Colt Police Positive Special - How'd I do?

[Dustin_J]

I made a bit of an impulse buy this afternoon at the LGS. Here's my newly acquired Colt Police Positive Special (in .38 spl) that I picked up for $210. I gave it a good inspection and everything seems to check out very well.

The serial number is 490xx, which I believe checks out to 1911 Anyway, if anybody has any thoughts, advice...on these guns I'd appreciate it. I plan to shoot it (and shoot it a lot) using some light-moderate 38 spl reloads.

 

[jmace57]

very nice - I'd love to find one like that for that price.

 

[Claymore1500]

Nice gun you have there, I bought one SEVERAL years ago, mine is chambered in .38S&W, I love it and shoot it (at least I used to) a lot.

Standard disclaimer here, have it looked at by a smith first, if he says it is ok, then shoot the dog snot out of it, it should handle any standard .38spl. load, but I would stay away from +p rounds.

I see those from time to time and can't believe what they are going for now, when I bought mine I paid just under $90.00

 

[38sp4life]

Justin, You picked up a super sweet 38 sp. Which has to be my favorite caliber. If it is from the year 1911 you must remember that is over a hundred years old. Just be carefull if you plan on shooting it a lot. Plese don't put down + p,s. If you have a local gunsmith nearby throw him a couple of bucks to have him give it " look over " . If everything checks out good. " Happy shooting ".

 

[aHFo3]

Nice double action Colt 1911 revolver!

 

[Dustin_J]

Thanks guys. I'll definitely have someone take a better look at it before shooting it. I love the 38 spl (this is my 4th) and this thing just feels like a piece of functional history. It's so cool to think about the things that this gun (and others like it) may have been through, and I hope to keep it in order for a good long time. It's funny, I was at the range a few weeks ago shooting a pre-model 10 S&W that I'd recently picked up and had a big grin on my face. It's decked out with a t-grip that came with it and looks very much like something that had been used (and taken care of) with pride by the previous owner(s). The rangemaster, who looked to be in his mid 60's or so, noticed it and the 30 year old shooting it and we had a great conversation about old revolvers. I have some newer handguns too for CCW and such, but these old ones just feel right. Anyway, thanks again for the suggestions everyone.

 

[TarDevil]

My Police Positive (in .38 S&W) has the sweetest trigger on earth. Would shoot it a lot more if ammo weren't so pricey.

 

[OldCavSoldier]

My 1921-mfg PP in .38SPL hurts my knuckle when I shoot it due to the small gap between grip and trigger guard. Even so, it is still T-I-G-H-T lock-up and smooth trigger in both SA and DA. I just LOVE old Colts ... and S&Ws....

Anybody know if a Tyler's T-grip would help with the knuckle-thumping?? Or if they even make a T-grip for an old PP?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Anybody know if a Tyler's T-grip would help with the knuckle-thumping?? Or if they even make a T-grip for an old PP?

Yep. I have one on my Detective Special, which is the same gun, but with a shorter barrel and an abbreviated grip frame.

 

[Cosmoline]

That's a very nice piece. Personally I'd stick with wadcutters and LRN standard pressure rounds only. The first gens were well built, but at that age and given the delicacy of some of the lockwork, I'd stay conservative. There are more recent 2nd and 3rd generation PPS's which had stronger lockwork and are of course younger.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I could be wrong, but the grips on your new Police Positive Special do not look quite right. At least I have never seen grips like that on a Police Positive. I suspect they are replacement grips. I have two Police Positive Specials. The short barreled one was made sometime in the 1960s if I recall correctly. The long barreled one is older, 1920s if I recall correctly. I will have to look it up at some point.

You will cry if I tell you what I paid for them, so I won't mention it. From what I have seen today for prices, you did pretty well.

I would most definitely stay away from +P ammo in your Police Positive. Keep the loads mild.

 

[Dustin_J]

Thanks for the info on the grips. I thought they looked a bit unusual, and they aren't marked at all, so they must be some sort of aftermarket or even 1 off sort of deal. I haven't decided quite what to do about them, since they really don't feel that great in my hand. I think I'll take a crack at making some out of walnut and see how that goes.

 

[Old Fuff]

Those that have Colt Police Positive revolvers chambered in .38 Colt New Police (that are identical and interchangeable with .38 S&W), shound be aware that unlike other revolvers chambered in .38 S&W, Colt barrels and cylinder throats are the same as that company's .38 Special's.

This means that you can handload the cartridge using standard .358" diameter bullets, rather then the usually hard to find .360" or larger size.

Factory ammunition is indeed expensive, but if you reload using easy to find .38 Special components the cost drops considerably.

 

[Pancho]

I have the Police Positive in 32-20 and it is my favorite revolver.