I have what I believe is a .32 Colt Police Positive Special (first issue) on the barrel it has COLT'S PTF A MFG CO. Hartford CT. USA pat'd August 5,1884- June 5, 1900- July 4, 1905 the serial number is 160300 or 180300 and there is a W underneath the top serial number. I've looked on proofhouse but I couldn't find anything so I'm stuck. My great great grandfather was the sheriff of a little town in Oklahoma, the revolver has a lot of sentimental value. It was handed down to me from my grandfather. Now that I have it I'm trying to get as much history & information on it as possible and knowing the year would really help me bc I want to know if my great great grandfather got the gun when he became sheriff, if he purchased it himself or if it was given to him by the sheriff before him. I obviously can't ask him so I don't know if there is even a way to find that info out or not, I'm mostly worried about the age of it. I would also like to know the value of it. I don't plan on selling it bc I figure the longer I hold on to it the more valuable it will be, I plan on handing it down to my boy when he's old enough. Unless someone offers me a number I can't turn down. I hope there's some body out there that has advice, some kind of information or can just help me in any way I'd appreciate it.
I need some help finding out what year my.32 Colt police positive revolver was made.
- Thread starter JustinR22
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Your revolver may have been made 1919 or 1920, in the Colt Police Positive Special column, there is a different later date in the Police Positive 32 column, and I don't know the difference.
http://www.proofhouse.com/colt/index.html
Maybe someone could help on that.
As to value, it all depends on condition. No pictures, no idea of condition. The W could be a lot of things.
If the revolver is 100% it will have considerable value because basically nothing is 100% from that era.
If it is refinished the value is going to be a lot less.
Sentimental value is a tax that is hard to pass on to the next buyer. Don't expect huge rates of return on sentimental value unless you have lots of documentation showing your ancestor was someone real important, like Wyatt Earp or someone of equal media focus.
http://www.proofhouse.com/colt/index.html
Maybe someone could help on that.
As to value, it all depends on condition. No pictures, no idea of condition. The W could be a lot of things.
If the revolver is 100% it will have considerable value because basically nothing is 100% from that era.
If it is refinished the value is going to be a lot less.
Sentimental value is a tax that is hard to pass on to the next buyer. Don't expect huge rates of return on sentimental value unless you have lots of documentation showing your ancestor was someone real important, like Wyatt Earp or someone of equal media focus.
MtnSpur
Member
Your Police Positive Special (if so marked) .32 according to a 160XXX S/N would be a 1918 or a 180xxx at 1919 and has the correct patent dates on the barrel for that timeframe. The W is simply an inspection intial as there were no prefix nor suffix to serial numbers way back when 
. Without pictures, offering any close estimation of worth won't be accurate. The revolver could be worth $125 or $500 dependent on finish, original stocks/grips, mechanical condition, etc.
As a duty revolver it didn't sit in a drawer, I'd imagine, so the finish would show wear from either pocket or holster carry. Condition is everything with these old fellas.
. Without pictures, offering any close estimation of worth won't be accurate. The revolver could be worth $125 or $500 dependent on finish, original stocks/grips, mechanical condition, etc.As a duty revolver it didn't sit in a drawer, I'd imagine, so the finish would show wear from either pocket or holster carry. Condition is everything with these old fellas.
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