1977 Colt Police Positive .38 Special NIB

[Blackjack33]

I recently bought this Police Positive NIB. Manufacture date is 1977 according to the s/n, which is around 45000M, and the matching numbered box. Notice the exposed ejector. Then I saw this July, 1977 Field & Stream magazine ad on ebay for the "New" Colt Police Positive with shrouded ejector. Both my revolver and the ad show identical grips, which I have been led to believe also came into being in 1977 (same time they added the ejector rod shroud?). I have several questions:
1. Is there is any way to find out at what number in 1977 Colt switched this model to the shrouded ejector.
2. I wonder why Colt would bring out this "new" PP in 1977 and then discontinue the model in 1978?
3. Did they also change the front sight in 1977, as shown in the two photos?
4. Proofhouse shows that there were two serial number ranges in 1972 through 1977. It looks like they numbered guns up to about 60,000 each year then started over with a new number-letter series. Why did Colt switch to a new numbering scheme in the years 1972 through 1977 after reaching the magic number 60,000?

Thanks for any answers.
1977 Colt Police Positive #1 (640x480).jpgColt PP Ad (101x140).jpg

[smkummer]

I have a 1972 catalog that lists the police positive special(I don't have a 1973) but is not listed in the 74 catalog. Since the PPS is just a longer barreled detective special I am sure guns were still being made if an order came in and barrels were available. Colt has done this in the past and even more recient. I am guessing Colt used its supply of thin barrels prior to the heavy barrels. It is interesting that your gun appears to have the later PPS stocks although yours appear to be of the shorter DS length. The 1977 to 78 heavy barrel police positve special while not cataloged was still listed in the 1979 price list. The front sight on the ealier gun was installed in a channel in the barrel. I believe the front sight on a heavy barrel PPS was a protusion when the barrel was produced and never a seperate part. While the heavier barrel and fatter stocks help with control of the smaller D frame gun, I am guessing demand was not there at the time to keep making it. The diamondback now included a 6 in. barrel along with the 2 1/2 and 4, so I am guessing shooters paid the little extra and bought it over the PPS.

[snipershot1944]

While in High School, I worked in the local gun shop in the mid to late 70's. We saw some interesting Colts come out in the small frames. PPS with 3" and 4" pencil barrels, large and small grips, even variations of Cobras with the same barrel lengths and grips. It seemed that Colt was using up all their old parts at that time.