Colt 1903 - 1941 Police Officers & Target Revolvers

Page Two of Police revolvers

SN 182277

Colt Police Positive .38 AM. RY. EXP (1928) 4 in. bbl.

1928 Catalog

The Police Positive .38 succeeded the Colt Lightening M1877.  This is a Second Model Police Positive .38, smooth trigger, with the silver medallion Rampant Colt, checkered wood grips ,and a 4 in. bbl.  Six shot flute cylinder, bright blue finish and clearly marked AM. RWY. EXP. for the 'American Railway Express' on the grip strap.  The serial number 182277 shows a mfg. date of 1928, consistent with the factory letter.  The last patent date is 1926.

Correct maroon box and additional images

Extensive display of all Railway Express Colts in this collection

Railway Express accessories, badges, pocket-watches

Email from Colt Archives regarding 'Co'

SN 552126

Colt Official Police Model .38 (1928) 6 in. bbl. (1 of 3)

1928 catalog

Colt renamed the Army Special in 1927 to the Official Police.  It was the choice of Police departments in New York City and Boston as well as Federal agencies like the FBI and Treasury Department.   Finish on this revolver is blue.  Barrel length is 6".  Caliber is .38 S&W Special.  The square butt, like this example, was standard with optional rounded butts later.   Stocks are checkered walnut with silver Colt medallions, which were used until 1947.  The Pre-War Model shown above was made from 1927 to 1946 and has the rounded "half moon" front sight, checkered hammer and cylinder release.  The serial number 552126 shows a mfg. date of 1928 which is confirmed by the factory letter.  The final patent date is 1926. 

Additional images and the correct factory maroon box

SN 227677

Colt Police Positive .32 Police Ctg (1926) 4 in. bbl.

1929 Catalog

This First Issue (1926) Colt Police Positive is bright blue.  The cylinder is 1/4" shorter than the Police Positive Special.  Grips were hard black rubber from 1907 to 1927, but this one has checkered walnut with silver medallions, so the frame may have be made earlier than the factory letter indicates it was shipped with the checkered walnut grips.  Barrel length is 4".  Caliber is.32 Police CTG.

The left side of the barrel of this revolver is marked 'Police Positive, .32 Police ctg., with a final patent date of 1905.   The front sight is the standard half-circle.  The serial number on the factory letter for 227677 shows a shipping date of 1926 and it was shipped to Schenectady, N.Y.

Additional images and the correct factory maroon box

Revolver shipped to: J. A. Rickard Co., Schenectady, N.Y.

SN 1262

Colt 'Camp Perry' Target Pistol .22LR (1929) 10 in. bbl.

1929 catalog

The 'Camp Perry, a special one-of-a-kind target pistol was introduced in 1926 based on the Colt Police Model Target revolver.  The Camp Perry was a double action frame fitted with a single shot flat block and barrel in place of the cylinder.  Production was from 1926 to 1941, and was used in slow fire matches.  Camp Perry models were available only in blue finish and .22LR.  This model was created by modifying the Police Model frame to accept a special flat single shot "cylinder".  Colt named this model after the site of the U.S. Target Competition held annually at Camp Perry, Ohio. Standard "CAMP PERRY MODEL" is stamped on the left side of the "cylinder".

Two line address/patent dates on top of the barrel and caliber on the left side. Adjustable front blade and rear sights. Flat top frame and checkered grips with Colt medallions. Only 2,525 Camp Perry pistols were manufactured. The first models, like this one, were made with a 10 inch barrel, but in 1934 the barrel was shortened to 8 inches.  The serial number 1262 of this pistol  shows a mfg. date of 1929 and the factory letter verifies that date.

Camp Perry .22 wood cartridge box

SN 37057

Colt Police Positive Target .22 (1929) 6 in. bbl. (1 of 4)

1929 catalog

The Police Positive was an improved version of the New Police with the Colt's "Positive Safety" feature.   It was produced from 1907 to 1947.  The Police Positive Target, above is a Second Issue which was similar to the First Issue with a heavier frame.  Finish is bright blue.  This model was produced from 1926 to 1941.  Special sights, Partridge front and adjustable rear sights are included, but not called out in the factory letter for the target model.

The set of four .22 target models shown in this collection are all Second Issues with Partridge front sights, checked walnut grips. The one above has a serial number of 37057 and shows a mfg. date of 1929 which is confirmed by the factory letter.   (Note: target models tend to be found in better if not pampered condition because the owners took great care with them due to competitive shooting and not for daily carry.)

