[cato87]

My daughter is doing a school project and she needs to know what colt revolvers were manufactured during the 1930's. Model #'s would be helpful. Isn't it great that she attends a private school and the word guns is not a dreaded thing to say. Heck I even bring my old Mausers and Mosins and my 1853 Enfield to school and show my fourth graders. Any information would be helpful. Thanks for the help.

Cato87

[Mike Irwin]

Colt didn't use model numbers in the 1930s. They've always gone with names.

Among those being made at this time included:

New Service and variations

Official Police

Pocket Positive

Police Positive and variations

Banker's Special

Detective Special

There may have been others, or variations on some of the others noted above.

That list came from the 11th edition of the Blue Book of Gun Values.

Otherwise, I don't know squat about Colt revolvers.

Had your kid been assigned a project on Smith & Wesson revolvers... :)

[Old Fuff]

As usual Mike did pretty good, but he missed the following:

Police Positive Special (including the Detective Special)

Single Action Army.

[dfariswheel]

And not to forget the various Colt Officer's Model Target guns, and the Camp Perry Target.

[Mike Irwin]

"Mike....missed..."


"Police Positive and variations"

Wouldn't the Police Positive Special a variation of the stock Police Positive?

Or are the frames different?

I did have the Detective Special. Don't I get credit for that? :)

As I said, I don't know doodlie about Colt revolvers...

Had a Detective Special once years ago, which I liked, but that was before I discovered Smith & Wesson revolvers.

Got another DSpecial in 1994 out of nostalgia mainly, but by that time was firmly wedded to the S&W action, so I ended up trading it on, what else, a Smith & Wesson.

[Mike Irwin]

"Oh, but there was also the Pocket Positive, New Model Pocket Positive, and I think there was a New Police Model in there, too."

LALALALA I DON'T HEAR YOU!

LALALALA I DON'T WANT TO KNOW! :D

[Old Fuff]

Now Mike:

I didn't mean to put you down, and besides I missed the Officer's Model and Camp Perry single-shot too.

The Police Positice and Police Positive Special were idential except the latter was made about !/4" longer so the cylinder could be chambered in 38 Special and 32-20, although after World War Two when the Police Positive had been discontinued the 32 Colt New Police (32 S&W Long) and 38 Colt New Police (38 S&W)cartridges were added to the list and the 32-20 was dropped.

The Detective Special is nothing but a Police Positive Special with a two-inch barrel. They also made some with 3" barrels. In theory Police Positive Special barrel lengths were supposed to start at 4 inches, but I've seen them as short as 2 1/2".

(Clear as mud? I thought so.) Everything you never wanted to know.

Some of the models, including the entire "New Police" line mentioned by SaxonPig were discontinued by 1930.

Between us and SaxonPig I think the list is now complete for 1930's production.

[Mike Irwin]

I know you weren't putting me down, Fluff.

I was asking a serious question about the PP and PPS. I don't think I've ever held either one.

As I've said before, I don't know much of squat about Colt revolvers.

And if anyone tries to teach me?

LALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALA! I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!

:evil:

[Lone Star]

Yes, there was a New Police. Teddy Roosevelt even had it adopted by NYC cops, in .32. My dad once owned one. But it may have been dropped by the 1930's. I'm too busy now to go to the bedroom for my copy of Haven & Belden's, "History of the Colt Revolver, 1836-1940".

I owned (age 14) an old (1920's made) Police Positive Special in .38 Special. It was handy. I liked the later guns better cosmetically, and those from the 1960's with round butts fitted my hand well, and were compact for a .38 Special with four-inch bbl. But Colts don't hold their cylinder timing well, so I won't seek out another. I've handled plenty of both Police Positive and Police Positive Special guns over the years and read much about them, and the longer frame is the only real difference.

There are some nicely engraved ones in Larry Sterett's, " The Colt Heritage".

For what it's worth, S&W and Ruger guns usually shoot closer to the sights than do Colts with fixed sights.

Lone Star

[Gordon]

Here we go , really off the topic: Police positive specials are my favorite revolvers ergonomically for caliber(.38spec) . The 70-80s issues with the heavier shrouded barrel are just about purrrfect. The Diamond back is too heavy . Lose the sucky factory sguare butt grips and put on something that fits a human hand. I think Colt's generally hit point of aim Better than any other brand as long as you use the 158grain load they were regulated for. In the 80's Colt pioneered the laser to align the sights of their guns and ALL the Colt's since then have tended to be very close on the sight to barrel alignment .The final tally of models was correct . My favorite (which I don't yet own) is the police positive Target .22WRF . I want one BAD.

[guy sajer]

The classic detective / gangster movie gun of the 30's and 40's . IMO

[tex_n_cal]

I believe you guys missed the Colt Shooting Master, which was used by a young Col. Askins to set some records. I think they were still made in the '30's.

I stupidly let one get away while I was researching it, is how I know :banghead:

[guy sajer]

You mean like this one ?

Shooting Master .38 Spl mfg 1936

[tex_n_cal]

<sigh> yes. The one I saw had a little blue wear, but it was a fine handcrafted revolver. very tight, extra checkering on the backstrap, etc. I don't need a .38 Special but that one would have been a fine addition to any collection. Don't think many were made, only 2000 or so.

[guy sajer]

I had another one in .357 mag that I sold . It wasn't as nice as this one . I may have to try and buy it back .:)

[guy sajer]

This New Service 44-40 71/2" is from 1920 . It should fit into this topic though .
The NS from the 30's would have some minor cosmetic differences from the earlier guns but essentially the same .