Colt Police Positive .32

[Dave Markowitz]

Today I won a Gunbroker auction for this Colt Police Positive in ".32 Police CTG.," AKA .32 Colt New Police, AKA .32 S&W Long.

I am a died in the wool Smith & Wesson guy when it comes to double action revolvers but I found this gun appealing for some reason. I was able to get it for only $250 plus taxes and fees. The seller is local to me so I'll pick it up in person tomorrow and won't have to pay for shipping.

A couple of pictures from the auction listing:





According to the seller, the action locks up tightly and the bore and chambers are in good condition. The seller is someone I've done business with before and have no reason to doubt them. I expect the surface rust to clean up with oil and 0000 steel wool.

Note that the screw hears are not boogered up, which is unusual for a gun of this age. The serial number places the date of birth at 1910. It won't be my oldest gun, but it's up there.

The grips are not original. I am going to see if I can find a set of reproduction grips that look like the original hard black rubber grips. (If the grips currently on the gun are Franzites and I replace them, I should be able to sell them for a reasonable amount.)

.32 S&W Long isn't very common nowadays but it won't be my first gun in the chambering, so I already have ammo, brass, cast bullets, and dies. Shooting .32 Long is much like shooting a .22 but you can easily reload them. I plan to load up some 98 grain RNFPs to around 750 FPS, which should hit close to the sights.

If it's legal in your state (sadly not the case in PA) the .32 S&W Long makes a good small game round.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

For the money, I think you done good. Bet itll clean up nice.

 

[Col. Harrumph]

But before you scrub the orange stuff off, watch a few of Mark Novak's videos (the Anvil channel). He attacks that sort of rust by boiling the parts. In water. Don't just blow me off, watch him.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Congrats on the classic. Looking forward to see how it looks after some clean up.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

But before you scrub the orange stuff off, watch a few of Mark Novak's videos (the Anvil channel). He attacks that sort of rust by boiling the parts. In water. Don't just blow me off, watch him.

I'll check it out.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

This Colt Police Positive 32 shipped in 1917. The Serial Number is 1414XX, if that helps you date yours. This one is still wearing its original hard rubber grips.













P.S. I strongly suggest not using steel wool on your Colt. You can buy bronze wool from Brownells. Bronze wool is softer and will not remove the blue, as steel wool might. Rub lightly with fine oil.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Thanks gents. I'll see what I can do with just a cleaning patch and some oil for now.

Also, mine was built in 1910 according to the serial number as checked on Colt's website.

 

[Tallball]

Nice score! Mechanically sound classics with a bit of rust are my absolute favs!

A real copper penny (from the 70's or earlier) can help with the bad rust areas also.

Looking forward to a range report. 32 S&W long has always been very accurate for me.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I think pennies were copper till 82 (changed in the middle of the year so maybe call it 81).

IIRC Teddy Roosevelt had the NYPD go to that revolver when he was the Chief for them.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I think pennies were copper till 82 (changed in the middle of the year so maybe call it 81).

IIRC Teddy Roosevelt had the NYPD go to that revolver when he was the Chief for them.

It was the New Police Model, smaller frame than the Police Positive.
https://coltfever.com/new-police/

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Thanks for that clarification!

 

[AirForceShooter]

.32 are fun guns. Fantastic at the range and accurate as all get out. I know more than a few people that CCW them.
The perfect caliber to teach a new shooter.
You done really good.

AFS

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I picked it up today and the rust wasn't as bad as it looked in the pictures. It cleaned up nicely with Hoppe's No.9 and careful use of 0000 steel wool. Even better, the bore and chambers look virtually new. I'm pretty sure it sat in someone's sock drawer for over a century.






The lockwork was very clean, as well. I just brushed it out with some Hoppe's, blew out the solvent, and then lubed it with FP-10. This is how it looked before I cleaned it up:



The grips are no-name plastic and are cracked. I tried to stabilize the cracks with some cyanoacrylate glue but they definitely need to be replaced.

And for a size comparison, here it is next to my S&W Model 632 Airweight in .32 H&R Magnum:




I should be able to shoot it tomorrow.

 

[wis bang]

https://gungrip.com/colt-police-positive-grips-3.aspx

I have a set on mine

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I bought a set of those for mine too. They fit fine and looked original, though the provided screw was a little long and I had to shim it.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I found a set on eBay that look like those. Should hopefully be here within the week.

 

[Monac]

A surprising number of companies load 32 S&W Long ammo. But you might have to look at online dealers, because local shops don't carry it much. Gun shows used to be good places to find it, but I don't get to shows much any more, so I don't know if that's still true. Fiocchi loads its round nose 32 Long with FMJ bullets, and they used to load it perceptibly hotter than other brands. But I don't know if that's still true either.

Wadcutters are often available in 32 Long too, and unlike 38 Special wadcutters, they are loaded to the same velocity as the standard load.

And now I remember the OP mentioned handloading, so all this is probably irrelevant to him. Oh, well, I enjoyed writing it. People used to say they could reload 32 Long for less than the cost of 22 LR. It's of the most pleasant centerfire cartridges around, so enjoy your classic gun. It sure cleaned up pretty!

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I handload for .32 S&W, .32 S&W Long, and .32 H&R Magnum. Your info may be useful to others, however.

Tomorrow I plan to shoot some PPU 98 grain LRN and Fiocchi wadcutters in it.

 

[JTHunter]

A nice find Dave. Congratulations.

 

[Walkalong]

Really cool little revolvers, had on in .38 S&W, but they beat up my knuckles, so it got traded or sold, don't remember which.

 

[Old Dog]

I've got a 1933 PPS in .38 SPL, nifty gun but I've shot a buddy's (1926) in .32 and I have to admit, it's a hoot.

Don't know if they're still catalogued, but for a while you could even order the nice repro black grips from Midway USA.

I was a diehard S&W guy myself, but in the past decade, as collectors go for the S&W revolvers, there've been some good deals out there on older Colts; once I got my first one Police Positive, I was hooked by the craftmanship and detail.

 

[drobs]

I had a Police Positive in 38 spl. Not sure why I sold it. One of the few guns I didn't loose $ on. I bought it for $200 and sold it for $250.

 

[GRIZ22]

I would have bought it at that price.

Since retirement and not restricted to calibers I've become a fan of 32s.

 

[TTv2]

I really wanted a Pocket Positive last year for my birthday, but it was hard to find one that was in a condition I wanted to pay for. I do like the Colt Positive .32's, they have a unique look to them.

 

[lincen]

The Colt logo on this revolver was only used for a year or so and you are correct, about 1910.