[IrishCop]

About 7 years ago, my youngest daughter and her husband gave me a very special Fathers Day present. Not special because of monetary value, but because they bought me something they thought (quite correctly) I would prefer over ties or silk shorts. They bought me a very old Colt revolver, in pretty good shape. By that I mean the action worked (though stiff and somewhat sticky), no rust, a nice patina overall, correct grips. When pressured they said they paid $125 for it. It went into a little display case I had with an old Iver Johnson top break and a Police Positive that dates to 1946.

Anyway, this little pistol is marked Colt's New Police on the left side of the frame, and Police Positive on the right side of the barrel. Serial number is 54545, and Colt's data base shows it to be a Police Positive made in 1907.

Anybody know if this "double marking" is common? It does appear to have a hammer block of some type...the hammer won't fall far enough to let the firing pin hit a primer unless the trigger is fully depressed. Means the then-new lockwork of circa 1907?

 

[Charlie Petty]

The sticky is probably due to dried up old oil. If you're not comfortable with taking it apart just squirt the action full of Liquid Wrench or WD-40 and let is sit awhile. Cycle it a bunch,blow out the goo and re-lube. Repeat if needed.

I forget what Colt called it, but the hammer is working properly.

 

[IrishCop]

Thanks, Charlie. I'll give the Liquid Wrench thing a try.

Understand, I have no intention of ever shooting this gun. While the action works, the cylinder seems a little loose. Lots of wiggle around the axis when the cylinder is closed and hammer down.

I just like having what certainly seems to be a 108 year old revolver that's still all in one piece.

 

[bearcat6]

Terry, I can't answer question about the markings try these guys.
Colt Forum

 

[IrishCop]

Thanks, Bearcat. I will post there, too.

The digging I have done makes me believe it is indeed a Police Positive, as the Positive part of that refers to the then new lockup which allowed for safe carry of a loaded charge hole under the hammer.

I think it was maybe a transitional model, where the sideplate was still marked New Police while the barrel indicates the the Police Positive for the lockwork.

Probably never really know.

 

[Arizona Bill]

About 7 years ago, my youngest daughter and her husband gave me a very special Fathers Day present. Not special because of monetary value, but because they bought me something they thought (quite correctly) I would prefer over ties or silk shorts. They bought me a very old Colt revolver, in pretty good shape. By that I mean the action worked (though stiff and somewhat sticky), no rust, a nice patina overall, correct grips. When pressured they said they paid $125 for it. It went into a little display case I had with an old Iver Johnson top break and a Police Positive that dates to 1946.

Anyway, this little pistol is marked Colt's New Police on the left side of the frame, and Police Positive on the right side of the barrel. Serial number is 54545, and Colt's data base shows it to be a Police Positive made in 1907.

Anybody know if this "double marking" is common? It does appear to have a hammer block of some type...the hammer won't fall far enough to let the firing pin hit a primer unless the trigger is fully depressed. Means the then-new lockwork of circa 1907?

The gun is a Police Positive First Issue. "New Police" refers to the caliber, either .32NP or .38NP. It came out in 1907 and lasted for 40 years, but it was outgunned by the Police Positive Special (which, however, was not as easy to conceal because of the longer cylinder), which came out the following year and was offered until the mid-nineties. The hammer block referred to is the "positive" part of the Police Positive, namely, the positive lock. The early ones that are double marked like this one are a little more valuable, but only if they're in super condition. Because the one in question has essentially no lockup, and "bank vault" lockup is one of the premier features of Colts, it has little collector value, but, of course, sentimental value is another matter. Hope this helps.

 

[IrishCop]

Thank you, sir! It helps a lot. Wasn't expecting it to be worth a fortune, just curious about it's pedigree.

Thanks for taking the time to fill me in.

 

[Arizona Bill]

You're very welcome. Another choice that I find works well to clean up the lockwork is Birchwood Casey Gun Scrubber. No need to take lockwork apart. Just spray heavily and allow to drain dry and then re-lube.

 

[30Cal]

Cool little revolver. I have one (well, may dad is hanging onto it for the time being).

 

[stand watie]

IrishCop,

Fyi, an associate of mine (Davis H B______) had his G-grandfather's Colt's Police Positive (SN: 71X), that his ancestor carried while a Texas City Marshal (& Special Ranger during WWI) in the early 1900-1940 period. - It's marked .38NP, i.e., .38 S&W loaded with a FN lead bullet.

His son carried the Colt in the early 1950s, while a Deputy Sheriff in Lubbock.

David carried the Colt daily, when he was a bailiff & later "contract investigator" for DoD.

His daughter now (since 2012) carries the little Colt as a Deputy Constable in Tarrant County.

Don't you wish that the PP could talk?

yours, sw

 

[IrishCop]

First off, thanks to Charlie and Arizona Bill for the tips on "un-sticking" the action.

I did end up taking the side-plate off Charlie. Even better, I actually got it back on correctly, didn't have any parts left over (always hated that when I did a brake job ) and the action cycles as it should now.

SW, yeah, I would like to know if the local version of Jim Croce's Bad, Bad Leroy Brown kept this "thirty two gun in his pocket for some fun..."