Help me put a date on this Police Positive Colt

[R.W.Dale]

Colt Police Positive
.38 Special CTG

SN# 55686M

proofhouse.com says 1912 for this SN# for a Police Positive Special but I have a hard time believing this particular example is that old leaving me to suspect I'm misidentifying the model. Being as I'm a total novice to all things Colt and all

Thanks in advance for any assistance

 

[MMCSRET]

I just went to proofhouse and looked; 1978!!!!!!

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

proofhouse.com says 1912 for this SN# for a Police Positive Special

It would not be anywhere near that old, with a fully shrouded ejector rod. Nineteen seventy-eight seems more probable.

 

[XavierBreath]

The Police Positive Special MKV had a full lug barrel.

The Colt Border Patrol was a Police Positive Special that had a half lug such as this, but it also had the newer style frame that lacked the rib beneath the rear of the cylinder. The Border Patrol frame also had the "wavy" profile to the frame above the trigger. If it were a Border Patrol, you would be quite lucky. The revolver is rare, and one in this condition should sell for around $1000. Only 400 or so were made. Their serial numbers were in the 610000 range. They were manufactured in 1952.

Even with the frame differences, I would tend to lean towards a Border Patrol, or perhaps a special order barrel from that time. Contact Colt to be certain.

 

[Shear_stress]

The first issue Border Patrol was built on the larger Official Police frame, according to Fjestad. The second issue was built on the Trooper Mk III frame. This is appears to be a seventies-issue, short ("Agent"-style) D-frame gun.

Dollars for donuts Krochus' revolver is a 4th Issue Police Positive Special. Also, from Fjestad: "Police Positive Special (Fourth Issue) - .38 Spl. cal., shrouded ejector rod housing only, steel frame, blue or nickel finish. Mfg. 1977-78 and 1994-1995."

Edited to add: I get a 1977 manufacture date for SN#: 55686M from Proofhouse.com, which would be appropriate for a PPS IV.

 

[bayouboy]

FWIW:

The gun in question is a 1978 Police Positive. The gun marked Colt's "re-introduction" of the Police Positive model and was only available for a year or two. It is simply a Detective Special with a four inch barrel and slightly longer grips. Colt also produced an alloy frame version of the gun called the Viper.

Here's my gun that also dates to 1978:

 

[Blue Brick]

Very Nice 78 Police Positive!

 

[Matt-J2]

I don't know what you have, but I have a bit of envy. Nice find.

 

[Lone Star]

Good luck shooting it. I had one briefly in the late '70's, and it shot NOWHERE near the sights with any loads I tried. Wasn't me at fault, either. Several other guns I owned shot just fine on the same days.

I've had problems with other fixed-sight Colts, too. Good luck with yours. It is a nice looking gun, with excellent balance.

Having a SKILLED gunsmith who knows Colts turn the barrel slightly may correct any sighting problems. But shoot the gun first. Yours may be okay.

Lone Star