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Dfariswheel · March 18, 2010, 08:54 PM

The Colt Police Positive was an upgrade of a series of early swing-out cylinder, double action revolvers.
These started with the Colt New Pocket, and were refined as the Pocket Positive, the New Police, and finally the Police Positive.

These guns were made with a short frame and cylinder in various similar, now obsolete cartridges such as the .32 Colt, .32 New Police, .38 New Police, and the .38 S&W.
These guns came in blue or bright nickel and in barrel lengths of 2 1/2", 4", 5" or 6".
Up until 1923 the grips were black, hard "Gutta Percha" rubber with molded-in Colt logos and checkering. After 1923, the grips were checkered walnut with silver Colt medallions.

In 1907, Colt lengthened the cylinder and the frame to make the Police Positive Special.
This longer gun was to allow the use of the new .38 Special cartridge.
The Police Positive Special was also used to make later guns like the Detective Special and the Diamondback.

The Police Positive was extremely popular with police from the early 1900's up to the start of WWII, although production didn't end until 1947.
Over the years, Colt made hundreds of thousands of the Police Positive.

March 18, 2010, 08:54 PM	#3
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	The Colt Police Positive was an upgrade of a series of early swing-out cylinder, double action revolvers. These started with the Colt New Pocket, and were refined as the Pocket Positive, the New Police, and finally the Police Positive. These guns were made with a short frame and cylinder in various similar, now obsolete cartridges such as the .32 Colt, .32 New Police, .38 New Police, and the .38 S&W. These guns came in blue or bright nickel and in barrel lengths of 2 1/2", 4", 5" or 6". Up until 1923 the grips were black, hard "Gutta Percha" rubber with molded-in Colt logos and checkering. After 1923, the grips were checkered walnut with silver Colt medallions. In 1907, Colt lengthened the cylinder and the frame to make the Police Positive Special. This longer gun was to allow the use of the new .38 Special cartridge. The Police Positive Special was also used to make later guns like the Detective Special and the Diamondback. The Police Positive was extremely popular with police from the early 1900's up to the start of WWII, although production didn't end until 1947. Over the years, Colt made hundreds of thousands of the Police Positive.