I posted a few weeks back as I was beginning my search for a Detective Special. I finally found the one. Bought a 1968 blued beauty from a guy in Kentucky. Picked it up Friday. It is a beauty. I am sure the gun had been fired, but not a mark or scratch and the checkering is perfect. Chambers and bore had no marks. Even got the original (slightly beat up) box.
Cleaned and oiled it and took it and my P-38 to the range with my son yesterday. I gotta say it is a blast to shoot, but it is going to take some time to get good with this thing past 5 or 6 yards. I'll try to post up some pics later today.
On a side note, while at the range my son and I were taking a break and an older gentleman came into the handgun side. He looked to be late 60's or early 70's. Walked a little slow and stooped a bit. He had a long gun in a case and had been shooting it on the rifle range. He opened the backpack he was carrying and pulled out a S&W .40. He took his time and loaded up. As I am watching him he gets three clips loaded and placed one in the gun and two on the deck. He runs his target out to about 12-14 yards. Suddenly, he takes his stance at low ready, draws up quidkly and proceeds to put his first clip into about a 4"-5" circle. Pops the clip, and proceeds to do the same with the other two. He then notices I am watching and kind of smiles and says "not bad for and old man, huh?" All I could say was, pretty damned good for any man. He packed up and left. I looked over at my son and he just says "well damn."
All I can say is, if somebody breaks into this old guy's house and he can get to his S&W, the guy is in deep kimshee. It was fun to watch.
Pics and better range report on the DS later.

