Colt Police Positive: Hard Chrome, Re-Blue, Ceramic?

[TexasBill]

I just picked up a 1967 Colt Police Positive Special. The gun's got a clean bore and chambers and still locks up tight, but the original blue is showing a fair amount of holster wear. No serious rust or pitting, but the backstrap does have a bit of a patina.

I am not worried about collector value: I got the little Colt at a decent price (about $350) and didn't buy it as a safe queen. I've always been fond of the Police Positive and this will be more of a fun wheelgun for the range or perhaps a handy snake gun for trips out west.

I understand hard chrome is the best finish from a durability point of view but would really like to stick with the dark finish of the original.

Recommendations for refinishing? And recommendations for where to get it done?

 

[smkummer]

Refinishing? A proper job will cost some money, I believe Colt charges almost 300 for its basic refinish but it will look new. Sounds like yours just needs some touch up with one of the better cold blues on the market. I like Van's. Since your gun is post 1966 with the short grip frame, you have all kinds of choices with stocks (grips) as the little gun has some snap to it with heavier 38 special rounds.

 

[TennJed]

Got any pics? Might get better answers

 

[sgt127]

Well. They originally came blue or nickel. Nickel would be a "correct" finish and tougher than blue.

If you want a TOUGH black finish:

Basic Melonite QPQ Service – includes minor flaw removal matte/satin surface blasting.
$225 (handgun)

http://www.coalcreekarmory.com/gunsmith-shop-prices/

 

[bannockburn]

I would normally recommend hard chrome for a tough as nails finish, like the type that Ron Mahovsky applies with his SS Chromium Metalife treatment. But since this a vintage Colt you're talking about, I would probably be inclined to have it reblued like its original finish.

 

[Old Fuff]

Note: What you have is a Police Positive Special, not a Police Positive. They're is a difference.

If you are going to use this revolver, and they're is no reason you shouldn't, I would leave it as it is. Getting it refinished will be costly, and with use you may soon be back to where it is now. Plating may, or may not affect some tight tolerances. At the factory Colt made adjustment to account for this on what would become nickel plated revolvers.

As for collector's value, at this time they're isn't any. Not likely in the near future either.

Down the road if you decide to retire it from active use, consider returning it to the factory for refinishing.

 

[TexasBill]

Note: What you have is a Police Positive Special, not a Police Positive. They're is a difference.

Absolutely right! I should have been more precise; there's a big difference. So technically what I have is a 1967 Colt Police Positive Special, third issue, with the short, square butt introduced in 1966.

If you are going to use this revolver, and they're is no reason you shouldn't, I would leave it as it is. Getting it refinished will be costly, and with use you may soon be back to where it is now. Plating may, or may not affect some tight tolerances. At the factory Colt made adjustment to account for this on what would become nickel plated revolvers.

Not really an option. I don't mind being back to where I am now over time; I just don't want to be where I am now + more years of wear down the road. I live in a hot, humid environment and I sweat, so I think it's a good time to reset the clock, so to speak.

As for collector's value, at this time they're isn't any. Not likely in the near future either.

As many as were produced over its long run (three-quarters of a million over almost 90 years), I don't see any shortage of them that would drive up the price unless there was a particular bit of history attached to a specific gun. But I didn't buy it as a collector's item though I did pay less than the price I have seen other, comparable Colt PPS's sell for.

I bought it because I have liked the Police Positive and the pre-fourth release Police Positive special since I was a kid. I have owned a couple of NIB third-issues back and one NIB fourth-issue back in the day when they were still in production (and still inexpensive).

It's just that when I have enquired about rebluing at local gun shops, all I get is "You'll ruin the value."

From the prices I have seen, I can get the Colt refinished and still have a nice gun for $500-$600. Might even really splurge and get some Hogue stocks for it.

Down the road if you decide to retire it from active use, consider returning it to the factory for refinishing.

Thanks for the advice, but I'm far enough down the road that I think I'll leave that up to my son.

 

[TexasBill]

Refinishing? A proper job will cost some money, I believe Colt charges almost 300 for its basic refinish but it will look new. Sounds like yours just needs some touch up with one of the better cold blues on the market. I like Van's. Since your gun is post 1966 with the short grip frame, you have all kinds of choices with stocks (grips) as the little gun has some snap to it with heavier 38 special rounds.

I have fired many rounds, up to and including the old 200-grain police loads, through other Police Positive Specials. It's a bit snappier than a K-frame but not as bad as the S&W 637 Airweight I have carried for years. Still, since the Tyler T-Grip is gone, I have looked into replacement grips and found some Hogues that look good.

I thought about cold bluing, but have seen the results others have obtained and I probably wouldn't do any better.

 

[Old Fuff]

Well since you like Colt Poice Positive and Police Positive Special revolvers (as do I), I will point out that both that are sometimes chambered in .38 New Police (Identical to the more easily found .38 S&W); have the same bore and chamber throat dimensions as Colt's line-up of .38 Special revolvers.

This means that unlike other revolvers chambered in .38 S&W, you can use conventional .356 - .358 diameter bullets when reloading, rather then the odd, hard-to-find .361 diameter size usually called for.

Since almost no one knows this, these neat little revolvers are often found priced under more popular competitors.