Colt Police Positive 32-20

[jski]

I just inherited a Colt Police Positive 32-20.

She appears to to be in excellent condition. Not very familiar with the 32-20 round. I know it has had a come back of late (it almost winked out). Save by the Cowboy Shooting community, mainly in leverguns.

So how rare is this piece? Saw one on GunBroke going for $1650.

 

[tbob38]

Beautiful revolver! Good small game and plinking cartridge.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Technically a Police Positive Special with the longer cylinder.

Not super rare, but condition looks excellent. Was the $1650 a bid, selling price, or asking price? I would be surprised, but not shocked, if one in that condition went for over a grand.

.32-20 is a fun cartridge, though it doesnt offer any real ballistic advantage over .38spl. Ive heard that the brass does not lend itself to reloading......

Beautiful gun, congrats.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

For several decades starting around the late 1880’s metropolitan police departments emphasized accuracy over power; and with good reason. The thing is, back before antibiotics and blood transfusions, any deep wound was likely to be fatal. A .32 with some zing behind it - enough to get into the organs - light recoil and good accuracy from a medium to long barrel like the.32-20WCF was all the average big city beat cop needed.
You got a really nice gun there. I have it’s big brothers, the Official Police in .32-20WCF and.38Spl. I also have the Police Positives and Specials in .38 New Police (a.k.a. .38 S&W), .38Spl, and .32 New Police (a.k.a. .32 S&W Long).
I suggest factory ammo unless you already do a lot of handloading. Congratulations on your inheritance and I’m sorry for the loss of your family member.

 

[Kleanbore]

The thing is, back before antibiotics and blood transfusions, any deep wound was likely to be fatal. A .32 with some zing behind it - enough to get into the organs - light recoil and good accuracy from a medium to long barrel like the.32-20WCF was all the average big city beat cop needed.

How might a fatality due to infection benefit the police officer?

 

[GBExpat]

That ... is a beautiful pistol, jski, congratulations!

Starline makes excellent .32-20 brass (just remember to lube them prior to resizing). I load my "universal" (used in both my vintage revolvers & rifle) .32-20 rounds with Trailboss under 100gr and 115gr lead bullets from Badman or Acme.

Very accurate and a real pleasure to shoot. I even got my sister to shoot some and she is quite report- & recoil-sensitive.

 

[.38 Special]

How far down the bore is the bulge?

 

[Barry the Bear]

Sweet looking revolver! I have always wondered about a .32-20 never got one but to be fair I don't really see them out here too much

 

[tightgroup tiger]

How might a fatality due to infection benefit the police officer?

I think his comment was aimed more at the effectiveness of the hospitals at the time in dealing with a deep wound, more than about infection and a prolonged death.

 

[film495]

How might a fatality due to infection benefit the police officer?

Fear of death is a strong motivator for compliance

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

How might a fatality due to infection benefit the police officer?

Well, in small, rural towns or tight-nit city neighborhoods, thats one perp who wont be coming back later looking for revenge.

His family, though, could still be a problem.......

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

.32-20 is a fun cartridge, though it doesnt offer any real ballistic advantage over .38spl. Ive heard that the brass does not lend itself to reloading......

Howdy

You heard wrong. Nothing difficult about loading 32-20. Like 44-40 and 38-40, there are no carbide dies for it, so lubing your brass is a must. No more difficult to load than 44-40, or 38-40, both of which can be a little bit fussy if one is not careful.

You are correct however, the Police Positive revolvers chambered for 38 Special and 32-20 had longer cylinders than the standard Police Positive revolvers chambered for 38 S&W. A slightly longer frame to accommodate the longer cylinder. The ones chambered for those cartridges were called Police Positive Specials, because the cylinder was long enough for the 38 Special cartridge.

This 32-20 Police Positive Special left the factory in 1926. I paid $650 for it a few years ago, which I thought was a pretty good price.






I have three firearms chambered for 32-20. A Winchester Model 1892 that left the factory in 1911, a Smith and Wesson 32-20 Hand Ejector that left the factory in 1916, and the previously mentioned Police Positive Special.

Save by the Cowboy Shooting community, mainly in leverguns.

I have never run into anybody shooting a revolver or a rifle chambered for 32-20 at a Cowboy match, and I used to attend quite a few matches. The 32-20 cartridge is available loaded, even loaded for 'cowboy' ammo, but CAS did not have much to do with the cartridge still being commercially available.

How far down the bore is the bulge?

???What bulge???

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Ive heard that the brass does not lend itself to reloading......

Correct. The case mouth is very thin and tends to fold under and/or split when resizing or seating projectiles. It requires a lot of care and attention to detail. Slow going. I wouldn't load them on a progressive loader. Commercially loaded ammo is not at all cheap, even in good time. ($50/box of 50 from Winchester or Remington $35-$45 from HSM (my preferred) or a few other "boutique" makers.)

