The Colt Police Positive Special

Recently, a friend of mine acquired a Colt Police Positive Special, First Issue which was made around 1924. It is distinguished by its Colt Positive Lock hammer block safety; hard rubber grips; narrow, half moon front sight; substantially curved front strap; smooth trigger; and smooth top strap.  Introduced in 1907, it incorporated a longer cylinder and slightly larger frame than its parent, the Police Positive, to accommodate the length and pressure of the .32-20 and .38 Special cartridges which are more powerful alternatives to the .32 Long Colt, .32 Colt New Police (.32 S&W Long), and .38 Colt New Police (.38 S&W). Built on what became known as Colt's D Frame, the petite Police Positive Special weighed just 23 ounces with a four inch barrel. Eleven ounces lighter than its primary competitor, the Smith & Wesson Military and Police Model (later designated the Model 10) it quickly proved popular with police and civilians alike.



The Police Positive Special was produced until 1978 in four distinct variations. The aforementioned First Issue was produced until 1927. The Second Issue (1928-1946) incorporated a serrated top strap, checkered trigger, and walnut grips. The Third Issue (1947-1976) offered improved cylinder retention, a grooved trigger, and a ramped front sight.  The Fourth Issue (1977-1978) featured an ejector rod shroud and a long, serrated front sight.  After a sixteen-year hiatus in production, a fifth variation, the Police Positive Mark V with a fully underlugged barrel and Pachmayr Compac grips, was introduced in 1994 and discontinued in 1995 when Colt retired the venerable D Frame in favor of the less expensive SF Frame.  The lightweight Colt Viper, produced only in 1977, was essentially a Police Positive Special with an alloy frame. Other revolvers that descend from the the D Frame of the Colt Police Positive Special include the superbly finished Diamondback, the snubnosed Detective Special and its cousins the Aircrewman, Agent, Cobra, and Commando Special.

I have always been fond of the Police Positive Special because it is light, pleasant to carry, and offers reasonable stopping power.  Around 1989, I acquired a Third Issue that was made before the "stubby" grip frame was introduced in 1966.  Equipped with a Tyler T-grip, it was controllable, accurate, and reliable.  I successfully shot my first combat course with it and carried it frequently.  This variation remains my favorite because it is aesthetically appealing and the front sight is more visible than the narrow, half-moon shaped ones found on the First and Second Issues.  The Police Positive Special remains viable for defense, just like other service revolvers (Revisiting .38 Special "Service Revolvers"); however, I would not subject the small frame of one of these aging gems to +P loads.  Instead, I would use standard pressure defensive ammunition such as the Federal Nyclad 125 gr. JHP or the Hornady Critical Defense 110 gr. JHP.  Readily available HKS DS-A speedloaders will provide quick reloads for those who use a Colt Police Positive Special for defense.