Police Positive .38 Special
I have a Colt Police Positive with a 6" barrel, serial# 171694, which, I believe puts the date of manufacture as 1926. A couple of questions.
It says .38 Special cartridge, but I assume they mean .38 Smith&Wesson as a regular .38 Special would be too much. Doubt that hey would even fit.
My second question is: There is some "play" sideways in the cylinder. Is that play more apt to come from the cylinder itself (the alighnment slots don't seem to be worn) or would it be the little pin that comes up from the bottom to lock the cylinder? Otherwise, it's in good shape and I would like to shoot it a little.
Thanks, Tom
It says .38 Special cartridge, but I assume they mean .38 Smith&Wesson as a regular .38 Special would be too much. Doubt that hey would even fit.
My second question is: There is some "play" sideways in the cylinder. Is that play more apt to come from the cylinder itself (the alighnment slots don't seem to be worn) or would it be the little pin that comes up from the bottom to lock the cylinder? Otherwise, it's in good shape and I would like to shoot it a little.
Thanks, Tom
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"It says .38 Special cartridge"...........then that's what it is, as to the 'play', probably the 'bolt' or the slot in the frame (the cylinder nothces would show visable wear) 0 -
Thank you Mike. The "bolt", thanks, couldn't remember what that was called. I'm thinking that's what it is. As for the cartridge, I seem to remember reading somewhere that particular cartridge was actually a S&W .38 with a different headstamp, not the more modern day .38 Special. The skinny little pistol just doesn't seem like it would be up to a modern .38 Special.
Thanks, Tom0 -
Sounds like it is really a Police Positive Special to be marked .38 Special.
A Police Positive Special marked .38 Special is a real true .38 Special - they did have ammo loaded with a flat nose bullet in boxes labeled .38 Colt Special but the bullet shape was the only difference from .38 S&W Special and nobody makes the distinction any more.
The .38 Special was as modern as it gets in 1902 when smokeless became standard instead of the black powder it was introduced with in 1899. Pressure for standard ammo is no higher than it ever was. I would not pound the old gun with +P but it should be fine with standard stuff. Sights were meant for 158 grain lead bullets.
Play in the cylinder. Feel it with the hammer all the way down and the trigger held back as though the gun had just been fired. Is the play reduced or absent? If so, you are fine, the Colt final lockup includes the hand holding the cylinder against the bolt. If it is still kind of sloppy, the bolt is likely worn.0 -
It says only:
Police
Positive .38 Special
It doesn't say Police
Positive Special
I just tried to chamber a .38 S&W and it wouldn't go. .38 Special went right in though. I will keep it at standard factory loads. Appreciate all the help.
Thanks, Tom0 -
The .38 S&W is a larger diameter than the .38 special. 0
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