[robba]

Picked up 2 revolvers at a Florida gun show over the weekend. I would appreciate any info from forum folks that might help us with values, and your perceived rarity of these Colt revolvers.

First if a Colt New Police 32. Ser.#344xx, patent dates August 5, 1884 & June 5 1906. It is about 95%, bluing wear on each side of muzzle, and a little on bottem of crane. Must have been carried by someone in a holster for a long time. Bottem of grip frame has C.P.D. The guy who sold it to us said it was sold to the Chicago Police Dept. as an issue sidearm. Grips are brown/olive colored plastic. Paid $225 for it. Any ideas of value and rarity? Also year made please.

Second is a Officers Model Special, 38 Special Ctg. on 6" barrel. Long 2-5/16" front sight ramp, and rear sight adjusts for windage, and elevation. Brown plastic grips. It is about 95%, and looks like it may have been a police sidearm. Action has been worked on by a professional. Paid $330. Again would appreciate approx. value, rarity, and year made.

We buy guns we like, and hold on to them. These were interesting for their obvious age, and we can shoot them, more the 38 than the 32. Thanks much, Robba

 

[robba]

Serial # for Officers Model Special 38 is 783xxx. Sorry forgot that. Robba

 

[SEBCo]

Hey Robba,

I'll jump in on the OMS. Looks like it was made the first year of production (1949). The OMS was run 1949 to 1952 and according to Wilson there were 6,210 produced. Sounds like you have the correct "Coltmaster" plastic stocks. These are great shooters.

There are others here who know a boatload about the New Police, I'm not one of them however.

Scott

 

[lonewolf]

Robba;since SEBco did a great job on the Officers Model,I will jump in on the New Police,as I used to own a couple,before the "Great Purge"of my smaller framed Colts(all but 3) and S&Ws(all). Your gun was made in 1906,and the first thing I would check is WHAT .32 cartridge it is chambered for. Hopefully,it is in .32 S&W Long,or as Colt termed it,.32 New Police. Some of these were for the ."32 Colt,long and short",and a .32 S&W is too fat for the chambers. While .32 Colts are still available,they are inside lubed and the .299 diameter bullet doesnt give the accuracy in the larger bore,that the older outside lubed heel bullet did.

What is the barrel length? Probably 4" as this was most common for police departments. I had a 6",fixed sighted in the old .32 Colt,and a 6" New Police target in the .32 S&W long,which was very accurate,and had been a "woods loafers" companion in a flap holster for many a year,so was only around 95%,but a collector,wanted it,and had a nice 44/40 New Service,so a straight swap was done!

Is the frame marked New Police? and is the trigger guard indented from the frame! Around 1906-1908,Colt switched to the Police Positive,and used up parts,and some of the "New Police" guns gave the later trigger guard,that are flush with the frame size,and yet marked New Police.

Finally,according to Wilson and Sutherland,book, the "C.P.D." marking is for the Cincinati(Ohio) Police Dept. The ones marked for the N.Y.C.P.D. are the most sought after,due to "Police Commisioner",Teddy Roosevelt,chosing the gun as standard issue vs. the motely collection of crap(some cap and ball!) that N.Y.P.D.were issued and/or allowed to carry in 1896.

Depending on the condtion,stocks etc.this New Police of yours is a valuable piece,certainly worth the $225 you paid for it IMO.

Oh,some of the older black Colt hard rubber stocks)bakelite or gutta percha,will turn color to the brown/olive shade you describe;I've had 2 New Services that have had this color change. Hope this helps. Bud

 

[robba]

Hi Bud: Thanks much for the very thorough critiqe on the Colt 32 Police. It does have a 4" barrel, and fixed sights. The barrel is marked "COLT NEW POLICE 32", so it is chambered for the 32 S&W Long, and the frame is marked "COLT'S NEW POLICE" in a circle. The grips are 100%, but are that strange faded brownish/olive color. The trigger guard is indented from the frame. Its kind of funny that my son said as we were walking away after buying it that the "C" might even be for Cincinnati. The bore by the way looks great, with no hint of pitting. It's obvious to me that this revolver was carried for many years by someone; probably a law officer who took care of it, and depended on it to protect his life if necessary. It is in my opinion about 95% or a little better. For a gun that has been around for almost a century, I don't think you can find a better one, except a NIB if one exists.

Speaking of NIB, for some reason most Florida guns at shows, and stores do not have boxes. Somehow on the way down from up north they get lost along the way. My son, and I must go through gun show much differently than most folks. We are looking for older revolvers that are mostly 98% to collect and shoot. Lets face it, we try to buy wisely with an eye on the gun, and on how well it would resell should we want to dispost of it. Again thanks much for the info, and we welcome any other comments you might have. Best regards, Robba

 

[lonewolf]

You are welcome,Robba,and thats the way I go through a Gun Show also,but with "P.C." sadly getting to us up here in Maine,gun shows are not what they were 10-15 years ago,in both the number of them,and their quality.So my last acquisitons,over a year and a half, have been through gunshops and 1 private sale. But the "pickins have been slim",especially since a dealer/friend,who traveled the show circuit east of Miss. River passed away. He was always looking for the type of gun you describe for me,and many of my "best shooters" in both Colt and S&W modes came via him,as the "serious collectors" wanted the NIB stuff!

Glad the New Police is in .32 S&W long,so ammo won't be a problem. Those pre W.W. One Colts have that great bluing that was "lost" after 1917,or so. That rear sight "groove" is real shallow,and the front blade thin on those New Polices;for "young eyes" or a great set of trifocals!

Am glad the great Colts are still out there at reasonable prices,and that they have found appreciative and caring owners with your family.

Bud