For old revolver buffs only - Colt's best

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Old Dog

Old Dog

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A recent thread prompted me to take my old (1933 production) Colt Police Positive (6") out of the safe, where it's laid, unfired, for probably twenty or more years. I had this epiphany: this is one of the coolest handguns ever made! On the old "D" frame, even with a six-inch barrel, the balance is simply... impeccable. This revolver is light, points perfectly, and feels... just right in the hand.

My specimen has only a hint of a turn line (this revolver came out of Hartford in 1933, folks!). The bluing in intact. I've never been able to find a hint of rust on this piece. There are a couple extremely faint scratches on the bottom of the left side of the frame, perhaps caused by someone wearing a ring and handling the gun. The fit and finish is as close to perfect as one would want on a brand-new, modern production gun. No, it's not the Colt's deep "royal blue" finish, but it's uniform, smooth and shiny. I'd personally rate this revolver at (at) least least 98% (I've seen new revolvers than didn't look quite so pristine). The lock-up, as expected, rivals the proverbial Swiss bank vault. The timing is spot-on.

If you care to look, see how sharp the checkering on the 88-year-old stocks still is? How 'bout that hand-checkered trigger-face, hammer and cylinder-release? The sharp roll-marks? Folks, they just don't make 'em like this anymore.

Just had to share, since I (re)fell in love with an old (obsolete) revolver. ColtPP.jpg ColtPP-1.jpg ColtPP-2.jpg ColtPP-3.jpg ColtPP-4.jpg ColtPP-5.jpg ColtPP-6.jpg ColtPP-7.jpg Police Positive.4.jpg
Police Positive.3.jpg


Any other old Colt fans out there? Anyone got pics to share?
 
My father, was a young man maturing during the 1920s, my sons are now in a similar spot in life during the 2020s. My father had several firearms from the latter 1920-1930s, which continue in the family collection. My guys on occasion will mention these as the "old guns", which I often bring out for a little exercise- especially when they are blasting their black plastic "toys".
Always find the paradox between old and toy guns interesting, especially combined with the smile my guys get when handling and shooting the old guns.
Hard today to find the workmanship, quality and feel of these old guns.
Hopefully, my sons, will be able to share this with future generations.
 
Howdy

Very nice.

Slight correction. What you have there is a Police Positive Special. The 'Special' had a slightly longer cylinder and frame to accommodate 38 Special ammunition. The Police Positive had a slightly shorter cylinder and frame, usually chambered for 38S&W.

Left to right in this photo are a 22 Rimfire Police Positive Target (notice how short the cylinder and frame are) which shipped in 1936, Police Positive Special, chambered for 38 Special which left the factory in 1952, Police Positive Special chambered for 32-20, 1926; Police Positive Special, 38 Special, 1932; Police Positive Special, 38 Special,1922. I really like the hard rubber grips on that last one.

plpAnEn5j.jpg




Same bunch, the other side.

pnspVqVvj.jpg




Size comparison between a Colt Police Positive Special at the top and a Smith and Wesson K frame. Both of these happen to be chambered for 32-20.

pn6YshvFj.jpg




Size comparison between a Police Positive Special at the top, slightly smaller 32 Police Positive in the center, chambered for 32 Colt New Police or 32 S&W Long, and a tiny 32 Pocket Positive at the bottom.

pnfLH2eUj.jpg




The term Positive in these revolvers refers to the "Positive Lock" hammer block that Colt patented in 1905. This photo shows the hammer block in position between the hammer and frame.

pndddXtuj.jpg




In this photo, the hammer is cocked, ready to fire, and the hammer block has slid down out of the way so it will not prevent the hammer from falling all the way.

poE3itbVj.jpg




PS: The knurling on the trigger of some of these old Colts was certainly a nice feature, but it was pressed onto the trigger with a knurling tool, no different than the knurling on the hammer spur. It was not cut by hand.

pn5zACDbj.jpg
 
Last edited:
Driftwood Johnson said:
Howdy

Very nice.

Slight correction. What you have there is a Police Positive Special. The 'Special' had a slightly longer cylinder and frame to accommodate 38 Special ammunition. The Police Positive had a slightly shorter cylinder and frame, usually chambered for 38S&W.

Left to right in this photo are a 22 Rimfire Police Positive Target (notice how short the cylinder and frame are) which shipped in 1936, Police Positive Special, chambered for 38 Special which left the factory in 1952, Police Positive Special chambered for 32-20, 1926; Police Positive Special, 38 Special, 1932; Police Positive Special, 38 Special,1922. I really like the hard rubber grips on that last one.

View attachment 1017802




Same bunch, the other side.

View attachment 1017803




Size comparison between a Colt Police Positive Special at the top and a Smith and Wesson K frame. Both of these happen to be chambered for 32-20.

View attachment 1017804




Size comparison between a Police Positive Special at the top, slightly smaller 32 Police Positive in the center, chambered for 32 Colt New Police or 32 S&W Long, and a tiny 32 Pocket Positive at the bottom.

View attachment 1017805




The term Positive in these revolvers refers to the "Positive Lock" hammer block that Colt patented in 1905. This photo shows the hammer block in position between the hammer and frame.

View attachment 1017806




In this photo, the hammer is cocked, ready to fire, and the hammer block has slid down out of the way so it will not prevent the hammer from falling all the way.

View attachment 1017807




PS: The knurling on the trigger of some of these old Colts was certainly a nice feature, but it was pressed onto the trigger with a knurling tool, no different than the knurling on the hammer spur. It was not cut by hand.

