# Colt JAL Dark Horse .38 Super Nickel 5" Semi-Auto Pistol

**Brand:** Colt
**Category:** Full Size Handguns
**Caliber:** .38 Super

## Specifications

- **Caliber:** .38 Super
- **Barrel Length:** 5"
- **Capacity:** 8 rounds
- **Finish:** Nickeled Slide, Polished Flats
- **Overall Length:** 8.5"
- **UPC:** 098289112828
- **SKU:** UC1jHn6FQ

## Description

The Colt JAL Dark Horse is a single-action semi-automatic pistol chambered in .38 Super, built on a steel frame with a polished nickeled slide and polished flats. The gray laminated grips carry a black horse design. Barrel length is 5.0 inches, overall length is 8.5 inches, and capacity is 8+1. Sights are adjustable GI-style, and the manual thumb safety is the standard 1911-pattern layout.

### Key Specifications
- **Brand:** Colt
- **Model:** JAL Dark Horse
- **Type:** Semi-Auto Pistol
- **Action:** Single Action
- **Caliber:** .38 Super
- **Finish:** Nickeled Slide, Polished Flats
- **Frame Material:** Steel Frame
- **Grips:** Gray Lam Grips with Black Horse Design (Synthetic)
- **Barrel Length:** 5.0 inches
- **Overall Length:** 8.5 inches
- **Capacity:** 8 + 1 rounds
- **Sights Type:** Adjustable GI Sights
- **Safety Features:** Manual Thumb Safety

### Detailed Features
The single-action trigger delivers a lighter, more consistent pull than double-action alternatives, which is useful in competition. The nickeled slide resists corrosion reasonably well but does require attention to avoid scratching the finish. Steel frame construction keeps mass where it helps absorb recoil, and the 5-inch barrel gives .38 Super the velocity it needs to run flat.

The adjustable GI sights can be dialed in for a specific load rather than relying on a fixed zero, which matters more with .38 Super than with more common calibers since factory loadings vary noticeably in pressure and velocity.

### Usage
The .38 Super has a following in IPSC/USPSA competition where its power factor and magazine capacity (in higher-capacity frames) are useful, but this 8+1 configuration is more at home on the range or as a collector piece than as a competition workhorse. It's a fit for shooters who want a 1911-pattern pistol in .38 Super specifically, or those who collect Colt's limited and special-edition runs.

## What Reviewers Say

*Quoted verbatim from YouTube reviews. Each link opens the video at the moment quoted.*

> Here's your first look first impressions this gun is just spectacular.
>
> — [Jimmy's Auto & Firearms](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URutYUd33-c&t=47s)

## What Customers Say

*AI-generated insights from customer reviews*

Discussions about the Colt JAL Dark Horse in .38 Super tend to land in collector and 1911-enthusiast circles, and the tone is mostly appreciative. But practical shooters add qualifications.

The nickeled finish draws consistent praise. Owners note the polish quality and the attention to detail on the flats as standout features for a production pistol. The gray laminated grips with the horse design are considered a nice touch that fits the overall look.

Performance feedback is positive. Most owners report solid reliability across a variety of .38 Super loads, and accuracy with a quality load at 25 yards is described as good. The single-action trigger and 5-inch barrel work together well for deliberate shooting.

The .38 Super caliber itself divides opinion. Competitive shooters who already load for it see the cartridge as a genuine advantage for certain divisions. Shooters coming from 9mm or .45 ACP find the ammunition harder to source and more expensive, which affects how often they run it.

Price comes up as a consideration. Colt's limited editions carry a premium, and whether that premium is justified depends largely on whether the buyer values collector appeal. Many owners treat it as an investment piece as much as a shooter. Maintenance around the nickel finish, keeping it clean without scratching, gets mentioned as a minor but real ongoing task.

## Pricing

**1 offers available**

| Vendor | Price |
|--------|-------|
| Guns Com | $2581.99 |

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*Data from [GunsNation](https://gunsnation.com)*