Colt revolver

[Bad_Bowtie]

Just picked up a new toy. Colt police positive special 32-20. Serial # 2339xx. Any of you guys know any history on these guns? Thought it was a interesting piece and the the price was cheap enough. Figured it would make good trade fodder or a Christmas gift for ol dad.

[Jimbo100]

Some general information. Colt Police Positive - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Police_Positive_Special

I also like the Colt Forum. Colt Forum

Edited December 16, 2011 by Jimbo100

[dlm37015]

wait till you shoot it it is very loud

[nightrunner]

The round is ballistically virtually equal to. 327mag

[leroy]

Bad:___________

Congratulation on your Colt 32-20. The 32-20 was originally a black powder cartridge that both smith and colt built revolvers for. The 32-20 was (...and is...) a bottle neck rifle cartridge (...looks like a 44-40, only smaller...). Colt also built single action armies in 32-20 to go along with rifles. In the early days (...late 1800 to 1930's or so...) the 32-20 was quite popular. Loaded in both black powder and smokeless. They are accurate (...if the barrel is good...) and powerful.

As others have said; the report is very loud. I would have a gunsmith buddy take a look at it, and if it is in good mechanical condition and the barrel is good, it will make a good shooter with sensible loads. I would check the S/N, but yours looks to be a later one; because it doesn't have the "dog leg' cylinder latch. Now days folks think you need a super deluxe large capacity multi shooter with a large caliber --- at least 9 mm. In the "old days" lots of folks carried and used 32 caliber handguns. The 32-20 was the most powerful of the lot. They evidently fell out of favor when the 38 special caught hold with the police and LE establishment. The 357 mag was introduced in 1935 (...i think...) along with the colt 38 super in the 1911; that finished off the 32 as a powerful "high velocity" loading.

There was a time when colt and smith and wesson battled fiercely for police contracts. The Colt Police Positive was Colt's answer to the great Smith Military and Police models. By the way, smith also built the 32-20 on the military and police frame.

There is probably some interesting reading on these colt models on the Colt Forum.

Enjoy!

leroy

Edited December 18, 2011 by leroy

[Bad_Bowtie]

Thancks guys, according to the serial # it was born in 1921. Im a hi cap auto fan but these old revolvers are just cool. May hafta clear a place in the safe for it to live next to the autos.

[Guest Scramasax]

Cool guns. You need a couple more wheelguns to keep the new fangled autos in line:D. You might look for a Winchester 92 in the ame caliber. It would make a great set for fun.

Cheers,

ts