Colt Police Positive Target First Issue .22 LR Revolver, 6" Barrel, 1913 Production
This early-production Colt Police Positive Target revolver was built in 1913 and carries the four-digit serial number 9983. Chambered in the scarcer .22 Long Rifle cartridge, it represents Colt’s first-issue run of the Police Positive Target series, of which only about 47,000 were produced across all calibers. Its small D-frame, flat topstrap, and adjustable target sights give it the classic pre-WWI target profile collectors look for.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair – shows extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Fair – generally clean with some residue or smudges and slight corrosion.
Bore Rifling: Fair – worn rifling with slight loss of definition.
Specific Condition Notes: Moderate scratching, scuffing, pitting, and blemishing are present on the exterior surfaces.
What’s Included
- Colt Police Positive Target First Issue revolver (.22 LR, 6" barrel)
The pinned, tapered 6-inch carbon-steel barrel bears a pinned Patridge front sight, while the rear sight is fully adjustable for windage and elevation. Together they form the factory target sight package that defined the Police Positive Target line.
Its blued carbon-steel frame, cylinder, and barrel retain the Colt Positive-Lock safety system and double-/single-action trigger group. An exposed, checkered spur hammer allows precise single-action work, while double-action remains smooth and controllable.
Non-factory smooth ivory-tone grips replace the original hard rubber panels, adding a distinctive look without altering handling. The ejector rod wears a small brass-colored knob, an aftermarket addition that differentiates this individual revolver.
As a small D-frame Colt in the less common .22 LR chambering, this first-issue Police Positive Target offers both historical interest and a tangible link to Colt’s pre-WWI target revolver heritage.