Colt Police Positive 38

B

baddarryl

New member
Hi all. I found one in very nice condition. 4 inch, not sure which version, but after reading going to look again tomorrow. At least 2nd as the grips are wood. Anyway other than the standard revolver check out is there anything to know about these? It seems very reasonably priced at $400.00. Gunbroker looks like this is on the low end of pricing for sure.
 
I have one. What do you want to know? What caliber is the one you are looking at?

For revolver the first thing to check is end shake, which is the back forth play of the cylinder in the window. There are several other things to look at if you have time and tools.

-TL
 
Howdy

I have three of them, two 38s and a 32.

threepolicepositives_zps2a9c7480.jpg


The first thing you need to know is the Police Positive was chambered for 38 S&W, not 38 Special.

The Police Positive Special, with a slightly longer cylinder was chambered for 38 Special.

See what it says on the barrel regarding the caliber it is chambered for. a revolver chambered for 38 S&W, which is a slightly shorter round than 38 Special, will not accept the more common 38 Special.

Depending on the age of the gun, it may or may not say Police Positive Special on it, but the caliber marking will tell you what it will accept and fire.
 
Yes, a lot of guys say "Police Positive" when they mean the Police Positive Special. Two different models. If it's in 38 Special it's a PPS not a PP.

I have a later version of the PPS in nickel. Built on the D frame size the grip frame changed in early '70s to a shorter design so stocks don't swap between pre-1972 (I think) and post 1972. They also added the ejector rod shroud at that time or maybe a couple years earlier.

The PPS is roughly equivalent to the S&W Model 10 in size and purpose. I've been nosing around for a PPS in 32-20 but so far I haven't found the one I want at the price I like.


standard.jpg
 
My first d.a. revolver was a brand new in the box P.P.S. 4" blue to be my duty gun when I became a rookie police officer.
I didn't have a clue how to get the bullets in the gun.
(you mean the cylinder swings out? How cool is that?)
When I went to the academy for the range work I did real well with that
Colt, leading the class of 58 in score. The trigger was awsome.
I carried that revolver for years until the dept. upgraded to the Smith M-19.
Sadly the trade ins went to a firm in Cleveland & I never got the chance to
buy that Colt as I surely would have.
It saved me from getting shot my very first night on the job.
 
I go back to the original question......$400 sound about right? I find gunbroker is not realistic as you can only few what people are asking without an FFL.
 
That pretty depends on the condition. Special could be a bit more. I got mine in .38 sw also on GB for $250. It was at least 75 years old.

-TL
 
My dad's had one for years as far as I know it's his only pistol, his has the black grips and is .38 special. Nice guns, especially for dad because he is rather old fashioned.
 
I paid about that for this one a couple/three months ago. I'm not sure what it was tagged at, vs what we agreed on, but $400.00 + - is about right.

 
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