Colt Police Positive
Colt's Manufacturing Company · Revolver · Discontinued · 1908
Also known as: Colt Police Positive Special
Overview
The Colt Police Positive is a six-shot, double-action revolver introduced by Colt for the American law enforcement market. The original Police Positive of 1907 was chambered for short cartridges such as the .32 and .38 Colt New Police; in 1908 the frame and cylinder were lengthened to create the Police Positive Special, which accepted the longer and more powerful .38 Special and .32-20 WCF rounds. Its defining feature was the Colt 'Positive Lock' hammer-block safety, which prevented the hammer from reaching the cartridge primer unless the trigger was fully pulled, giving the model its name. Widely carried by police departments and civilians alike, it became a staple of early- and mid-20th-century American shooting.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 625 g (22.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 229 mm (9.02") |
| Barrel Length | 102 mm (4.02") |
| Action Type | Revolving |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Double Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Cylinder |
| Muzzle Velocity | 290 m/s (951 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 341 J (252 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 45 m (49 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Left Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .38 Special · primary — also known as .38 Spl, .38 S&W Special, 9x29mmR
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Revolver Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Hammer Block Safety
- Features: Positive Lock Hammer Block, Swing Out Cylinder, Fixed Sights, Checkered Grips
Variants
- Colt Detective Special — Snub Nose
Service history
Operators
- New York City Police Department
Production
Estimated total produced: 750,000 · Production years: 1907-1995
More than 750,000 Police Positive and Police Positive Special revolvers were produced over an 88-year run; the .38 Special-capable Police Positive Special appeared in 1908.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Discontinued: 1995
Notes
The .38 Special chambering is the Police Positive Special variant (1908 onward); the base Police Positive of 1907 was limited to shorter .32 and .38 New Police cartridges. Grips were checkered hard rubber until 1924, when checkered walnut became standard. The Detective Special (1926) was a snub-nosed development of the Police Positive Special.
Background
Frequently seen on screen in Depression-era gangster films and film noir, the Colt Police Positive epitomized the American police sidearm of its era and appeared as the very first handgun Ian Fleming gave to James Bond before the better-known Walther PPK.