Check out this old Colt

[target1911]

Does anyone know about what it is worth or about when it was made?

MARKINGS

On the top of the bbl...
....COLT'S PT F A MFG HARTFORD CT USA
....PAT'D AUG 5 1884 JUNE 5 1900 JULY 4 1905


On the left side of bbl
....POLICE-
....POSITIVE, 38 SPECIAL


On the left side behind and below cyl release...
....is a pic of a Horse raring up on hind legs.

On the inside of the yoke...
....S/N 3972XX

 

[clang]

It's a Colt Police Positive Special made in 1930. I don't think the grips are original - my 1922 gun has plastic grips.

 

[target1911]

These are wood. They appear to have been painted at one time. Do you have any idea of value?

 

[PotatoJudge]

About $200. They are good shooters, but are fairly common and have little collector interest.

 

[Beagle-zebub]

*That* gun will go for $200?! Daggum! Are you sure? That seems too good to be true, unless it is of significantly lower quality than other Colts or isn't chambered in .38 special.

I know next to nothing about pricing used guns, though. I would be interested in one of those, at least at that price.

 

[Old Fuff]

If a Police Positive Special has a 2" barrel it's called a Detective Special, and the going price over a P.P.S. in similar condition zooms up about $100 or so.

This makes the longer barreled version an excellent buy, but consider that if it's used enough to have timing problems finding a QUALIFIED gunsmith and parts to fix it may turn out to be expensive. You may also hit a brick wall when it comes to finding accesories such a a holster.

None of this bothers the Old Fuff, who can service one of them, knows what to look for in a used gun, and considers the four inch P.P.S. to be a fine CCW choice. Others may have some concerns though.

 

[Seafarer12]

*That* gun will go for $200?! Daggum! Are you sure? That seems too good to be true, unless it is of significantly lower quality than other Colts or isn't chambered in .38 special.

Look at some of the auction sites. The value of a 38 pp isnt real high. There are a whole lot of them out there. Its like a model 10 smith. I mean you can get other calibers like 32-20 for under 500.

 

[PotatoJudge]

Hadn't priced them in a couple of years, but maybe $250-300 after cruising Gunbroker. Price varies from gun shop vs gun show vs pawn shop. As Old Fuff said, they're long barreled Detective Specials and are a bargain at their current prices. It's parts and repair that will keep their prices down compared to the S&W Mod 10, which has climbed in price these last few years.

 

[Cosmoline]

About $200. They are good shooters, but are fairly common and have little collector interest.

That was true about five years ago. It ain't true anymore! These DA colts, esp pre war, are going up and up and up in value. There's some bluing loss on yours but not much. Assuming that's the old Colt blue and not a reblue you can put some of the replacement plastic grips from Midway on it and have a very, very nice piece. The PPS is an incredibly accurate revolver, esp. with 158 grain lead rn slugs.

I would pay $350 for it if the timing checked out. Go type "police positive special" into gunbroker. There are some for $200 to $250, but they're either later vintage or in poor shape. A NIB minty one will run upwards of five bills. I've been watching the price on these pups go up and up over the past few years. The collectors are starting to take a serious interest in them. Though obviously you'll do best with that market with a minty fresh one, any of them that have 90% or better of that old deep blue on them and good timing will fetch some bucks. I used to see them in pawn shops for $150, but not anymore!

 

[Slamfire]

Mine is the square butt version, built about 1930. Serial number 387, XXX. It is in very good condition. In 1990 I paid $25.00 more for it than the general run of the mill 38 Special :$150.00 out the door.

What I have noticed is that these Police Positives have dried up. You used to see them tossed together in piles at the gunstore, but now you don't see but one, if you see that. Also try to find an original Pachmyr grip adapter. Not easy.

As a revolver the Colt PP in 38 Special is light and easy to carry pistol. It was a favorite Cop and Security police pistol for many years.

Mine is quite accurate, always within the limits of the shooter. It shoots to point of aim with 158 grain bullets.

My favorite load with this, and all 38 Spl's is 158 Lead 3.5 grains Bullseye. It chronographs at 760 fps in this pistol