1930's Colt marking question

[akv3g4n]

Hey guys-

My father in law is a pretty avid collector and picked up a Colt Police Positive revolver from 1930 in .38 short Colt. It's a pretty nice piece in full working order with walnut grips. The question is about one of the markings on the pistol. It's a TAC with a wing (see pic). We initially thought that it was tactical air command but upon doing some further research, this doesn't appear to be a logo that they ever used. Any other ideas? Thanks for looking.

 

[Jim K]

I don't know, but the marking looks like a trademark, and the wing suggests flight, so it might be something like "Txxxx Aircraft Company" or "Txxxx Aviation Corp." (I Googled the old Taylor Aircraft Co., but their logo is different.)

Jim

 

[Old Fuff]

Ah... Your Police Positive isn't chambered in .38 Short Colt, but rather a round sometimes called the .38 Colt New Police (CNP) or .38 Colt Police Positive - both being identical to the .38 S&W.

The mark in question appears to have been engraved, not stamped. I suspect they are a former owner's initials or a company trademark. Engraving would work for one, or a small number of revolvers, but special markings on police department guns were more often stamped or roll stamped.

Colt did offer custom engraving of initials.

 

[akv3g4n]

ALRIGHT. I finally found what the TAC means on the revolver. It's Thompson Aeronautical Corp. Found a logo that matched online. Thanks for looking guys.

The logo was taken from this web address but the auction had ended so it is no longer there. Still appears in an image search though. Just to give credit for the image.
http://collectibles.bidstart.com/Thompson-Aeronautical-Corp-Sticker-1930-s-Flying-Boat-TAC-/29485979/a.html

 

[rcmodel]

Still looked like Woody Woodpecker with TAC on his head to me.
Maybe thats where Woody came from??

Ha-ha-ha-HAA-ha!


Seriously, Thats some serious Internet slothing you done there to find out what it was.

Well done!!

And a great Colt find too!

rc

 

[Jim K]

Nice research work!

I found a bit more. The company was founded in 1928 and had air mail contracts. They were acquired by American Airways in 1932.

The air mail contracts explains the need for revolvers, as IIRC air mail carriers had to be armed to protect the mail.

Jim

 

[forindooruseonly]

That's pretty awesome! Very cool piece of history there. Not a big fan of agency or company marked guns, but I'd definitely make an exception for that one.