Recently Acquired Colt Police Positive Special

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Sniper 51

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I recently acquired a 1976 Colt Police Positive Special (.38 Special), 4 inch barrel. It appears to be a real shooter. After seeing how well it shoots and handling it awhile, I realized why they were so popular in their day. It appears that it would make a great CCW.

Does anyone have any idea where a good CCW holster could be obtained for this size revolver? All help would be greatly appreciated.
 
I had a PPS for years and really regret selling it. The PPS is the same basic frame as the Detective Special, IIRC it's a Colt "D" frame. So a holster that will fit a DS with an open slot for the longer barrel should work.

The fourth inch of barrel is the trouble for CCW with this revolver. It makes horizontal shoulder carry or most waistband carry more tricky. But some people can do it, depending on preferences and body shape. A vertical shoulder rig should be ideal. Galco makes some, I believe. Pocket carry proved too troublesome.

Absolute joy to shoot, though. And tack-driving accurate. They were sighted in for 20-25 yards with the standard 158 grain soft lead RN bullets. Your late-model version should be a Gen 3, IIRC, with the full length ejector rod shroud and possibly updated innards.
 
Actually it doesn't have the full length ejector rod shorud. From what I have gathered, they started putting that on there in 1977, but I'm not sure. I'm still trying to learn some about it. The Ser. # however confirmed that it was a 1976 model.
 
For some reason those guns just felt better in the hand than the S&Ws.

I don't recall the Police Positive ever having a full length ejector rod housing, though.

[Edit] Just checked Wikipedia and they confirm the "upgrade" to a python-like full length shroud in 1977. Oh well, after the eyes the memory is the first to go...
 
I think it may be the 4th model that had the full length shroud. I also remember reading that Colt updated the lockwork, but it's possible they never did with the PPS.
 
I have a PPS in 32 Police w/4" and a PPS 38 Special w/5", and a Late model DS in 38 Special. The PPS never had a full length shroud, just a shroud for the ejector rod in later production runs. Great guns and as said above "feel better than the S&W of the same period"; I can say that as I have several S&W J and K frames and an I frame to compare them with. I like all of them!!!!!!!!!!, but the Colts "feel" better.
 
Yes, 1977 was the first year that the Colt PPS was first offered with the barrel shroud. Here are some pictures of my 1977 PPS:
P1050149.jpg
P1050143.jpg
P1050174.jpg
P1050171.jpg
 
El Paso Saddlery makes nice stuff.

Bought this about 25 years ago for my wife. Turns out she doesn't like revolvers. Fine. I kept it.

standard.jpg
 
SaxonPig:

What a beauty! That's one you can be proud of! Have you shot that PPS much-or, has it been kept mostly as a safe queen?
 
Here is the Colt Viper version of the above PPS-only made in 1977!:
P1040151.jpg
P1040155.jpg
P1040168.jpg
P1040136.jpg
 
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Hi Sniper51,


Does anyone have any information on where I might find a holster for it?
Click to expand...



There are fifteen buhzillion Police Positive Holsters on e-bay, endless kinds and variations from all eras, most being poorly described.


What I would do, is pretend you need a Holster for a Smith & Wesson 'M&P' Revolver...win an Auction, and when the Holdster arrives, you find it is too small ( as always ) for the 'M&P', but, will fit a Police Positive 'perfectly'.
 
Very Nice Colts. I love a fixed sighted, heavy barreled 38 Special with a “Magnum” shroud. Not a Colt, but then again I am a Ruger fan.

DSC01919.jpg
 
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Bianchi and Galco still make a variety of CCW holsters for 4 inch revolvers. Those late model PPS Colts are gorgeous, and affordable compared to the rare Viper.
 
S6- It's been shot some but not a whole lot. I use all my guns and don't have any "safe queens."
 
Saxon Pig sure has a nice gun collection

back to my mantra

thou shall not covet
thou shall not covet
thou shall not covet
thou shall not covet
thou shall not covet

damn...it isn't working!!!
 
thou shall not covet
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I'm not even fond of nickel, but that one does trigger my envy reflex. Actually all of them do. Mine is an earlier blued model (no shroud) that some former owner installed an insert into the front sight. Still one of the prettiest and most satisfying though.

Unfortunately, I don't have any holster info. Although it would be a fantastic carry piece, I tend to gravitate to pocket autos in that category.
 
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Blue Brick:

I can understand your love for that heavy barrel Ruger Speed or Service-Six-because I'm an avid Ruger fan also! I've been collecting the wonderful Six Series revolvers for the last 16 years. Despite owning Smith's and Colt's these Rugers have always been my first love! Although, I don't have a 4" heavy barrel Service-six chambered in .38 Special(Which I'm still looking for)I do have one chambered in .357. But, I do have both a stainless 1976 "Liberty" 4" Speed/Service-Six, chambered in the .38 Special caliber.

My pictures aren't the greatest-but, here is a 2.75" heavy barrel Speed-Six .357 that I have just installed a rare set of really good feeling Mustang grips on-these are slim and smooth and are not "blocky" like the typical Mustang grips were!:
P1050338.jpg
P1050340.jpg
P1050330.jpg
 
That PPS has the prettiest nickel plating I have ever seen. The photo doesn't do it justice. Workers must have been having a good day when that one came down the line.
 
slick6

Your Viper reminded me of one I bought years ago at a local gunshow. Looking at the time for something for my wife, I came across a Colt Viper in mint condition, complete with box and paperwork. I think I paid around $200 for it, which, at the time, I thought was a great price for any Colt revolver. Well this was also the time when all the new Wondernines were in vogue, and 4" barrel, fixed sighted, .38 Special revolvers were kind of looked at as being outdated and obsolete.
Anyways the weight with the alloy frame was just right and the gun just seemed to naturally balance in my hand. I kept it for awhile, but when times got tough financially, I had to sell it off, along with quite a few other fine revolvers. I haven't come across another one at any of the gunshows I've been to in over 25 years.
 
bannockburn said:
slick6

Your Viper reminded me of one I bought years ago at a local gunshow. Looking at the time for something for my wife, I came across a Colt Viper in mint condition, complete with box and paperwork. I think I paid around $200 for it, which, at the time, I thought was a great price for any Colt revolver. Well this was also the time when all the new Wondernines were in vogue, and 4" barrel, fixed sighted, .38 Special revolvers were kind of looked at as being outdated and obsolete.
Anyways the weight with the alloy frame was just right and the gun just seemed to naturally balance in my hand. I kept it for awhile, but when times got tough financially, I had to sell it off, along with quite a few other fine revolvers. I haven't come across another one at any of the gunshows I've been to in over 25 years.
Click to expand...
bannockburn:

I made the mistake of not purchasing a Viper whenever they were new! Like you, except for finding my mint Viper pictured above, I haven't ever seen another Viper for at least, 20 years! I've always been a revolver guy-so, I didn't get caught up in the wonder nine "Craze"!
 
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