Colt Police Positive Cartridge Markings

**Mike Irwin** · March 19, 2013, 09:42 PM

A friend of mine spotted a very nice circa 1935 Colt Police Positive with black rubber grips.

I'm very interested in it, but I'm not exactly sure what cartridge it's chambered for.

The tag says ".32 Police."

I know Colt called the .32 S&W Long the .32 New Police, but I've never heard of a .32 Police cartridge. He can't remember how the barrel was marked, and it doesn't show up on the photo he sent me.

Can anyone verify exactly what cartridge we're talking about?

SIGSHR · March 19, 2013, 09:48 PM

IIRC ".32 Police" in Coltspeak translates to 32 Smith & Wesson. That was Colt's way of avoiding using ("gasp"!) their competitor's name. I have a Police Positive marked ".38 New Police"=.38 S&W in Standard English.

**Mike Irwin** · March 19, 2013, 09:53 PM

The only problem with that is, from what I can tell, the Colt Police Positive was never chambered specifically for the .32 S&W round, only the longer .32 New Police/.32 S&W Long.

James K · March 19, 2013, 09:57 PM

I think whoever made out the tag used a little shorthand.

Jim

**Mike Irwin** · March 20, 2013, 07:11 AM

OK, I found a few clear pictures of caliber markings on Gunbroker. It looks as if Colt marked the guns .32 Police, which I am going to have to assume means .32 Colt New Police.

They also had a second issue Detective Special from about 1960, but I'm not much interested in it.

Magnum Wheel Man · March 20, 2013, 07:31 AM

I suspect you are correct, that it'll take the S&W cases, but, If you happen to get the gun & find it's chambered for the smaller diameter 32 Colt, I have a box of both short & long "Colt" cases, ( I think the long cases are even primed ), that are in my gun show box, that didn't sell at the once a year gun show I sell at... just in case you'd need them

**Mike Irwin** · March 20, 2013, 07:33 AM

thansk for the offer, but if it is chambered for .32 Long Colt I'm not even going to touch it. I don't want to try to get into reloading, or finding reloading components for, such an oddball cartridge.

**Mike Irwin** · March 20, 2013, 10:02 AM

Just got off the phone with the owner of the gunshop where it's located...

I'm picking it up Saturday.

I now own three Colt revolvers...

Magnum Wheel Man · March 20, 2013, 10:05 AM

only 1 colt revolver in my collection so far...

**Mike Irwin** · March 20, 2013, 10:09 AM

I blame Johnny Depp for this newfound appreciation for Colts...

In one scene in Dillinger where he's breaking out of jail, he opens the arms locker and it is just chock full of Colts.

At that moment something went click in my head and I said "I gotta get me some of those!"

Magnum Wheel Man · March 20, 2013, 10:14 AM

fortunately for my wallet my local retired builder buddy doesn't really like Colts, his opinion means a lot to me, so it's saved my wallet...

though it's pretty hard to not start drooling, when you see one of the classic Colt blued guns in nice shape

**Mike Irwin** · March 20, 2013, 11:34 AM

Don't worry.

One of these days your tastes will change just enough that the money flies out...

Magnum Wheel Man · March 20, 2013, 01:24 PM

I noticed you were suggesting those Colt snubbies in my other thread... trying to start me further down that dark path I see

**Mike Irwin** · March 20, 2013, 05:43 PM

As I've learned recently, it's not such a bad path...

Winchester_73 · March 20, 2013, 05:50 PM

Only one Colt? only 3 colts? You guys gotta pick up the pace here! They're not growing on trees, you know. You gotta go out an pan for gold if you want to have it!

Anyways, yes I encountered this same question myself, and I deduced that they abbreviated "32 COLT NEW POLICE" to "32 POLICE". Although for me, I didn't care about firing the gun, I just loved it as a collectible.

The gun below is a scarce "32" (whatever Colt referred to the S&W caliber as), PP target G model from 1911. I remember when I bought it, the guy wasn't exactly hip to it being a target model, so I got for the right price. I remember thinking if only it was in 22lr, it would be perfect BUT when I got home with the gun I found out that the PP target in 32 is very scarce as most are 22lr or 22 WRF.

Here she is, 1911 vintage.

James K · March 20, 2013, 08:38 PM

I checked a Colt Pocket Positive at a remote location (my own safe) and sure enough it is marked

"POCKET
__OSITIVE" and ".32 POLICE CTG." No "new" in sight. But it is clearly chambered for .32 S&W Long.

(I apologize for my poor attempt to show the marking; as usual, the P is two line size and so serves as the first letter of both "Pocket" and "Positive".)

Jim

**Mike Irwin** · March 20, 2013, 08:50 PM

Thanks for the affirmation, Jim.

And yes, only three Colts. I had a Detective Special as a carry gun years ago. A nice 1960s version with a Colt factory hammer shroud. I wish I had kept it, but I couldn't get used to it as a carry gun.

