Introduced in 1908, the Colt Police Positive Special is a small frame, double-action revolver with a 6-round cylinder, chambered for .38 Special. By comparison, the larger blued Official Police was going for $110, while the also-heftier competition Model 10 … The best condition possible is around $700-$750. Sights. Wearing serial number 1478, this vintage double action revolver left the Colt’s Manufacturing Company in 1905 (first year production). For a gun in decent shape like mine floats around $300-$400. CT. U.S.A. PAT'D. Each is slightly different than before. Fixed iron; Blade front, V-notch rear. The convenience of a common cartridge for one's long arm and sidearm had obvious advantages, and the popularity of such rifle/revolver combinations grew quickly with American shooters. For the sake of today, we will be pulling a unique Colt revolver from my personal collection that does not get as much notoriety as it should, the Colt Police Positive Special chambered in .38 S&W. Colt Police Positive .38 Special - factory inscribed "Inspector Dance Halls" on the rear grip strap. The sights are easy to see and fast to align, somewhat of a rarity on handguns of that era. Writer | TheFirearmBlog When it was introduced in 1927, Colt’s standard service revolvers were the Army Special, Police Positive Special, and Official Police. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for cal38 Handcrafted Leather Belt Holster for Colt Police Positive 38 Special (R.H) Black at Amazon.com. It took a long time for Glock to bring out a .22 LR pistol, but it was worth the wait. It’s basically a round-butted Police Positive Special chambered in.32 Colt or.38 Special with a 2-inch barrel. You may have also noticed that I have mentioned .38 Colt New Police and to expand upon that, it is essentially Colt’s proprietary version of .38 S&W that typically featured flat-nosed bullets. For most of a century, the .38 Special ruled the country in terms of sheer numbers of double-action (DA) revolvers sold and carried from coast to coast. According to Colt’s serial number lookup, my Colt was manufactured in 1970. condition 70%. The third issue was made from 1947 to 1976 and sported a grooved trigger, a new cylinder retention system, and a ramped front sight. The 6-inch barrel gave it a nicely balanced look and feel. This was the handgun that I learned how to shoot handguns with. Colt’s Manufacturing Company, LLC has been around for over 150 years and has produced revolutionary designs that have been loved and made iconic. Black pistol grip. The .300 Blackout is here to stay, and we take some time to look at new technology surrounding this cartridge. The competing S&W M&P revolver was smaller and lighter than Colt's revolvers, and so Colt responded with the Police Positive Special, which used the medium frame mated to a cylinder lengthened 0.25 inch in order to handle the longer .38 S&W Special cartridge (a.k.a. The only design differences are that the Special had a strengthened frame and lengthened cylinder to make space for the more potent .38 Special cartridge. Introduced in 1907, the Colt Police Positive Special is a small frame, double-action revolver with a six round cylinder, primarily chambered for .38 Special. We always appreciate your feedback. Designs such as the model 1911 bought from John Browning are beloved and adopted by militaries as well as copied constantly in modern day. In addition, there was a specialized segment of the revolver market that Colt had been addressing for many decades. Its light weight would have made it a pleasure to carry for extended periods of time, and the sights were above average for handguns of that day. FROM THE PRACTICAL standpoint of size, weight and power, the Police Positive Special was already the perfect policeman’s gun, but Colt also had a safety advantage in their “Colt Positive Lock.” The action included an automatic acting metal bar that … At the time of the Police Positive's introduction, the American civilian revolver market was still dominated by .32-caliber revolvers, and the .38 Spl. Writer | AllOutdoor.com. Produced with fine carbon steel, this Police Positive Special features Colt's characteristic … Let us dive into the specifications of the Police Positive Special as a whole. Please keep in mind a separation issue. Colt Police Positive Specials are relatively affordable and common. Realistic polymer construction & finish. This 1950 mfg. Available with 4-, 5-, and 6-inch barrels, the Police Positive Special was of compact dimensions and moderate weight (25 ounces with 6-inch barrel), and it was an immediate hit with American police. Regardless, we persevered and produced groups that ranged from 3.38 to 4.13 inches in size at 15 yards. This was intended for detectives and plainclothes officers who required an easily concealed weapon and, to appeal to their target demographic, Colt named their n… The only significant cosmetic change to the series occurred around 1926 when the grip frame was shortened slightly. Colt managed to steer clear of manufacturing double-action revolvers until well after the Colt Single Action Army had become the standard U.S. military sidearm in 1873. But these were counterbalanced to a degree by the poorly designed grips. I had written a Round Table article about it earlier this week. Although currently older surplus guns or unique guns of long ago are pretty flooded and static in their prices, I think this is an excellent example of an affordable collector piece. Chambered for 38 special rounds. It has a 6-inch