Correct maroon box for police positive Special target .22

The matched set of (4) Police Positive Target .22 revolvers

SN 336088

Colt Police Positive .38. RY. EX. AGY. (1930) 4 in. bbl.

1930 catalog

This is the Third Model Police Positive made in 1930 with a silver medallion Rampant Colt, checkered wood grips, a .4 in. bbl., a six shot flute cylinder, bright blue finish, and clearly marked RY.EX.AGY. for the 'Railway Express Agency on the rear grip strap.  Grips are walnut checkered with a silver Colt medallion. Trigger is checkered for first time (1930)

The serial number 336088 shows a mfg. date of 1930, confirmed by the factory letter that shows it was delivered to the Railway Express Agency in care of W. S. Fields in San Francisco, Calif., Feb. 28, 1930 as 1 of 200 in shipment for the Railway Express Agency.  Last patent date is 1926.

Extensive display of all Railway Express Colts in this collection

Railway Express accessories, badges, pocket-watches

SN 396212

Colt Detective Special .38 Special (1931) 2 in. bbl.

1930 catalog

Introduced in 1927, the Detective Special was basically the Police Positive Special with a 2 inch barrel and a 1926 patent date.  This early 1931 model, caliber .38 Special retains the square butt grip frame of the Police Positive Special with a shortened ejector rod. The grip-strap is not checkered. The major difference between the cylinder length of the Banker Special is (1 1/4") and the Detective Special is (1 5/8" ).  The barrel caliber is marked 'Detective .38 Special'.  This is the first issue model made 1927 to 1933.  Note the square butt of the Police Positive Special frame with checkered walnut grips and a silver deep set Colt medallion. The serial number and factory letter for 396212 indicates a mfg. date of 1931. Total production was over 350,000.

Correct (rare) box and additional images for Detective revolver

SN 345051

Colt Bankers' Special .38, (1931)  2" bbl.

1931 catalog

The Banker's Special was made from 1926 until 1940.  It was basically a Police Positive fitted with a 2 inch barrel.  Starting in 1926 it was made with a square butt, like this example,  then from 1933 to 1940 with a round butt.  The Banker's Special was  a smaller, lower powered alternative, using the (shorter) 38 WCF cartridge, compared to the Detective Special's ,38 Special.

The major difference between the cylinder length of the Banker Special is (1 1/4") and the Detective Special is (1 5/8" ). It was only sold with a 2 inch bbl. in .22LR or .38 Colt New Police (.38 S&W).  Finish is blue on this revolver.  Grips are walnut checkered with a silver Colt medallion.  The grip strap is not checked.  The serial number 345051 shows a mfg. date of 1931 from Colt's archive letter and the serial number listing.  The last patent date on the barrel is 1926.  Total production was about 35,000.

SN 333022

Colt 'Shooting Master' Target .38 (1931) 6 in. bbl.

The Colt Shooting Master is a high-grade Target version of the New Service revolver.  It comes with a flat top frame, adjustable target front and rear sights, a checkered trigger and back strap.  The above 1931 version has a square butt which was discontinued after 1931.  The barrel length is 6" and the grips are checkered walnut with silver medallions. 

This example is a .38 Special.  The serial number is 333022 as is confirmed by the factory letter.  The serial number 333022 indicates a mfg. date of 1931. (For box info, see Mullin's book, p. 238, requires a maroon box with black label.)

Correct box needed for this revolver

SN 406192

Colt Police Positive .38 Special (1933) 5 in. bbl.

1933 catalog

This Second Issue of the Police Positive .38 Special added a grooved top strap to cut glare, smooth walnut stocks were changed to checkered walnut. The trigger is checkered. It was manufactured from 1928 until 1946, per the Colt catalogs. The barrel is marked 'Police Positive .38 Special'.  The serial number 406192 shows a mfg. date of 1933, which is confirmed by the factory letter.  Serial numbers run concurrent with the Banker's Special and can be confusing.  The serial numbers for this gun are confirmed by Colt's list and Colt Archive factory letter.

Correct Police Positive Special maroon box

SN 39541

Colt Police Positive Target .22 (1933) 6 in. bbl. (2 of 4)

1933 catalog

The Police Positive Target, Second Issue, was made from 1926 to 1941.  The four .22 target models shown here are all Second Issues with Partridge sights and walnut checkered grips. The serial number 39541 shows a mfg. date of 1933 which is confirmed by the factory letter.  The final patent date is 1926. (Note: target models tend to be found in better if not pampered condition because the owners took great care with them due to competitive shooting and not for daily carry.)

Maroon box for police positive target needed

The matched set of (4) PPT .22 revolvers

Revolver shipped to: Shapleigh Hardware Co. 1933

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