 

[D.B. Cooper]

I just inherited a Colt Police Positive 32-20.
View attachment 965932
She appears to to be in excellent condition. Not very familiar with the 32-20 round. I know it has had a come back of late (it almost winked out). Save by the Cowboy Shooting community, mainly in leverguns.

So how rare is this piece? Saw one on GunBroke going for $1650.

Very nice gun and in excellent condition. I, too inherited one from my father. The guns are not rare at all, although your 6" barrel is probably rarest of the lot, but literally millions were made.

Since you're new to 32-20, I want to warn you about vintage ammo. For many years, Winchester and Remington made a "rifle only" 32-20 cartridge for use in the Winchester lever guns (1892 I believe). If you come across these (most likely at a gun show or something) DO NOT use them in your revolver. I believe the Remington brand will be marked "Hi-Vel" or "High Velocity" or something. These rifle only loads will generate pressures beyond what your revolver was built for.

Any commercially made ammo you might buy from a retailer today is good to go. Good luck finding ammo in the current mess. I you shoot it a lot, you'll want to reload. Watch the case mouths for damage during the reloading process. Use the lighter/starting loads to save wear/tear on your gun.

They're fun to shoot, although I find the grip bites my knuckles when I shoot it. A Tyler T-Grip helped (order on for any Colt D Frame) some. I've taken a few grouse with mine while out moose hunting, but I no longer carry it in the field.

The 32-20 was competitive, ballistically speaking, with the 38 special of the day, but not with modern 38 ammo.

You can go to http://www.proofhouse.com/index.htm and type in your gun's serial number (under the crane IIRC) and get the year your gun was made.

 

[GBExpat]

Correct. The case mouth is very thin and tends to fold under and/or split when resizing or seating projectiles. It requires a lot of care and attention to detail. Slow going. ...

That does not match my experiences with hand-/ re-loading Starline brass. I have, however, seen other brass (from factory loads) that looks rather, um, delicate.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Correct. The case mouth is very thin and tends to fold under and/or split when resizing or seating projectiles. It requires a lot of care and attention to detail. Slow going. I wouldn't load them on a progressive loader.

The brass at the case mouth of 32-20 is no thinner than the brass at the case mouth of 44-40 or 38-40. Yes, I have measured them. Take a cartridge such as 45 Colt, and the brass is much thicker at the case mouth, on the order of .012 thick or so, and they can be run all day long through a progressive press without ever damaging a case mouth. The WCF cartridges tend to be around .007 thick at the case mouth.

You just have to run a bit slower with 44-40, 38-40, and 32-20, because of the thinner brass. You have to be a bit careful, ready to back off the pressure if you feel the case mouth bump into the bottom of the sizing/decap die. Bump a 45 Colt into the bottom of the sizing/decap die and it will shrug off the blow. Do the same to a 44-40, 38-40, or 32-20 and you will probably crumple the case mouth.

I always say these cartridges are not difficult to load, they are just a bit fussy. On my progressive press I take my time when loading these old bottlenecks, I do not pump the handle at warp speed.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

The brass at the case mouth of 32-20 is no thinner than the brass at the case mouth of 44-40 or 38-40. Yes, I have measured them. Take a cartridge such as 45 Colt, and the brass is much thicker at the case mouth, on the order of .012 thick or so, and they can be run all day long through a progressive press without ever damaging a case mouth. The WCF cartridges tend to be around .007 thick at the case mouth.

You just have to run a bit slower with 44-40, 38-40, and 32-20, because of the thinner brass. You have to be a bit careful, ready to back off the pressure if you feel the case mouth bump into the bottom of the sizing/decap die. Bump a 45 Colt into the bottom of the sizing/decap die and it will shrug off the blow. Do the same to a 44-40, 38-40, or 32-20 and you will probably crumple the case mouth.

I always say these cartridges are not difficult to load, they are just a bit fussy. On my progressive press I take my time when loading these old bottlenecks, I do not pump the handle at warp speed.

Agree entirely. I have no problem reloading.32-20 or .44-40 (don’t have a.38-40 but if someone has a decent gun to trade... like you I just take my time and pay attention. I will say I don’t recommend either for a novice reloader.

 

[jski]

Here’s what Starline has on their website about their 32-20 brass:

Designed for use in rifles and single action revolvers, this cartridge is making a strong comeback with the advent of cowboy action shooting. This cartridge can also be formed by experienced cartridge converters into .25-20* and .218 Bee*. And with special forming dies available from RCBS and Lee, you can form a shortened version of the 7.62 Nagant cartridge.

“... this cartridge is making a strong comeback with the advent of cowboy action shooting.” —- Glad to hear that!

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

“this cartridge is making a strong comeback with the advent of cowboy action shooting.” —- Glad to hear that!

