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The Officer's Model Target is Colt's top end pre-war target revolver. It was available in various calibers from .22LR to 32. to the .38 Special. These guns were built on the Colt 'E' frame, which is the same as the Official Police '41' frame. This model made Colt's reputation as 'THE' target revolver. In the 20's to the 40's many, if not most target shooter's used the Colt.
The Officer's Model had a hand fitted and finished action, checkered trigger and backstrap, with an adjustable rear sight, and an adjustable front sight.
Since the Officer's Model was Colt's premium target revolver,
the gun received extensive polishing and tuning of the action, for the best trigger possible.
The Officer's Model Match is the post-war Colt Target gun. This is built on the Colt 'I' frame. Post war the 'I' frame was used for all Colt mid-frame revolvers like the Official Police, Trooper, and Python.
The only real differences between the 'E' and 'I' frames are a few minor changes, primarily in the method of securing the cylinder into the frame.
The pre-war guns used a flanged screw and stud device to hold the cylinder. This is a 'figure 8' arrangement on the right front frame. When the screw is backed out, the flange on the screw draws the cylinder retention stud up with it.
The post-war guns use a cap screw, spring, and stud arrangement. This is a large screw on the front right side of the frame. The screw is actually a cap, that retains the cylinder retention stud and spring.
The Officer's Model Match, had Colt's new post-war target hammer, target grips, and the Accro adjustable rear sight, which was a higher-quality match sight. Shooter's had complained that the pre-war sight arrangement of adjusting both front and rear, was too difficult to use.
It had a grooved trigger and grooved backstrap.
The post-war guns used a different bluing system, and received slightly less tuning and polishing of the action. Colt realized that the extensive work done on pre-war guns was simply too expensive, and actually unnecessary, since target matches were fired single action only.
The Officer's Model Match was discontinued, along with all 'I' frame revolvers in 1969, with the exception of the Python.
Some pre and post war guns had single action-only actions. In these special order guns, the gun cannot be fired double action. If the trigger is pulled in the DA mode, the cylinder will rotate, but the hammer will not cycle, and the gun won't fire.
In addition, some target shooter's were know to remove the Colt hammer safety mechanism, in the belief that this improved the trigger pull. All Colt target revolvers should be checked for the presence of the internal safety assembly.
The pre-war Officer's Model had a great reputation, and are some of the finest fitted and finished revolvers ever made. Colt was using their famous heat bluing process in those days and the guns are gorgeous.
The post-war guns have better sights, are usually cheaper to buy, and are more available and usually in better shape.