Colt Police Positive-ly Scored

[rs525]

Hey all. Just wanted to show off my newest purchase that I'm particularly proud of: a Colt Police Positive Special 4" in .38 special. Got this for a good deal, $650 before shipping, tax and transfer fees. Already in love with this thing. Colt's Serial Number lookup shows this was made in 1977, yet strangely it's a 3rd series according to my research instead of a 4th series which it should have been which has a thicker barrel and shrouded ejector rod. My guess is this was made JUST before they switched over.


As you can see, the condition is Excellent! Beautiful original blued finish with very little wear. I just cleaned it up with some Ballistol. The seller said it was recently serviced though I do not know what he meant. For some strange reason it came with the stumpy "Agent" grips, supposedly the original grips. I will be replacing them with regular Detective Special grips as these are too short for my hands (don't worry I will hold on to the grips the gun came with!) Sight picture is about the same as a DS, but with an odd taller front sight.

The gun perfectly compliments my 1966 Detective Special I also got. The DS is exactly the same gun as the PP, the only differences being a 2 inch barrel and a name change. The PP's trigger pull isn't quite as smooth and light as the DS, but I think with breaking it in it will get better.

And with that I consider my .38 special revolver collection complete! The only revolvers left I plan on getting are the Smith and Wesson Model 19 and the Colt Python, both with 4" and 2.5" barrels. Now I just need to get some .38 ammo and take these to the range.

Clockwise from top left: S&W Model 10-5 made in 1967, Colt PPS made in 1977, Colt DS made in 1966, and S&W Model 15-4 made sometime between 1977 and 1982.

 

[wcwhitey]

Very nice! Price is good as well that is in nice shape!

 

[Seedy Character]

Color me green

Would love to have two. A .38 and a .32

Awesome find

 

[Old Dog]

Sweet. These are nice-handling little revolvers.I have a soft spot for these revolvers. This one was made in 1933.

 

[Starter52]

D-frames are my favorite Colts, and the only ones I truly enjoy shooting.

 

[Jeff olson]

They are splendid guns and often overlooked. Yours is very ,very nice. My pps and op collection. I didn't include the detective special.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Gorgeous!

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I like Police Positive Specials too.

There is something unusual about the front sight on your Police Positive Special.

Except for the little 22 on the right in this photo, all my Police Positive Specials have half moon shaped front sights on a boss, integral with the barrel.

All of mine are a little bit older, so I do not know what front sights Colt was putting on the Police Positive Specials in 1977.

Left to right, these shipped in 1922, 1932, 1926 (this one is actually a 32-20), and 1952. The little Police Positive Target 22 shipped in 1936. It has a drift adjustable rear sight and the front sight is adjusted for elevation with a small screw in front.






Actually, looking closer I see the 1952 PPS has the rear surface of the front sight cut at an angle, but it too is on top of a boss and is integral with the barrel.

 

[Old Dog]

They are splendid guns and often overlooked. Yours is very ,very nice. My pps and op collection. I didn't include the detective special. View attachment 1076252

Wow. If I were the jealous type, I'd be jealous.Great collection!

And DriftwoodJohnson posted as I was posting this... More coolness!

 

[rs525]

Howdy

I like Police Positive Specials too.

There is something unusual about the front sight on your Police Positive Special.

Except for the little 22 on the right in this photo, all my Police Positive Specials have half moon shaped front sights on a boss, integral with the barrel.

All of mine are a little bit older, so I do not know what front sights Colt was putting on the Police Positive Specials in 1977.

Left to right, these shipped in 1922, 1932, 1926 (this one is actually a 32-20), and 1952. The little Police Positive Target 22 shipped in 1936. It has a drift adjustable rear sight and the front sight is adjusted for elevation with a small screw in front.]

According to this post from TFB, there were five different iterations of the PP. https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2020/06/17/wheelgun-wednesday-colt-police-positive-special/
From the third issue in 1947 until initial discontinuation in 1978, the PP's switched to a ramp front sight, but it looks like some were a little taller compared to a regular ramp. Mine would be considered a third issue, but was made during the short lived 4th issue. I'd probably have to contact Colt to clarify this.

 

[Jeff olson]

And then there's the mk v that colt can't say how many were made. Maybe 50.

 

[Master Blaster]

Wow what a great bunch of classic Colt revolvers. Almost makes me want to add a fixed sight Colt to my meager collection of Officers models.

 

[TarDevil]

Nice collections!

 

[rs525]

I'm actually thinking of forgoing getting a 2.5" Python due to cost and just stick with the 4" model. Does anybody think getting a 2.5" Python in addition to a 4" Python is worth it? Does the snub do anything that the 4" can't do?

 

[Riomouse911]

I'm actually thinking of forgoing getting a 2.5" Python due to cost and just stick with the 4" model. Does anybody think getting a 2.5" Python in addition to a 4" Python is worth it? Does the snub do anything that the 4" can't do?

Conceal a little bit better, and most likely resell for more when you decide to sell it, other than that; nothing.

My only semi-apples to apples comparison I can personally make is my 2.5” model 19 vs my 4” and 6” Model 66’es. The 2.5” is less accurate on targets for me compared to shooting the 4 and 6-inch versions, but it did carry well in a shoulder holster when I packed it for a while.

They’re amazing guns, but if i was limited to just one i’d go for the 4”.

Stay safe.

 

[Old Dog]

Conceal a little bit better, and most likely resell for more when you decide to sell it, other than that; nothing.

My only semi-apples to apples comparison I can personally make is my 2.5” model 19 vs my 4” and 6” Model 66’es. The 2.5” is less accurate on targets for me compared to shooting the 4 and 6-inch versions, but it did carry well in a shoulder holster when I packed it for a while.

They’re amazing guns, but if i was limited to just one i’d go for the 4”.

Stay safe.

^ Concur with everything here...

 

[rs525]

How much bigger is a Colt Python snub compared to a Model 19 Snub? I know that the Python itself is a little bit bigger than a K frame.

 

[SwampWolf]

For some strange reason it came with the stumpy "Agent" grips, supposedly the original grips.

Starting sometime around 1966, the old style, longer grip Cobra was changed to the Agent-sized shorter grip in order to simplify production. After this, non-Agent "D" frames came with longer length wood grips over-lapped on the bottom so as to provide a full-size grip (i.e., shorter Agent vs longer Cobra, but using the same size frame).

 

[rs525]

I should also point out that if I don't like the Police Positive compared to my other .38 revolvers, I may sell it in order to get the Colt Python, but we'll wait until that time comes. Still waiting to take these to the range.