barrel marked "POLICE POSITIVE SPECIAL .32-20 W.C.F." This aspect is probably why they do not get much notoriety or limelight that they may very well deserve. All in all, the Police Positive Special proved to be a practical enough revolver. I stood at 15 yards and fired off-hand in a way I had seen in an old 1970’s police training video. The second, made in 1993, featured a … As I mentioned above the Third Issue Colt Police Positive Special was manufactured from 1946 to 1976. Something worthy of note is that the Third Issue Colts were almost exclusively chambered in .38 Special, mine is not and I will expand on that a little while down the line. The Colt Police Positive Special was popular with sportsmen and hunters as well as with both domestic and international law enforcement agencies. The Police Positive Special was intended primarily for sale to law enforcement agencies and enjoys the distinction of being Colt’s most widely produced revolver … six round cylinder. Read honest and unbiased product reviews … It was also offered in.22 caliber cartridges. Unfortunately I did not handle the .32 PP, but the .38 has a pretty stiff hammer - it won't cock easily. The heart of the newest Model 70 is, of course, its action. The blue book values for the third issue that I own are not the kindest. At the time, rifles firing the .32-20, and the later .25-20 WCF, were the most popular "varmint guns" because they provided accuracy and sufficient killing power with low levels of penetration, noise, and pelt damage. When it was introduced in 1927, Colt’s standard service revolvers were the Army Special, Police Positive Special, and Official Police. Presented today is a used .38 caliber Colt Police Positive revolver. According to a 1916 Colt publication, the St. Louis, Kansas City, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Chicago police departments all approved the Police Positive Special revolver as their issue sidearm. It should be noted it consistently walked up and to the right from my point of aim. I had mentioned earlier that my Colt is chambered in .38 S&W (Colt New Police). My personal Colt is that of the third issue of Police Positive Specials and is chambered in .38 S&W rather than .38 Special. Colt’s .38 Colt Special used a flat-nosed bullet that turned out to be a more effective man-stopper than the round-nosed S&W 158-grain loading. This Police Positive Special was made in 1916, so the "Coltwood" plastic grips are a later replacement. A 1956 Police Positive Special and most likely a duty weapon at some point in its life, it must have had a wild ride. The Colt Official Police is a medium frame, double-action revolver with a six-round cylinder, primarily chambered for the .38 Special cartridge, and manufactured by the Colt's Manufacturing Company.Released in 1908 as the Colt Army Special, the revolver was renamed the "Colt's Official Police" in 1927 in order to better market to law enforcement agencies. S# 770961 6” bbl with an excellent bore. double-action. It was especially popular with Canadian and Latin American police forces and was used by the Ontario Provincial Police well into the 1980s. I found two of interest - one .32 Police Positive (not sure of the SN) priced at $180; and one .38 Special Police Positive, SN 123082, priced at $150. Item Number CLT066. The Police Positive Special was intended primarily for sale to law enforcement agencies and enjoys the distinction of being Colt's most widely produced revolver design. Both are listed on the side of my revolver. Old soul, certified gunsmith, published author, avid firearm history learner, and appreciator of old and unique guns. The Colt Police Positive is a small-frame, double-action revolver featuring a six-round cylinder, chambered for either.32 or.38 caliber. There are five issues or versions of the Colt Police Positive Special. Next, we pit subsonic rivals against each other before stretching the legs of this CQB round out to 600 yards from a short 9-inch barrel. 1907 saw the introduction of the Colt Police Positive revolver chambered for the .32 Colt, .32 New Police, and .38 New Police. The longer cartridges were chambered in the PPS. colt police positive special in .38 special cal., with 4" barrel. Taking a journey back in time to review the old Colt Police Positive 38 chambered in 38 S&W. author fired it offhand on Outer's prairie dog targets placed at 10 yards. A year later, Colt introduced the larger Model 1878. The Colt revolvers also had among the best sights of the day, with a wide-open notch in the topstrap and half-moon front sight. Colt--the world's premier revolver maker--did not want to fall behind the loop and assigned chief engineer Carl Ehbets the task of developing such a revolver. The Police Positive Special in.38 Special led to the Detective Special, one of the most popular and iconic handguns of all time. Not sure why these aren't more popular. Up close look at shooting a 1919 Colt Police Positive Special in 38 Special. I attempted two more targets worth and this one was my best grouping. Manufactured from 1908 on, standard police issue for much of 20th century. … With a 40-year production history under its belt, the Police Positive was made in several variants. