Colt Police Positive - The Firearms Forum

mauserman454 · 03-29-2004, 12:00 PM

Hi Guys! I recently picked up a Colt Police Positive in 38 Special at a local shop for $100. It has a 4"BBl, fixed sights, and what I think are brown "bakelight" (some sort of primitve plastic) grips, though they must be original, because they have the colt horse symbol on them.

I bought it, because I was looking for a cheap shooter, and the action on this pistol locked up tighter than Fort Knox! Plus, the price was right.

Does anyone know what are the differences between the Official Police, and the Police Postive? I think this Police Positive has a smaller frame... Is that the only difference?

I would like a set of original colt wooden grips, anyone know where I can find them?

Is there anyway to tell when the revolver was made?

Thanks!

MM454

Xracer · 03-30-2004, 07:46 AM

You have a Police Positive Special. The Police Positive was chambered only in .38 Colt New Police and .38 S&W.

The Police Positive Special was built on a slightly larger frame to accomodate the longer cylinder for the .38 Special, in addition to the original offerings.

Your grips are hard rubber (sometimes known as "gutta percha") and are original to the gun.

If your gun has a square butt (most likely with those grips), it was manufactured between 1907 and 1973.

An updated version (to handle +P ammo) was introduced in 1994 and has a rounded butt.

And yes, the Official Police has a slightly larger frame to handle cartridges up to .41 Colt.

mauserman454 · 04-01-2004, 12:20 PM

Thanks for the reply Xracer I finally had it put on my permit, so I just got it home. Yoy were correct, it is a Police Positive Special... I think the police postive special is more common, becasue they were made until 1978, so maybe I didn't get as good of a deal as I thought, though I'm very happy with the revolver, the fit and finish on it are impeccable

According to the serial number range listed on this website, it was made in 1951

http://proofhouse.com/colt/pops.htm

Shooter45 · 04-02-2004, 09:26 PM

You got a good deal.

03-29-2004, 12:00 PM	#1
mauserman454 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 76	Colt Police Positive Hi Guys! I recently picked up a Colt Police Positive in 38 Special at a local shop for $100. It has a 4"BBl, fixed sights, and what I think are brown "bakelight" (some sort of primitve plastic) grips, though they must be original, because they have the colt horse symbol on them. I bought it, because I was looking for a cheap shooter, and the action on this pistol locked up tighter than Fort Knox! Plus, the price was right. Does anyone know what are the differences between the Official Police, and the Police Postive? I think this Police Positive has a smaller frame... Is that the only difference? I would like a set of original colt wooden grips, anyone know where I can find them? Is there anyway to tell when the revolver was made? Thanks! MM454 --> Last edited by mauserman454; 03-29-2004 at 12:04 PM..

04-01-2004, 12:20 PM	#3
mauserman454 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 76	Police Positive Special Thanks for the reply Xracer I finally had it put on my permit, so I just got it home. Yoy were correct, it is a Police Positive Special... I think the police postive special is more common, becasue they were made until 1978, so maybe I didn't get as good of a deal as I thought, though I'm very happy with the revolver, the fit and finish on it are impeccable According to the serial number range listed on this website, it was made in 1951 http://proofhouse.com/colt/pops.htm Last edited by mauserman454; 04-01-2004 at 12:23 PM..

03-30-2004, 07:46 AM	#2
Xracer TFF Admin Staff Mediator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Minn-eeee-sota, ya, sure, you bet! Posts: 9,144	You have a Police Positive Special. The Police Positive was chambered only in .38 Colt New Police and .38 S&W. The Police Positive Special was built on a slightly larger frame to accomodate the longer cylinder for the .38 Special, in addition to the original offerings. Your grips are hard rubber (sometimes known as "gutta percha") and are original to the gun. If your gun has a square butt (most likely with those grips), it was manufactured between 1907 and 1973. An updated version (to handle +P ammo) was introduced in 1994 and has a rounded butt. And yes, the Official Police has a slightly larger frame to handle cartridges up to .41 Colt.

04-02-2004, 09:26 PM	#4
Shooter45 Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Contributor Posts: 8,753	You got a good deal.