1947 Super .38- Odin?

[CherryRiver]

I just got my hands on a 1947 Super .38 that's been refinished, and that's another story, but there's a stamped line on the right side of the frame above the serial number and just below the slide rails. It seems to read "ODIN ALEX VA". There's been some polishing and I can't be sure if there's anything else there.
Any clues on what "ODIN" is, in, I presume, Alexandria, Virginia?
Thanks
Bill

[Hunter]

Odin is the principal viking god in Norse Mythology.
Do you have any pictures?

[herd118]

Odin International, Ltd., firearms importers and distributors, when they were in business, were located in Alexandria, VA. They operated in the 1970's and 80's as I recall.

[CherryRiver]

I like mythology well enough- I shot a Colt .357 sixgun in the Wisconsin State IDPA match today- but I'm inclined to go with the distributor thing.
Pictures wouldn't really help. It's just a plain block-letter stamping above the serial.
I did have two fellows ask to video me running the "house" stage with the ol' I-frame. Guess you just don't see many pony guns in that business any more.
Bill

[Hunter]

Pictures wouldn't really help. It's just a plain block-letter stamping above the serial.

I just wanted to see your Colt.

[larry starling]

I just wanted to see your Colt.
Come on man, You ain't got a better excuse than that?????? :scared:But I agree with Hunter lets see some pics??????

[CherryRiver]

Hunter-
Let it never be said that there beats within this old reprobate a heart so hard as to be able to resist such a plea!
Particularly not one from a fine gentleman so considerate of the rest of his Forum-mates as to have shouldered the onerous burden of being OD*'s tormentor.
Here's the Super .38, and while the hasty photography is far from good, the slide marks are indeed that buffed down. The other side is even worse. Someday when there's more bullets in the money gun, I'd be tempted to send it back to Hartford (okay, West Hartford these days) and get it set back to 1947.
Bill
http://www.fishertransmission.com/images/Sup38.jpg

[Hunter]

I have been keeping an eye out for an early Super since that round has captured my heart.
I like the idea of restoration of that Colt. The coolness factor is high on this one.
Thanks for the picture.
The fine gentleman is a stretch but rest assured the burden of being OD's tormentor is mine to bear and it can be a heavy one.

[CherryRiver]

The story on this gun is less sordid than I first feared.
It came to me through a club-mate doing some safe-cleaning. Upon hearing the price, and a description, I thought it would make a good shooter.
Besides, it came with a well-fitted 9mm barrel, a major grab for me, as I had been looking for a full-size 9mm to go with the Combat Commander I hooked last year.
I want to both have the nine for cheaper practice, and that most elusive of grails, the Girl Gun that the Boss finally takes a hankering to. So far, it's down to just the rimfire 1911 I built off a damaged 1950 Super .38 Commander frame (a hundred bucks!)(and they still have the slide!), and the Diamondback, the only centerfire she'll run anymore.
Now that this Super has come to look like a restorable, though, my initial plan to slap on sights that a mature person can find without feeling around for them (The Missus much prefers a fiber optic on the far end) may have been derailed. I'm not sure I can ask the local 'smith to buzz out a slot for big sights.
An inocuous purchase of a cheap range gun has gone wrong again.
The same dang thing happened with the aforementioned .357 Model.
Bill

[larry starling]

I would send it back to Colt and have them re rollmark it???

[elijdub]

Any way you look at it, it appears to be a mighty fine specimen to me! I've always wanted to know: what's the perceived recoil like with the 38 Super? Similar to a 9mm? What's the difference between 38 Super and .38 Special?

I also have been working on the "grail". So far we're up to an old O/U .22/410....at least we're shooting!

[JustinTime]

Any way you look at it, it appears to be a mighty fine specimen to me! I've always wanted to know: what's the perceived recoil like with the 38 Super? Similar to a 9mm? What's the difference between 38 Super and .38 Special?

I also have been working on the "grail". So far we're up to an old O/U .22/410....at least we're shooting!

To be completely honest with you Eli, I can't tell much (if any) difference in recoil between my super.38 Colt 1991 and my 9mm glock17. That must be why it has found a niche in Hunter's heart. :D Super .38 and .38 special is a bit harder to compare because one cartridge is a semi-auto caliber and the other is a wheelie cartridge. In addition, the revolver you use to shoot a .38 special in makes a huge difference in recoil as well. For instance, I have a .357 for my wife that has handles .38 special +p with minimal recoil. In fact it feels much less than a 9mm. On the other hand my father has an old .38 airweight snubby that is brutal with standard pressure .38 loads.

[EchoBravoKilo]

"...my initial plan to slap on sights that a mature person can find without feeling around for them (The Missus much prefers a fiber optic on the far end) may have been derailed. I'm not sure I can ask the local 'smith to buzz out a slot for big sights."

It may not help with the Missus, but you may like the Yost-Bonitz retro sight. I don't have it (I'm about to get it on a commander), but understand it helps us middle age eye types and fits in the slide where the originals are now with no hacking. Might work for competition until you go the restoration route...

Congrats on the pistol.

[elijdub]

To be completely honest with you Eli, I can't tell much (if any) difference in recoil between my super.38 Colt 1991 and my 9mm glock17. That must be why it has found a niche in Hunter's heart. :D Super .38 and .38 special is a bit harder to compare because one cartridge is a semi-auto caliber and the other is a wheelie cartridge. In addition, the revolver you use to shoot a .38 special in makes a huge difference in recoil as well. For instance, I have a .357 for my wife that has handles .38 special +p with minimal recoil. In fact it feels much less than a 9mm. On the other hand my father has an old .38 airweight snubby that is brutal with standard pressure .38 loads.
Thanks for the Justin! I haven't ever fired a 38 Super.......add that to the list!
I shoulda' been more clear about my .38 Special question: i was curious if there is a difference between the acutal round of 38 Sup vs. 38 Spec (not the recoil)..? Are they similare in size/weight? I actually have a S&W 38 Special. It's a snubby, but it's got enough weight to it that the recoil isn't too bad.

[OD*]

Bill,

I really doubt Colt could help you with a restoration, I would be surprised if they even have the rollmarking dies anymore (or correct bluing). Your pistol looks to be a good candidate for Bill Adair.
http://www.restoration-gunsmith.com/

[OD*]

Thanks for the Justin! I haven't ever fired a 38 Super.......add that to the list!
I shoulda' been more clear about my .38 Special question: i was curious if there is a difference between the acutal round of 38 Sup vs. 38 Spec (not the recoil)..? Are they similare in size/weight? I actually have a S&W 38 Special. It's a snubby, but it's got enough weight to it that the recoil isn't too bad.
http://stevespages.com/jpg/cd38superautomatic.jpg

http://stevespages.com/jpg/cd38special.jpg

[elijdub]

Thank you very much OD*. Picture's worth a thousand words ;) !

[OD*]

;)


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