|
Colt Police Positive RevolverThe Colt Police Positive is a small frame double action revolver featuring a six round cylinder chambered for either .32 or .38 caliber cartridges. The Police Positive was introduced by Colt in 1907 and was designed and marketed primarily to law enforcement agencies but was popular for civilian use as well. TV Character Deputy Barney Fife on the Andy Griffith's Show famously carried a Colt Police Positive (along with a single bullet in his shirt pocket). The Police Positive was made of carbon steel and was finished with a polished blue or nickel plate. The 1st issue of the Police Positive ran from the revolver’s introduction in 1907 until 1927 and featured barrel lengths ranging from 2.5 inches (.32 caliber only) to 4, 5, and 6 inches. Chambering was available in .32 Long Colt (which would also fit the .32 Short Colt), .32 Colt New Police, and .38. Originally offered with Colt's hard rubber grips, checkered walnut grips became standard after 1923. The Second issue began in 1928 and ran until 1947, adding a somewhat heavier frame as well as a serrated top strap to reduce sight glare. Both of Colt's “New Police” rounds were actually slight redesigns of existing S&W cartridges, the .32 S&W Long and .38 S&W with the bullet noses flattened as Colt resisted providing its main competitor with any free advertising. Colt's Positive Lock safety, the innovation responsible for the gun's introduction, functioned by preventing the firing pin from striking the primer of the cartridge unless the trigger was deliberately pulled. Intended to address deficiencies of earlier models such as the Single Action Army, the Positive Lock prevented an accidental discharge even if the hammer was struck or the pistol was dropped, allowing the revolver to be safely carried with all six chambers loaded. The revolver’s sights consisted of a half-moon blade front with a fixed iron open rear sight, which was a simple V-notch shaped groove milled into the revolver’s top strap. Variants of the pistol include the Police Positive Target and the Police Positive Special. The Police Positive Target featured .22 LR and .22 WRF chambering, adjustable sights, and a six inch barrel and was available from 1910 to 1925 (1st issue) and 1926 to 1941 (2nd issue). The Police Positive Special version boasted a slightly lengthened cylinder and an elongated and strengthened frame to allow the chambering of the .32-20 Winchester and .38 special cartridges.
Franzite GripsSports, Inc made numerous Franzite Grips for the Colt Police Postive, Colt Police Positive Target, and Colt Police Positive Special. Design types included faux ivory, walnut, and stag horn grips. Shown below are the stag horn Colt Police Positive Revolver Standard Grips with narrow butt 1 - 9/16 inches (Item 36-S), Colt Police Positive Special model grips (Item 38-S) and Colt Police Positive Target grips in Faux Walnut (Item 39).
|