Colt Police Positive 38 and S&W 32 Long Ctg

[foothilldiver]

I would like some info as to the age of 2 revolvers that I own.
The 1st is a Colt Police Positive 38
On the bottom of the grip frame are the numbers SEC No 468
I found a number under the barrel located behind the cylinder swivel/latch
64141, not sure if that is the serial number
The gun has black pearl grips which I am sure my grandfather added in the 50s.
This pistol is blued and is in reasonable shape. It was a frequent shooter until the 80s.

The 2nd revolver is a S&W 32 Long Ctg
There is a number stamped on the bottom of the barrel behind the cartridge remover 454904
This gun has a nickel finish which is in poor shape. The grips wrap completely across the bottom of the frame and has the following stamp
Pat June 5 1917. This number can be clearly read. There is another stamp that is lightly stamped and appears to be the same date.

Thanks
Reese

 

[420Stainless]

You can look up the Colt here.

http://www.proofhouse.com/

 

[foothilldiver]

Colt

I failed to mention that I had visited proofhouse.com
I am just not sure where the location of the serial # would be on either revolver.


Thanks

 

[foothilldiver]

Sorry, hit send too quickly.

I was also curious as to the numbers on the bottom of the grip frame if anyone can help with those.
SEC No 468

 

[dfariswheel]

On these models, Colt stamped the serial number on the frame just under the barrel where the cylinder crane seats, and opposite that number on the inside of the crane.
They also stamped it inside the side plate.

Colt ran separate serial number ranges for the Police Positive .38, and another for the Police Positive Special in .38 Special.
The Police Positive has a shorter frame and cylinder made for use with .32 and .38 short cartridges.
The Police Positive Special was made with a longer frame and cylinder for use with the .38 Special.

The exact model should be stamped on the barrel.

If your revolver is a Police Positive .38 64141 was made in 1913.
If its a Police Positive Special, it was made in 1912.

SEC 468 could stand for Securities & Exchange Commission or some other police or government agency or the name of a private company.

 

[Old Fuff]

As usual, dfariswheel is right on the ball. You should be able to identify your Colt.

As for the Smith & Wesson, that's a .32 Regulation Police model, and the serial number should be stamped on the metal part of the handle, behind and below the trigger guard. It is also on the rear face of the cylinder, and the bottom of the barrel above the ejector rod. Swing out the cylinder to see it.

The Regulation Police model was a variant of the .32 hand ejector, Model of 1903. As such the Regulation Police was serial numbered in the same series as the 1903 Model, but the serial numbers started at around 263,000 in 1917 when it was introduced. Production stopped in 1942 at serial number 534,532 as we entered World War Two. They started heat treating cylinders in 1920 at serial number 321,000. Because the serial number series included two different models I cannot give you a date of manufacture, and also because the number you posted is an assembly number, not the serial number.

Standard barrel lengths were 3 1/4, 4 1/4 and 6 inches. 6-shot, chambered for .32 S&W Long. Standard finishes were full blue or nickel plate - with color case-hardened hammer and trigger. Standard stocks were checkered walnut, and the patent date ( June 5, 1917) covers the design of the stocks.

 

[foothilldiver]

Colt & S&W

Thanks, you guys are great and that was a lot of info.
These guns are not for sale of course, I just wanted to know as much a I can about them. I carry a lot of fond memories and actually learned to shoot with both guns back in the 50s. My Grandfather carried the Colt and my Grandmother always carried the S&W in her purse. You didn't mess with good North Florida country boys and girls back in the day!

Cheers

Reese

"Life's a beach and then you dive!"