Colt Police Positive .38 S&W short barrel

B

Biggmatt

Inactive
Good Morning folks,

New forum member here and looking for some assistance/help with a revolver I just acquired. I bought a Colt Police Positive .38 S&W 6 shot revolver with a barrel length of 1-3/8", serial number (143943) from an elderly woman. The barrel appeared to be cut/shortened although it looks professional and I know this because all I can see at the very end of the barrel is "LT". The gun appears to be functional and internal parts appear to be in good working order. The finish is worn off but there is no rust anywhere on this gun. The handle is pearl and I’m almost certain that the pearl is real. I have dated this gun to 1922 using the serial number.

My question is...would it be worth to have this gun reblued since it’s in good condition mechanically? Also, if I have this gun reblued and confirm that the pearl grips are indeed real, what would the approximate value be?

Thanks for everyone’s help,
Matt
 
The cut barrel goes a LONG way towards killing collector interest and value. Rebluing wouldn't help the value any, really.

Add in that it's chambered for a now semi-obsolete cartridge and you likely don't have much value, even with the pearl grips.
 
One thing I've realized when it comes to collectors, is there's no way of knowing what is collectible.
One guy's junk is another guy's treasure.
Just in case there's someone out there who would salivate over your gun, it would probably be better to leave the finish as original.
Unless, of course, you intend to have it as a shooter.
Then it doesn't matter.
Make it yours.
 
Ill be talking to my local gunsmith tomorrow and see what price he gives me for the rebluing and go from there. I dont really want to spend much money on it so if he comes back with a higher than expected price, then ill leave it as is. Either way, it came with a cool story. The woman I got it from told me that her father carried it in NY when he was a Police Officer.
 
Unless, of course, you intend to have it as a shooter.
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Given the high number of correct police positives on the market I think you already have a shooter. The problem is as was stated, the cartridge is "semi-obsolete."
 
Please, be sensible. The gun is worth about $150. What will it cost to reblue it? If you do it the gun will be worth...wait for it...you know it's coming...$150. You want a new looking gun then buy a new looking gun. Also bear in mind if you don't load your own ammo this caliber is a real loser. Factory ammo will be pricey and hard to find. If you can load this caliber then you can use this as a knock around gun. It will never be more than that.
 
since I actually like guns that were modified ( in the old days ) I'd never find one for $150.00.as I snap that up right away ( & I have over 500 rounds of 38 S&W loaded up & ready :) )
 
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Thanks for all of the replies.

I am not planning on selling this gun. I was curious as to what I had and what it's worth. Ill see what my buddy (gunsmith) will reblue it for and may do it just to bring an old gun back to life....it will make a nice conversation piece anyway lol and a nice addition to my current collection. I like old guns and can imagine what this gun has seen and been through..
 
Thanks for all of the replies.

I am not planning on selling this gun. I was curious as to what I had and what it's worth. Ill see what my buddy (gunsmith) will reblue it for and may do it just to bring an old gun back to life....it will make a nice conversation piece anyway lol and a nice addition to my current collection. I like old guns and can imagine what this gun has seen and been through..
Click to expand...

Makes you wish the gun could talk. tell about all the calls it went on. The places and people

Gary
 
I was looking for a knock around 32-20 when a guy gave me a heads up on this one listed by a big online gun dealer. For a mere $159 it was mine. I would not even consider spending another dime on it. It does what I need it to do as is.

I suspect the barrel was cut after being bulged. I have found a very high percentage of 32-20s with bulged barrels for some reason.


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Sounds like an interesting gun. Any gunsmith that will be able to refinish that gun properly will charge a good bit more than it is worth. Beware of the type that will buff it into oblivion and drop it in the hot bluing tank. Sadly there are far more of these types out there than the ones who can do it proper.
 
The first police positive I owned was a 38 SW that had been "buffed into oblivion" during a reblue. The Colt pony was barely visible. I sold it as there was no collector value and ammo wasnt available. I will replace it with a Police Positive in 22lr before long. Keep looking for a steal on a good shooter, but it has gotten to the point where I am just going to pick one up on gun broker for whatever it costs.
 
I spoke with the gunsmith today and he agreed to hot blue it for $120. He told me that he would be careful when buffing so no lettering/symbols are lost.
I know this colt isn't worth much but its pretty dam cool to have a fully functional 92 year old gun to talk about. I confirmed that the grips are mother of pearl which adds to its unique appeal IMO.
 
A police positive 38S&W loaded to 9mm levels with a short barrel would make a GREAT carry gun.

I have a couple I would like to cut down, but I can't bring myself to do it.
 
If you're not going to sell it, you should reblue it. If it was mine I would definitely reblue it just because I would like it better and make it a nicer piece. Work done to my guns has never had any correlation to what it is "worth". It's building quality and how much I like the gun. If I liked 38S&W that much I'd port it, refinish it, mount a red dot on it if I was of a mind to do so and not give another thought it being worth only $150.
 
It's your money. It's your gun. It's your decision. I think spending $120 on this revolver is unwise from an economics perspective, but...see above.
 
I have some Colt Police Positive 38 S&W revolvers.

I paid $150 for one made in 1911 in 2011 and another one for $109.
They have issues.

But I have good one.
I paid $200 for one made in 1916 in 2013.
 

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