Colt Police Positive Special

[Ben_hutcherson]

I was in a local gun shop today, and this walked in the door in a Heiser holster(posted elsewhere). The shop owner made his deal with the seller, then proceeded to resell the whole rig to me almost immediately for $300 OTD.

I think that the nickel is original, although it has a few rough spots. The bore looked like a sewer pipe when I first looked down it, but it turned out to just have a lot of lead fouling. After using both a bronze brush wrapped in bronze wool, as well as a stainless "tornado" brush, the bore is perfect with no pitting and very crisp rifling. I expect that this one will shoot well.

 

[ralph7]

Pre war Colt's are cool.
Tell us the serial number and we can give you a birth date.

Bet it locks up tight, huh?

 

[Ben_hutcherson]

Pre war Colt's are cool.
Tell us the serial number and we can give you a birth date.

Bet it locks up tight, huh?

Per Proofhouse, it's 1934.

And, yes it's tight like a Colt should be

I have a slightly older one(1922, if I remember right) with a 5" barrel and in blue. I'm going to have fun comparing this 4" and the 5" on my next range trip.

 

[fyimo]

Great looking purchase and what is the caliber as I have my Grandfathers in 32-20.

 

[Ben_hutcherson]

Great looking purchase and what is the caliber as I have my Grandfathers in 32-20.

This one is 38 special(as is my other PPS). I'm still looking for the "right one" in 32-20.

 

[Muley Gil]

I've owned and shot a number of PPSs over the years, both in .38 special and in .32-20. All were good guns.

If, back in the day, I had been restricted to a .38 special revolver and standard 158 grain ammo for a duty weapon, I'd choose a PPS over a 2 1/2 pound .38/44.

 

[CajunBass]

Nice old Colt.

I picked up one myself not too long ago, but mine isn't as old as yours, having been made in 1960 if I remember correctly from Proofhouse.





I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet though.

 

[ben1]

I found one (Colt Police Positive in 38 special) that dated to 1920. Full of lead but cleaned up well and has a lot of life left. Not bad for $180. Gotta love old guns that still work well. Good find. Enjoy it.

 

[Harkrader]

I have two that date from '78, so they have that newer slimmed-down look. I'm amazed at how cheap they are. I bought the second one late last year for just under $300. The finish and surfaces are a mess, with many scrapes and dings. It looks as though it spent time in a tool box. The turn ring shows it saw moderate use. But, bore and cylinders pristine and it shoots very well. I use it as one of my carry guns. I think about sending it to Colt to be refinished, but I rather enjoy the beat-up look. It's intriguing.
A member on the Colt forum sold me a set of correct wood grips to replace the ugly rubber ones - also beat up - on it.

I'm casually looking for another from that date range, while prices are still low.

 

[Otreb]

Neat revolver.
I have something similar, dated 1927.
It's a capable shooter, if you can live with the tiny sights.

 

[Ben_hutcherson]

I thought that the gun deserved better photos than in the original post. I still need to get to the range with it

 

[kaaskop49]

Ben, what a cool little gun. Glad you picked it up. The $64 question: is it in time? In NYC, I handled many PPS's, usually security guard issue guns, and they were always out of time. Thanks.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[Ben_hutcherson]

Ben, what a cool little gun. Glad you picked it up. The $64 question: is it in time? In NYC, I handled many PPS's, usually security guard issue guns, and they were always out of time. Thanks.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

Everything is perfect as best as I can tell-the bolt retracts immediately as soon as the hammer is touched, it drops about halfway into the lead, and drops into the locking notch with the hammer all the way back. When the hammer drops, it locks up as tight as a bank vault.

This is a gun that seems to have seen a fair bit of holster time(I posted the holster that came in with the gun elsewhere on here, but will also attach a picture to this post of the gun in the holster) but I don't think it's been shot that much.

 

[Texas Star]

Ben, what a cool little gun. Glad you picked it up. The $64 question: is it in time? In NYC, I handled many PPS's, usually security guard issue guns, and they were always out of time. Thanks.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

That's been my experience with older DA Colts, and is why I gave up on Colt.


A friend asked a very famous gunsmith to tune his Python. He did, but warned that as little as 500-1,000 rounds fired might again see it out-of-time.

 

[italiansport]

That's been my experience with older DA Colts, and is why I gave up on Colt.


A friend asked a very famous gunsmith to tune his Python. He did, but warned that as little as 500-1,000 rounds fired might again see it out-of-time.

Colt DAs can be a real challenge to time and it's getting harder all the time to find a gunsmith capable or even willing to work on them.
Just about any gunsmith will tell you they much prefer to work on S&Ws.
Jim

 

[Stevie]

Used to be able to buy Colt tune-up kits with a new bolt, bolt spring and new hand....

Colts aint too bad to work on...the hard part is getting the bolt-tail sprung just right to time the bolt...might have to try fifty times to get it perfect...

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Nice one you have there, they are a handy little revolver! I have a blued 1927 four incher that shoots nicely. The caveat about parts and repairs are warranted but don't deter me from buying a nice old Colt. It did take me a long time to find a new mainspring for my Officers Model Match due to a "rod bent" mainspring that failed. Anyone needing one or wants to lay in a spare can find newly made ones for the I frame Colt at Jack Firsts.