Production date is 1977 for serial numbers: 19201M-59999M. Don't know what the X is.
Produced in 1973.
A Colt ds .38 special with the serial number C44027 without the S on the end was made in 1973.
Any commercial 38 special ammo can be used in a firearm marked 38 special caliber. (Remington,Federal,CCI,Fiocchi,etc.) The Colt serial number guide that I found on the internet says Colt Detective Specials with an "M"after the serial number started with the year 1975. The gun should have a shrouded extractor rod.
your colt detective special dates to the year 1949 by the serial number provided.
Are you sure the serial number is correct? The Colt detective special was first produced in 1927 with a starting serial number of 331000,The Colt police positive special from which the Colt detective special was derived from with the serial number 153817 was made in 1918
Most say 38 special on the barrel
Please check your serial number or model number because the detective special does not show a AE prefix to the serial numbers in my records.
The Colt detective special was derived from the Colt positive special in 1927and the starting serial number for that year was 331000 so the serial number you show of 3021 does not match up as a Colt detective special. Now if the serial number was 383021 then it was made in 1930.
Impossible to answer without the serial number.
Serial number is needed to answer.
Serial number S04926
Colt Detective Special serial number 45418M is within the range 19201M - 59999M which was manufactured in 1977.