — |
| 1955 | ~8,501LW – ~12,000LW | -LW suffix | Python introduced same year; lightweight companion |
| 1956 | ~12,001LW – ~17,000LW | -LW suffix | — |
| 1957 | ~17,001LW – ~23,000LW | -LW suffix | — |
| 1958 | ~23,001LW – ~27,000LW | -LW suffix | — |
| 1959 | ~27,001LW – ~32,000LW | -LW suffix | — |
| 1960 | ~32,001LW – ~38,000LW | -LW suffix | — |
| 1961 | ~38,001LW – ~44,000LW | -LW suffix | — |
| 1962 | ~44,001LW – ~50,000LW | -LW suffix | — |
| 1963 | ~50,001LW – ~56,000LW | -LW suffix | — |
| 1964 | ~56,001LW – ~62,000LW | -LW suffix | Second Model (shrouded ejector) does not arrive until early 1970s |
Collector Notes: The Cobra is Colt's postwar answer to the carry revolver — same D-frame footprint as the Detective Special, but with an aluminum alloy frame that trimmed roughly six ounces. The LW suffix (Light Weight) is the identifying mark on all First Model examples. The most historically notable Cobra serial in this table is 2744LW — the revolver used by Jack Ruby on November 24, 1963, later sold at auction for $220,000. That single example has permanently anchored early-1950s Cobra provenance research in the collector community. Annual production figures for the Cobra were not published by Colt the way Government Model and Detective Special records were, so ranges above are derived from cross-referenced shipment data and should be treated as close approximations. Factory letters remain the authoritative source.
Colt Gold Cup National Match — .45 ACP
Original Series (1957–1970) • Frame: Steel • Barrel: 5″ match-fitted • Suffix: -NM / -MS
| Year | Approx. Starting Serial | Suffix | Collector Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | 10-NM | -NM | Introduction year — first Gold Cup; match barrel, checkered trigger, hand-honed action |
| 1958 | 1,850-NM | -NM | Early production; correct fixed adjustable sight |
| 1959 | 3,600-NM | -NM | — |
| 1960 | 5,550-NM | -NM | — |
| 1961 | 7,450-NM | -NM | Standard NM and MS series both run simultaneously |
| 1961 | 101MS – 855MS | -MS | Adjustable-sight variant; scarce separate suffix run |
| 1962 | 8,850-NM | -NM | — |
| 1963 | 10,900-NM | -NM | — |
| 1964 | 12,500-NM | -NM | Series continues to ~35,800-NM through 1970; post-64 guns use same NM suffix |
Collector Notes: The Gold Cup National Match was Colt's re-entry into the target pistol market following the wartime hiatus of the pre-war National Match. Introduced in 1957, it differed from the standard Government Model in every detail that mattered for bullseye competition: hand-fitted match barrel and bushing, checkered trigger, checkered arched mainspring housing, wide target hammer, Coltmaster adjustable rear sight, and walnut target stocks. The -NM suffix is consistent throughout the original series. The 1961 -MS variant (101MS–855MS) represents an adjustable-sight configuration marketed separately for a single year; it is significantly scarcer than the standard NM series and commands a premium. Production volume was intentionally modest — fewer than 2,000 units most years — keeping the Gold Cup a genuinely rare encounter in any Baby Boom era collection.
Era Summary — Baby Boom Colt Production Overview (1946–1964)
| Model | Frame | Caliber | Serial Format | Era Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Government Model (Commercial) | Steel, full-size | .45 ACP | C221001 → 296000C (numeric) | Prefix flips to suffix mid-1950 |
| Detective Special (2nd Issue) | Steel D-Frame | .38 Spl / .32 NP | 481001 → 861500 (numeric) | First/Second Issue split at ~490000 |
| Python | Steel I-Frame | .357 Mag | 1 → 41399 (numeric) | No-letter era; hollow underlug highly collectible |
| Cobra (1st Model) | Alloy D-Frame | .38 Spl / .22 LR | 1LW → ~62000LW | LW suffix; Jack Ruby connection (2744LW) |
| Gold Cup Natl. Match | Steel, full-size | .45 ACP | 10-NM → 12500-NM | -NM suffix; -MS variant in 1961 only |
Source note: Serial number data drawn from Colt factory shipping records, Old Colt ship-date tables, ProofHouse.com reference charts, and collector cross-references. All ranges are approximate. Serial numbers are not a substitute for a Colt Archive Properties factory letter for authentication, valuation, or legal purposes. Document prepared for guncollectorsclub.com.
How to Use This Page with Colt Serial Number Guides
Start with the model, not the year. Colt reused broad numbering concepts across different arms, and many serial systems are not interchangeable between revolvers, semi-automatic pistols, and rimfire target pistols. Once the model is identified, compare the serial number to the correct model-specific chart.
- Identify the Colt model and caliber.
- Record the full serial number exactly as marked.
- Confirm barrel length, finish, sights, and grip style.
- Compare the firearm against the correct detailed guide.
- For high-value or questionable examples, consider a Colt factory letter.
Where to Find the Serial Number on Your Colt
On many Colt double-action revolvers, the serial number is found on the frame in the crane/yoke area after the cylinder is opened. On 1911-pattern pistols, the frame serial is normally on the receiver. Woodsman, Match Target, 1903, and Single Action Army examples require model-specific location checks because serial and assembly numbers can be confused.
Collector Cautions for 1946–1964 Colt Serial Numbers
Serial numbers are only one part of Colt identification. A correct serial range may tell you the approximate production period, but it does not by itself prove originality. Refinished surfaces, replaced barrels, swapped grips, later boxes, and altered markings can all affect collector value.
When evaluating a Baby Boom-era Colt, compare the serial number with physical evidence: roll marks, frame type, finish, stocks, barrel address, proof marks, sight style, and overall configuration.
From My Bench
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About Greg Cook
Greg Cook writes about firearms collecting, personal history, and the stories behind interesting guns. His Army MOS was 76Y, Unit Armorer, and he brings that practical background to his collector articles.
Sources Consulted
- R.L. Wilson, The Book of Colt Firearms
- R.L. Wilson, Colt: An American Legend
- Colt factory catalogs and period advertising literature
- Colt factory letter research practices and collector documentation standards
- Author observations, collector notes, and comparison of surviving examples