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Production was severely curtailed during World War II, and eventually it was discontinued in 1946. F. A. MFG. Affordable nostalgia at its best! Item Number CLT018. color nickel. The Police Positive is a different gun from the Police Positive Special. The Colt Police Positive Special was produced from late 1907 to 1995. All that being said, I think these are great gateway guns to get you collecting old Colts or even revolvers in general. My personal Colt is that of the third issue of Police Positive Specials and is chambered in .38 S&W rather than .38 Special. The "Positive" in the name refers to the Colt Positive Lock hammer-block safety, which interposes a steel bar between the hammer and the frame that prevents the hammer from going completely forward unless the trigger is pulled through a complete stroke. Posted June 17, 2020 in Editorial, Revolver, Wheelgun Wednesday by Sam.S with No CommentsTags: 38 Smith and Wesson, Colt Police Positive Special, double action, wheelgun wednesday. ".38 Colt Special"). Maybe you already have one or one of each issue? I suspect the reason is that my particular revolver was imported from China and was once a Royal Hong Kong Police revolver and .38 S&W was either preferred or more common than the relatively new .38 Special. Something to get a new up and coming collector started or maybe even add some zest to a Colt aficionado’s pile of Pythons. Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather SS Review, Best .22 Magnum Revolvers Available Right Now, Uberti 1885 Courteney Stalking Rifle Review, Precision Reloading Guide Part 3: Priming, Powder Charging & Bullet Seating, Smith & Wesson M&P9 Shield EZ vs. Taurus G3c, Tactical Solutions Introduces New X-Ring Takedown SBR Rifle. Constructed on the medium-sized "D" frame, it was seen as suitable for both holster and concealed carry. In 1905 Colt began marketing the Navy/Army revolvers chambered for the .32-20, and the popular Police Positive series was chambered for the .32-20. But just as important was the new .38 S&W Special cartridge introduced at the same time, which pushed its 158-grain lead bullet to a rated 850 fps producing 200 ft-lbs of muzzle energy and was significantly more powerful than the .38 Long Colt. Colt had long offered revolvers chambered for the popular .32-20, .38-40, and .44-40 Winchester cartridges. Designed primarily for sale to federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies, the Police Positive was introduced into the firearms market by Colt's Manufacturing Company in 1905. All Colt swing-out-cylinder revolvers produced since then use the same basic system. | A Practical PerformerMy brother Vincent's apparently bottomless gun collection contains a .32-20 Police Positive Special made in 1916 that is in very-good-plus condition. ©2021 Outdoor Sportsman Group. I think this old gat is valid and unique in its own right but would you yourself purchase one? The revolvers could be chosen by any police force around the world and add particular things like specific calibers and even lanyard loops. standard retains all of its blued finish showing only a few scattered marks on the cylinder, 1 Section from laying in box, plus very slight oxidation around edges of 3 flutes. For those reasons, rifles and handguns firing these cartridges were very popular with varmint hunters, trappers, and farmers. About 25 years before Colt brought the curtain down on the Police Positive Special — 1969 to be exact — it was listed at $93.50 (blued). At various times in the model's production life, the grips were made from hard rubber, checkered walnut, or a synthetic material known as "Coltwood." It came as an iteration of the Colt Police Positive. More .38 Special revolvers across major and minor brands rode in police holsters than any other caliber during its reign. All Shooting Times subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Realizing there was a need for a more easily concealed revolver than these 4- and 6-inch revolvers, they began production of a snub nose model. It was adopted by many agencies as it was thought to be the perfect size for both uniformed and plainclothes officers even when fitted with the 4-inch barrel. Both got a rather lukewarm reception. In 1889 and 1892, the U.S. Navy and Army adopted revolvers chambered for the .38 Long Colt cartridge (see Shooting Times May 2005). It was chambered to fire the same cartridg… Feed system. Realizing there was a need for a more easily concealed revolver than these 4- and 6-inch revolvers, they began production of a snub nose model. Besides being a companion for .32-20 rifles, it offered .32 aficionados a cartridge with considerably more "oomph" than the .32 Colt New Police. James Tarr runs through the 3-Second Headshot drill. Instead of perforating combat-type targets, I set up a pair of Outers prairie dog targets, and we plinked away at these imaginary vermin at a distance of 10 yards, firing the revolver in single- and double-action modes. In 1899 S&W introduced its .38 Hand Ejector Military & Police revolver, which would be Colt's main competition in the law enforcement market for the next 70 years. Taking a look at a classic American revolver, the Police Positive by Colt! Just picture standing essentially sideways so both shoulders are in a line along with the evolver and my non-dominant hand resting on my side. My friend Butch Simpson and I put the lightweight medium-sized revolver to the test using Black Hills and Winchester .32-20 ammo. AUG. 5, 1884, JULY 4, 1905, OCT. 5, 1926. The .38 S&W is a slightly wimpy looking cartridge that packs more pep than one would think by just looking at it. were traditionally intended as sidearms for hunters and trappers, in the case of the Colt, I devised a different method of evaluating its offhand shooting capabilities. The PPS