In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.

Colt Police Positive. What caliber?

TWalkerTWalker Member Posts: 2,372 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited January 2007 in Ask the Experts
I saw an older Colt Police Positive for sale today. It had the short cylinder and some patent dates on the barrel. I didn't have much time nor a magnifying glass so I missed the caliber. Will it be marked on the gun? It probably is a .38 S&W or .38 Colt. Where will it be marked? Which is better to own? I guess I'll go back tomorrow. Price is $250 with nice old wooden grips and 85-90% condition. Thanks for your help.
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • rufe-snowrufe-snow Member Posts: 18,650 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    38 S & W=.38 Colt New Police, are the same. Colt didn't want to have their competitors name on their revolvers.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ZinderblocZinderbloc Member Posts: 925 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    $250 is an OK price. The .38 S&W is an easy-shooting round with the Police Positive. The wood stocks are a plus; my Police Positive (1920's era) came with hard rubber.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 1KYDSTR1KYDSTR Member Posts: 2,361 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    There are also 32 Caliber Police Positives (I got one from my Grandpa that he was issues as a Rural Route Mail Carrier?!), and the caliber marking is the same (as Rufe pointed out) thing with New Colt Police 32 being virtually identical/interchangeable with 32 S&W! Neat old guns, and as many miles as mine has on it (Grandpa painted it twice, and I finally hot-reblued and nitre blued the small parts after I got it) it still shoots so accurately it is scary. The indexing is a little suspect until the hammer drops, but it is one of my favorite little guns. Oh, and $250 for a .38 cal in that condition is a good deal...the 32's are about $100 less normally.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TWalkerTWalker Member Posts: 2,372 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks for the information. I decided to wait on this one. $200 is as high as I wanted to go. If the cylinder had a little less play I might have bought it. I'll watch it for a while, maybe the price will drop.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 1KYDSTR1KYDSTR Member Posts: 2,361 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Good call Walker! Patience is a virtue!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • JackiePapersJackiePapers Member Posts: 544 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Just out of curiosity TWalker... which was it? .38 or .32? I have a .32 that I love to shoot... Paid $125 about 6 or 7 years ago. Ammo is kinda pricey though.[:(]
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TWalkerTWalker Member Posts: 2,372 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    .38
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mowartmowart Member Posts: 1,392 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    JackiePapers:

    You can also shoot 32 acp out of a revolver chambered for 32 S&W long or New Police. I do. 32 acp is cheaper. The reason this works is that 32 acp is SEMI-rimless and has enough of a rim left to work in the revolver.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • JackiePapersJackiePapers Member Posts: 544 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Mowart... Yeah I heard that someplace before. No kidding 32acp is cheaper... bunches! Anybody else have any views on this?

    Thanks... BTW TWalker... When in doubt, ALWAYS buy! [:D]
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Bill DeShivsBill DeShivs Member Posts: 1,264 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If it works in your gun, it's OK. Sometimes you will have ignition problems because the rim is thinner than .32 S&W long. DO NOT shoot .32 acp in revolvers chambered for .32 S&W (short.)
    Bill
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Sign In or Register to comment.