View attachment 1017808
Click to expand...


Beautiful pictures, thank you.
 
Knurling on trigger face may be a nice touch and look good on a safe queen but I much prefer a smooth trigger for double action revolver shooting.
 
So far, just two old Colt DA's. A New Service .38-40 and a Police Positive Target .22LR.

IMG_0357b.jpg

017.jpg

Then there's Dad's old Army Special .32-20. He bought it in the 70's. Originally had a Hutson scope on it and Herrett's Shooting Stars. Barrel chopped with a rifle front sight. Probably the floral carved Lawrence Texas jockstrap that came with it is worth more than the gun. Crappy 20yr old picture.

Army%20Special%20-%2001.jpg
 
I hadn't owned a Colt revolver and I found this one at a good price. I don't recall exactly how much... maybe $300 OTD or something?

It's from the early 20's, IIRC. It's a 38 special, and I think the barrel is just 4", though it sort of looks longer in the picture. It's like a typical LE turn-in revolver, but older.

It locks up tight and it's a good shooter. The trigger is pretty good and I like the fixed sights better than most of my S&W ones.

All in all I prefer it to my M&P (pre model 10) from the same era.

It gets a box of ammo through it once a year or so. I'll probably run out of time before it does. :)

Colt Army Special

Colt Army Special

 
Driftwood Johnson said:
Slight correction. What you have there is a Police Positive Special.
Click to expand...
Yep. I did correctly add the "Special" in the "Elderly Colt" thread, but somehow forgot this time...
Driftwood Johnson said:
PS: The knurling on the trigger of some of these old Colts was certainly a nice feature, but it was pressed onto the trigger with a knurling tool, no different than the knurling on the hammer spur. It was not cut by hand.
Click to expand...
Ah, I was previously misinformed. Thanks for that tidbit of info! Oh, and a marvelous collection you've got!
 
Here are my two:
1939 and 1951 Officers model .22lr and .38 spl.

index.php
 
Old Dog said:
A recent thread prompted me to take my old (1933 production) Colt Police Positive (6") out of the safe, where it's laid, unfired, for probably twenty or more years. I had this epiphany: this is one of the coolest handguns ever made! On the old "D" frame, even with a six-inch barrel, the balance is simply... impeccable. This revolver is light, points perfectly, and feels... just right in the hand.

My specimen has only a hint of a turn line (this revolver came out of Hartford in 1933, folks!). The bluing in intact. I've never been able to find a hint of rust on this piece. There are a couple extremely faint scratches on the bottom of the left side of the frame, perhaps caused by someone wearing a ring and handling the gun. The fit and finish is as close to perfect as one would want on a brand-new, modern production gun. No, it's not the Colt's deep "royal blue" finish, but it's uniform, smooth and shiny. I'd personally rate this revolver at (at) least least 98% (I've seen new revolvers than didn't look quite so pristine). The lock-up, as expected, rivals the proverbial Swiss bank vault. The timing is spot-on.

If you care to look, see how sharp the checkering on the 88-year-old stocks still is? How 'bout that hand-checkered trigger-face, hammer and cylinder-release? The sharp roll-marks? Folks, they just don't make 'em like this anymore.

Just had to share, since I (re)fell in love with an old (obsolete) revolver. View attachment 1017754 View attachment 1017755 View attachment 1017756 View attachment 1017757 View attachment 1017758 View attachment 1017759 View attachment 1017760 View attachment 1017761 View attachment 1017762
View attachment 1017764


Any other old Colt fans out there? Anyone got pics to share?
Click to expand...

You wonder why with today's technology they can't/won't do rollmarks like that.
 
I have a Colt Officers Model Special, made in 1951, that I used when competing in Bullseye matches. It has the "Coltmaster" adjustable rear sight and I put Python grips on it. This revolver was only made for three years or so and some collector types refer to it as the "Ugly Duckling" when compared to its Officers Match successors, due to its unflattering appearing, untapered bull barrel. No matter the profile of the barrel, it shoots every bit as accurate as my Smith K-38 Masterpiece revolver, and then some.
 
My Police Positive was made in 1918 by its serial #. The trigger does not have any checkering like the one in Driftwood Johnson's revolver.
Mine is just a standard .38 S&W without adjustable sights. Is that normal?
 
For years I was shooting a club owned .22 l.r. Colt OMM until the timing went bad somewhere around the estimated 60,000 round count. I had liked the gun enough to buy my own OMM, a 1961 vintage, that I shot for a few years before I sold it off when I realized, that I did not shoot it anymore since I had bought my first Korth.
In post #5 Driftwood Johnson shows a photo of the action of the Colt with the side plate removed. Compare it to the Korth and maybe you will understand why I have come to the decision to sell the OMM.
Korth-inside.jpg
 
velocette said:
The trigger does not have any checkering
Click to expand...
velocette said:
Is that normal?
Click to expand...

Yes, it is for the time frame.
Here's a pic of two Detective Specials, aka the re-named short barreled variation of the Police Positive Special.
The PPS was a longer cylinder version of the earlier Police Positive.


colts misc 4.jpg

On the left is a 1928 square butt (late in the year by serial) made just before the change to checked triggers.
The 1947 (by serial) round butt on the right was made post war using up the last of the pre-war parts on hand
before the major change to the 'late style' parts which Colt phased in over the next few years with it's transition revolvers.

JT
 
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