According to the included factory letter, this revolver was shipped to the Em Roe Sporting Goods Company of Indianapolis, Indiana on May 26, 1932, and in addition to documenting the finish and barrel length, the letter notes that the revolver was part of a 25-piece batch that was factory modified with a cut-away trigger guard, bobbed hammer and a rounded butt. This configuration, known as the "Fitz Special" was endorsed by Colt's resident ballistic expert and pitch man J. Henry Fitz-Gerald as an ideal package for concealed defensive carry, with Fitz-Gerald known for wearing a brace of 45 New Service Revolvers so modified. While some of Fitz's concepts (such as reducing/eliminating components that could catch on clothing and an emphasis on double-action fire) are embraced up to this day and still influence the design of defensive handguns, others (like chopping off your trigger guard) are generally regarded as artifacts of another time. Blade front and frame groove rear sights, with the two-line address and patent dates on the right side of the barrel and "38 DETECTIVE/SPECIAL" on the left, with a checkered trigger, smooth spurless hammer, the Rampant Colt on the left side of the frame, and checkered grips with Rampant Colt medallions. Included with the revolver is an unlabeled "black box" with a barrel brush.

Extremely fine, with 85% plus of the original blue finish, showing a gray patina on the back strap and along the high edges, small areas of brown patina on the cylinder and frame, along with some scattered handling marks. Grips are very fine, with a few light dings and crisp checkering. The replacement box is good as repaired, with a number of glued tears and light touch-ups, and is numbered to another handgun. Mechanically excellent.