Colt Police Positive 38 Special
I recently acquired a Colt Police Positive 38 Special. It has a serial number and was wondering if anyone could tell me if you know how I can tell what year this gun is???? It is a snub nose. Is there a site where I can enter the serial number and get the year it was made?
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I would like to know if anyone can tell me where I might find out how old my gun is? I was wondering if there is a place I might input the serial number to find this information out? There is no date on the gun as far as I can see. I do believe it is old. This is a snub nose. 0 -
A complete description of the markings and their locations and the serial number will allow me to tell you when it was made. Also, barrel length, (Measured from the front of the cylinder to the end of the muzzle. Suspect this might be the forerunner of the Detective Special from your description. You can use "X's" for the last two or three digits of the serial number if so inclined..........
I Miss The World I Grew Up In!0 -
Thank you for the response to my question, I am new at this and did not see this response. The following is the information you ask for: Serial number 134854. Measurement from frount of cylinder to end of muzzle is 2 1/2 inches The words Police Positive 38 Special is on the gun barrel there is just behind the cylinder and before the handle, a horse with and arrow in its mouth and between its frount legs. Also the handle is wooden and at the top of the handle on either side, is smaller than a dime the same horse. **In you asking me to look the gun over for markings I found something that answers my question. Right on top of the barrel just behind the sight is \ OT USA July 4,1905. I assume that means it was made in 1905 am I correct in my assumption? Thanks in advance.
quote:Originally posted by RancheroPaul
A complete description of the markings and their locations and the serial number will allow me to tell you when it was made. Also, barrel length, (Measured from the front of the cylinder to the end of the muzzle. Suspect this might be the forerunner of the Detective Special from your description. You can use "X's" for the last two or three digits of the serial number if so inclined..........
I Miss The World I Grew Up In!0 -
According to the Serial Number, your gun was made in 1916. The marking you talk about, (OT USA July 4, 1905), would be the last Patent date shown on a gun made in 1916.
On the Top of the Barrel there should be two lines of lettering. It would appear like the following:
COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG.CO. HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A.
PAT'D AUG. 5, 1884 JUNE 5, 1900 JULY 4, 1905
It should appear just this way. If the Barrel was "cut off" at some time in the gun's life, its possible some of the lettering as shown above would have went with the original muzzle end piece. It is not uncommon to find these guns and find them with cut off barrels. They weren't extremely expensive, many were made over the years, and it was easier to cut one off than to "factory order" one with the barrel length you wanted. If you don't have all the lettering as described above, yours has been cut off.
Your gun would be of too early manufacture to be a "forerunner of the Dectective Special." These 2 inch barrelled Police Positive Specials were made in 1928 and only a few of them made making them extremely rare! Hope this helps! If you need more info, ask the question and I'll try to help........Enjoy
I Miss The World I Grew Up In!0 -
Thank You for your information. Now that you have brought that to my attention I can make out 1900 and I see some lettering under the site but it is not legible. Again thank you! 0 -
You're Very Welcome! The fact there is some lettering "under the sight" pretty much confirms it was cut off. The sight would have been installed into the muzzle end of the remaining barrel. Normally, there would be no lettering "Under" the sight.....it would begin behind the sight. Anyway, it should still be a very nice and handy "carry gun" and should shoot great! These are good guns!
I Miss The World I Grew Up In!0
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