Pocket Positive 32 Colt CTG - - Need info please

[TheGent]

I traded a guy for this Colt Pocket Positive. I offered him a Rossi .38 special and he took it. I was suprised he even went for the trade. The dealer was hesitant at first until I threw in a box of Hornady .38 spl ammo. Still, though. I thought, man I don't know if this guy knows what he has and I don't know a damn thing about it other than it says Colt on the grip. But, I gladly gave up my Rossi. Now I need to know about this gun. I never owned a Colt. First, the grip is walnut. The action is SA/DA and is great. Not a thing wrong with this gun. Does not appear to be reblued.

Here's a pic:


Barrel reads: Pocket Positive 32 Colt CTG


Pat'd Aug 5 1884 June 5 1900 July 4 1905


Grip Close Up


Can anyone tell me as much info as possible about this gun. Date of manufacture, Ammo (Does it shoot 32 long or short?), value, etc. I would appreciate deeply any help. Thank you for your knowledge,

TheGent

 

[CajunBass]

Congratulations. They're nice little guns.

I had one that was made in 1912. Looked about like yours but it had mother of pearl grips. It was chambered for the Colt 32 New Police or the 32 Smith & Wesson long. I'm not sure about yours, but I'm sure someone will come along who knows more than I do.

You can go to proofhouse.com and find the year of manufacture by the serial number.

 

[TheGent]

Thanks for the tip, Cajun. Went to proofhouse. If I'm reading the chart right then the serial # begins in 1906 at 30200 and ends at 34699 and begin 34700 in 1907? So mine was made in 1906. Serial # on mine is 327xx. What does the "D" under the serial # mean?

 

[MMCSRET]

Yours is chambered for 32 Colt, it will not accept 32 S&W or 32 S&W Long. Winchester still catalogs 32 Short Colt at 30$+/- for a box of 50. I own and shoot a Police Positive in 32 Colt, great little gun. Yours will accept 32 Long Colt but it is hard to find, has been out of production for close to 20 years. I'm told that Colt last chambered 32 Colt in 1913, mine dates to 1910. The "D" is an assembly # as far as I know. Are the stocks serialed to the gun, written in pencil on the inside of the stock panel? The serial # is also stamped inside the side plate.

 

[TheGent]

Thanks! No penciled serial # inside the stocks. Same serial # inside the plate though.

 

[DrLaw]

If you have ever seen the little top-break .32 and .38 revolvers of the turn of the century, then you know what this gun replaced. It and the Hand Ejector line from Smith and Wesson were the new lines of compact carry or hide-out guns for bankers, store owners, homeowners, etc... Basically a gun for anybody who needed a concealable pistol but did not want all the POWER of that new cartridge, the .38 Special.

All types of people would use these small guns. Railroad Post Office employees (riding the mail cars, sorting the mail while the train was moving from one city to another) were armed generally with small, short barreled guns. Police in smaller towns, the town constable, etc..., who hardly ever needed a gun, would have something like this.

You've got a nice piece there.

The Doc is out now.