Talk:Colt SF-VI/DS-II

How do we differentiate between this and a Colt DSII/SF-VI? --Funkychinaman (talk) 17:56, 23 August 2013 (EDT)

Firstly, a couple of ways to tell the different from a DSII and a SF-VI is that the SF-VI has a new style cylinder release that has a stepped up and serrated portion at the back meaning there is more to get hold of, also the end of the ejector rod on an SF-VI is narrower so rather than the hole in the side of the shroud being keyhole shaped, it is just a straight slot. Secondly, the Magnum carry is a variant of the SF-VI, so the trick is how to tell those two guns apart. As far as I know the only difference is that the frame on a magnum Carry is slightly larger, with a noticeably beefier top strap and a correspondingly slightly taller front sight. For example, compare this SF-VI to this Magnum Carry]. Unfortunately this is the only difference as far as I can tell, and am not sure how well you would be able to distinguish without seeing the guns side by side. Not sure, but I think the front of the sight on the Magnum Carry is always vertical rather than slopes as well which could help with an ID. The sharp edges of the Magnum Carry were an issue though so I wouldn't be surprised if they were rounded off after-market. --commando552 (talk) 19:40, 23 August 2013 (EDT)

Have just looked through the appearances, and to my eye all of the guns listed as Magnum Carryies have the normal top strap and the smaller rounded front sight, which would make them SF-VIs by my reckoning. --commando552 (talk) 19:43, 23 August 2013 (EDT)

Yes, I agree. I guess it doesn't help we don't have a SF-VI image here. --Funkychinaman (talk) 19:46, 23 August 2013 (EDT)

Got a photo:

Colt SF-VI - .38 Special

Should it just be included on the DS page, or have a separate page like the Magnum Carry currently does? Technically, I think it doesn't have Detective Special in the name, and it is an all new stainless steel gun, however it looks pretty much identical so I'm inclined to put it on the DS page. --commando552 (talk) 20:10, 23 August 2013 (EDT)

Since all the Magnum Carrys are actually SF-VIs, we could just rename the page. Want to run it by JCordell, he's the revolver man. --Funkychinaman (talk) 23:22, 23 August 2013 (EDT)

BTW, the one SF-VI appearance already links to the DS page. --Funkychinaman (talk) 04:09, 24 August 2013 (EDT)

I realize this morning when I have less whiskey in me that I f'd up my description of the DSII and SF-VI above. I got confused between the old 3rd generation Detective Special and the Detective Special II. The DSII is exactly the same as the SF-VI, it was just a name change made after a year of production. Originally they called it the SF-VI (Small Frame, 6 round cylinder) until all the original Detective Specials were out of production to stop confusion, but when they were gone they changed it to DSII. I am inclined to put them on a new page to themselves as they are an entirely new gun on a new frame with different internals. Another question though, what would the page be called? Normally we would go by the original name which is SF-VI, but this was only used for a year as opposed to DS-II which was used from 1996 until 2000 when all the Colt revolvers apart from the Python were discontinued. --commando552 (talk) 04:36, 24 August 2013 (EDT)