is a "D" frame as is the later Diamondback. The cylinder locks up as tight as a new gun, and the DA trigger pull is more than acceptable. The Police Positive was designed primarily for sale to federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies. Depending on the cartridge, you can still save money by handloading, and even though... Frank and Tony from Gallery of Guns spice up the Glock test using their non-dominant hands. The grip frame had a distinctive forward curve common to most of the pre-World War II medium-frame revolvers. With this revolver having roots in a police force I decided to pick up a silhouette target to do a grouping test. It came as an iteration of the Colt Police Positive. Colt Police Positive .38 Special, Blued, 4" Barrel. cartridge did not catch on with civilians until well into the 1920s. The Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P9 Shield EZ and the Taurus G3c are vastly different,... Give a Gift Before moving on to more entertaining forms of the handgun evaluation process, I ran five rounds of each brand of ammo across my chronograph, and the results are listed in the accompanying chart. The first issue was manufactured from 1926 to 1972 and is quite collectible. In 1888 Ehbets patented a mechanism whereby the cylinder was locked in position by a sliding latch on the frame that was connected to a pin that entered a recess in the ratchet at the rear of the cylinder, locking it in place. The first solid-frame, swing-out-cylinder revolver was patented in Europe. Description: Colt Official Police .38 Spl. ".38 Colt Special"). … The .32-20 Police Positive Special was available with 4-, 5-, or 6-inch barrels; fixed sights; and with a choice of blue or nickel finishes. Police Positive .38 Factory Inscribed serial number 403841 with 5" barrel - right side. Subscriber Services. The only design differences are that the Special had a strengthened frame and lengthened cylinder to make space for the more potent .38 Special cartridge. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. All Rights Reserved. The Colt Police Positive Special was produced from late 1907 to 1995. The guns are cosmetically in the same state, with the large part of the original bluing gone. Colt Police Positive .38 Special, Nickel, 4" Barrel. Even then, it took Colt until 1877 to introduce its first double-action revolvers: the .38-caliber Colt Lightning and .41-caliber Thunderer. They were loved for their light frames and heavy-hitting ammunition. That being said let’s get down to business. Manufactured: 1923 Value: $400 … They were made with barrel lengths ranging from 2.5″ to 6″, with a polished blued or nickel finish along with wood or hard rubber grips. The Police Positive is a smaller framed gun, cylinder not long enough to chamber 38 Special or 32-20. The picture below was my first target and the single hole shot low was my third shot that strayed most likely because of a flinch. The revolver proved very able. Let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below! Firing the gun across a rest at a measured 15 yards was a bit of a trial because the oddly shaped grips ensured that the trigger guard impacted the knuckle of the shooter's middle finger with each shot. Caliber options included .22 LR, .32 Long Colt, .32-20 Winchester and .38 Special. Since the Police Positive Special was popular with hunters and trappers, the. Pulling the latch to the rear allowed the cylinder to be swung open and pushing the ejector rod extracted the spent cartridges. In the postwar years the modified Police Positive Special Second Model and Third Model were introduced, but sales were poor, and increased competition from S&W saw them dropped in 1978 after approximately 650,000 had left the factory. Detective Special: This is Colt’s classic snubbie. While the forward-curving grip frame felt a bit odd in my hand at first, it is a finely made and--thanks in great part to the longer barrel--well-balanced revolver. CO. HARTFORD. 3-1/4” barrel, 9” overall length. This was intended for detectives and plainclothes officers who required an easily concealed weapon and, to appeal to their target demographic, Colt named their new revolver the Detective Special. On auction websites, you can find them around that or even a tad bit more. The Detective Special proved to be … Gun: Police Positive Special Manufacturer: Colt Condition: NRA Excellent (Modern Gun Standards) Caliber: .38 Spl. Marked on top of barrel: COLT'S PT. Fortunately, the intervening decades have seen a great deal of improvement in handgun ergonomics. In 1926 Colt paired down the D-frame slightly and offered the revolver with a 2" barrel chambered in.38 Spl. We had no trouble putting all of our rounds inside the kill zone of the paper critter. The competing S&W M&P revolver was smaller and lighter than Colt's revolvers, and so Colt responded with the Police Positive Special, which used the medium frame mated to a cylinder lengthened 0.25 inch in order to handle the longer .38 S&W Special cartridge (a.k.a. Keith Feeley of Tactical Solutions sat down with Michael Bane at SHOT Show 2018 to talk about the new X-Ring Takedown SBR .22LR rifle. Colt being the extremely desirable pony to be picked out of any display case, I would suspect even the snobbiest revolver lover would appreciate the neat history and craftsmanship that went into these old gats. serial number 79047. colt model police positive special (circa 1913) in .38 special caliber, ...click for more info
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