Ask them when was the last time they attended a Cowboy match. I stand by what I said before. The most common cartridge used in CAS is a lightly loaded 38 Special. Next is 45 Colt. A few of us shoot 44-40 or 38-40 (and yes, I buy all my brass from Starline.) I say again, I cannot recall ever seeing anybody shooting 32-20 at a CAS match. Yes, we pretty much know what everybody on our posse is shooting because we pick up their rifle brass and watch them unload their pistols at the unloading table. One of these days I will take that Winchester Model 1892 of mine to a match. The revolvers are double action, so they are not legal at a CAS match. That will be the first time I am aware of anybody shooting 32-20 at a CAS match.

 

[jski]

Ask them when was the last time they attended a Cowboy match. I stand by what I said before. The most common cartridge used in CAS is a lightly loaded 38 Special. Next is 45 Colt. A few of us shoot 44-40 or 38-40 (and yes, I buy all my brass from Starline.) I say again, I cannot recall ever seeing anybody shooting 32-20 at a CAS match. Yes, we pretty much know what everybody on our posse is shooting because we pick up their rifle brass and watch them unload their pistols at the unloading table. One of these days I will take that Winchester Model 1892 of mine to a match. The revolvers are double action, so they are not legal at a CAS match. That will be the first time I am aware of anybody shooting 32-20 at a CAS match.

Starline is peddling BS to sell brass? I’m shocked ... and wounded! How could they? Say it ain’t so!

 

[jski]

Very nice gun and in excellent condition. I, too inherited one from my father. The guns are not rare at all, although your 6" barrel is probably rarest of the lot, but literally millions were made.

Since you're new to 32-20, I want to warn you about vintage ammo. For many years, Winchester and Remington made a "rifle only" 32-20 cartridge for use in the Winchester lever guns (1892 I believe). If you come across these (most likely at a gun show or something) DO NOT use them in your revolver. I believe the Remington brand will be marked "Hi-Vel" or "High Velocity" or something. These rifle only loads will generate pressures beyond what your revolver was built for.

Any commercially made ammo you might buy from a retailer today is good to go. Good luck finding ammo in the current mess. I you shoot it a lot, you'll want to reload. Watch the case mouths for damage during the reloading process. Use the lighter/starting loads to save wear/tear on your gun.

They're fun to shoot, although I find the grip bites my knuckles when I shoot it. A Tyler T-Grip helped (order on for any Colt D Frame) some. I've taken a few grouse with mine while out moose hunting, but I no longer carry it in the field.

The 32-20 was competitive, ballistically speaking, with the 38 special of the day, but not with modern 38 ammo.

You can go to http://www.proofhouse.com/index.htm and type in your gun's serial number (under the crane IIRC) and get the year your gun was made.

Thanks!
Evidently, mine was made in 1925-1926.

 

[jski]

Howdy

You heard wrong. Nothing difficult about loading 32-20. Like 44-40 and 38-40, there are no carbide dies for it, so lubing your brass is a must. No more difficult to load than 44-40, or 38-40, both of which can be a little bit fussy if one is not careful.

You are correct however, the Police Positive revolvers chambered for 38 Special and 32-20 had longer cylinders than the standard Police Positive revolvers chambered for 38 S&W. A slightly longer frame to accommodate the longer cylinder. The ones chambered for those cartridges were called Police Positive Specials, because the cylinder was long enough for the 38 Special cartridge.

This 32-20 Police Positive Special left the factory in 1926. I paid $650 for it a few years ago, which I thought was a pretty good price.

View attachment 966026




I have three firearms chambered for 32-20. A Winchester Model 1892 that left the factory in 1911, a Smith and Wesson 32-20 Hand Ejector that left the factory in 1916, and the previously mentioned Police Positive Special.

View attachment 966027






I have never run into anybody shooting a revolver or a rifle chambered for 32-20 at a Cowboy match, and I used to attend quite a few matches. The 32-20 cartridge is available loaded, even loaded for 'cowboy' ammo, but CAS did not have much to do with the cartridge still being commercially available.




???What bulge???

Mine too came from the 1925-1926 period.
As far as the 32-20 is concerned, there seems to be plenty of it commercially available. So I’d ask why, if not for cowboy action shooters? Obviously, someone’s shooting them.

 

[jski]

https://americanhandgunner.com/gear/the-32-20/
THE .32-20
AN ACURATE GENTLEMAN'S CARTRIDGE.
WRITTEN BY JOHN TAFFIN

 

[.38 Special]

???What bulge???

I've seen so many bulged barrels on 32-20 handguns that it is now the first thing I look for. I've heard several explanations, but the most common one is that early 32-20 rifle ammunition tended to stick either bullets or jackets in the bore of handguns and the next round would then cause a ring.

 

[Hal]

I refuse to have a Colt revolver of any kind - - but- - - I could be tempted very easily by a 32-20 Police Positive.
Those little beauties just feel so right.
Triggers are pretty fair too - for a Colt.

& before the torches and pitchforks & threats of lynching start - over the seemingly anti Colt stuff - I made a choice years ago between Colt & S&W and went S&W.
Everything on Colt is now backwards for me. I refuse to die because I'm pulling instead of pushing a cylinder release or slipping two quick reloads on the wrong side of the barrel.
I stake my well being on KISS..