Police Positive .22

[bumbazine]

Let me start by admitting that I know next to nothing about Colt revolvers. i wouldn't even have found this forum if a Pocket Hammerless .32 hadn't followed me home last year. Please forgive my ignorance.

Anyway, I bought this revolver from one of my LGS last week. I've been looking for a good DA .22 revolver for some time and this one seems to be mechanically very good, but I have a question or two that maybe you can help me with.

First, some pics.
P1010068a.jpgP1010072a.jpgP1010073a.jpgP1010078a.jpgp1010079a.jpg
I guess you can only upload 5 pics. Sorry. I'm also sorry about the quality of the pictures. i worked in hi-tech for 30 years and still can't make a digital camera do what I want it to.

What you can't see from these pictures;
The rear sight is also adjustable for windage, and is held in place by a screw.
There is a triangle with a V inside it on the front of the trigger guard on the left side.
The bore is very clean with good grooves, but it has obviously been shot a good bit.
The gap between the cylinder and the barrel is very small and consistantly so.

My first question: the serial number inside the crane is four digits, which made me think it was made around 1910, but on the top of the barrel is stamped "COLT'S PT F. A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CT. USA PAT'D AUG. 5, 1884, JULY 4 1905, OCT 5, 1926. Can anyone make a guesstimate as to it's actual birthdate?

Secondly, I'm pretty sure this revolver was re-blued some time ago. For one thing, the sides of the hammer are blued, and I don't think they would be. There are also some dings and scratches and what look to me like file marks that appear to have been blued over. Does anybody have any opinions on that? It isn't a deal-breaker for me either way as I bought this gun to shoot, not as an investment.

Thirdly, is the grip frame the same size for all the different caliber Police Positives? What I'm asking is; if I saw a set of grips that just said 'Police Positive', would they fit a .22?

Lastly, is it alright to dry fire this particular .22? There are no marks on the cylinder from the firing pin and I would think there would be by this time.

BTW, I paid $299.00 for this little guy. I don't know if that's good or bad, but I'm happy to have him. Unfortunately I probably won't get to the range again until after New Years to see how he shoots.

[bayouboy]

Your gun is a known as a Police Positive Target. The target models were Colt's premium line of guns at the time. Although only marked "22" your gun will shoot 22lr ammo. I have some of these little guns they are are great shooters and an absolute blast for plinking.

To answer some of your questions, it has certainly been reblued. From your photos, one can see old pitting which was not poished out under the finish. I would agree with the 1910 date, the stylized "C" logo around the Rampant Colt stamp on the sideplate was only used until 1913 or so. My best explanation of the 1926 barrel date would be that it was rebarelled at some time , perhaps when it was reblued.

As to the grips, your gun has what is known as the small (narrow) grip frame. Colt used two different frame sizes on the Police Positive. Original grips in good condition are selling for well north of $100 on ebay. There is a company which makes reproductions (Vintage Gun Grips) but they sell for close to $50 with shipping and the quality is not very good.

I have never had a problem with dry firing my 22s.

I think the price you paid was fair considering the condition of the gun. As I said, the PPT 22s are an absolute blast. I seldom go to the range without bringing one. Hope you get to enjoy it!

[Colt75]

The frame size is commonly called the "G Frame." Gotta love the "stylized C" around the Colt. For $299 I would say you got a nice Colt shooter for a good price. I think these are really slick little Colt DA .22s They were Colts first swing-out cylinder DA .22 Rimfire revolver. You are going to really enjoy this little Colt.

[broknaxl]

I think you did pretty good at that price. These are usually quite accurate and fun to shoot. Another giveaway on it being refinished is that the sides of the hammer are blued. Colt left the sides polished shiney and bright !!

[msheak]

I have a very simular colt .22 except that mine came with colt mother-of pearl grips, and has a king rear sight. I carry it quite often for plinking and pest control. I would not advise dry firing since there is no hammer block, and you might run the risk of peening the chambers. A friend of mine did that with a diamondback .22 some time back.