At heart I am, and remain, a Smith & Wesson devotee, and that's never going to change.

I still think Colt's styling and ergonomics are seriously lacking compared to Smiths, but I have begun to appreciate their subtle charms.

I've attached the picture that my friend sent me.

March 19, 2013, 09:42 PM	#1
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	Colt Police Positive Cartridge Markings A friend of mine spotted a very nice circa 1935 Colt Police Positive with black rubber grips. I'm very interested in it, but I'm not exactly sure what cartridge it's chambered for. The tag says ".32 Police." I know Colt called the .32 S&W Long the .32 New Police, but I've never heard of a .32 Police cartridge. He can't remember how the barrel was marked, and it doesn't show up on the photo he sent me. Can anyone verify exactly what cartridge we're talking about? __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 19, 2013, 09:53 PM	#3
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	The only problem with that is, from what I can tell, the Colt Police Positive was never chambered specifically for the .32 S&W round, only the longer .32 New Police/.32 S&W Long. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 20, 2013, 07:11 AM	#5
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	OK, I found a few clear pictures of caliber markings on Gunbroker. It looks as if Colt marked the guns .32 Police, which I am going to have to assume means .32 Colt New Police. They also had a second issue Detective Special from about 1960, but I'm not much interested in it. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 20, 2013, 07:31 AM	#6
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	I suspect you are correct, that it'll take the S&W cases, but, If you happen to get the gun & find it's chambered for the smaller diameter 32 Colt, I have a box of both short & long "Colt" cases, ( I think the long cases are even primed ), that are in my gun show box, that didn't sell at the once a year gun show I sell at... just in case you'd need them __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

March 20, 2013, 07:33 AM	#7
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	thansk for the offer, but if it is chambered for .32 Long Colt I'm not even going to touch it. I don't want to try to get into reloading, or finding reloading components for, such an oddball cartridge. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 19, 2013, 09:48 PM	#2
SIGSHR Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Posts: 4,700	IIRC ".32 Police" in Coltspeak translates to 32 Smith & Wesson. That was Colt's way of avoiding using ("gasp"!) their competitor's name. I have a Police Positive marked ".38 New Police"=.38 S&W in Standard English.

March 19, 2013, 09:57 PM	#4
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I think whoever made out the tag used a little shorthand. Jim

March 20, 2013, 10:02 AM	#8
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	Just got off the phone with the owner of the gunshop where it's located... I'm picking it up Saturday. I now own three Colt revolvers... __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 20, 2013, 10:05 AM	#9
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	only 1 colt revolver in my collection so far... __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

March 20, 2013, 10:09 AM	#10
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	I blame Johnny Depp for this newfound appreciation for Colts... In one scene in Dillinger where he's breaking out of jail, he opens the arms locker and it is just chock full of Colts. At that moment something went click in my head and I said "I gotta get me some of those!" __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 20, 2013, 10:14 AM	#11
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	fortunately for my wallet my local retired builder buddy doesn't really like Colts, his opinion means a lot to me, so it's saved my wallet... though it's pretty hard to not start drooling, when you see one of the classic Colt blued guns in nice shape __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

March 20, 2013, 11:34 AM	#12
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	Don't worry. One of these days your tastes will change just enough that the money flies out... __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 20, 2013, 01:24 PM	#13
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	I noticed you were suggesting those Colt snubbies in my other thread... trying to start me further down that dark path I see __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

March 20, 2013, 05:43 PM	#14
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	As I've learned recently, it's not such a bad path... __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 20, 2013, 05:50 PM	#15
Winchester_73 Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 2,863	Only one Colt? only 3 colts? You guys gotta pick up the pace here! They're not growing on trees, you know. You gotta go out an pan for gold if you want to have it! Anyways, yes I encountered this same question myself, and I deduced that they abbreviated "32 COLT NEW POLICE" to "32 POLICE". Although for me, I didn't care about firing the gun, I just loved it as a collectible. The gun below is a scarce "32" (whatever Colt referred to the S&W caliber as), PP target G model from 1911. I remember when I bought it, the guy wasn't exactly hip to it being a target model, so I got for the right price. I remember thinking if only it was in 22lr, it would be perfect BUT when I got home with the gun I found out that the PP target in 32 is very scarce as most are 22lr or 22 WRF. Here she is, 1911 vintage. __________________ Winchester 73, the TFL user that won the west

March 20, 2013, 08:38 PM	#16
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I checked a Colt Pocket Positive at a remote location (my own safe) and sure enough it is marked "POCKET __OSITIVE" and ".32 POLICE CTG." No "new" in sight. But it is clearly chambered for .32 S&W Long. (I apologize for my poor attempt to show the marking; as usual, the P is two line size and so serves as the first letter of both "Pocket" and "Positive".) Jim

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