Colt Police Positive Special First Issue .32-20 WCF, 4-inch Blued DA/SA Revolver (1922)
This 1922 Colt Police Positive Special First Issue is a six-shot, small D-frame revolver chambered in .32-20 WCF with a 4-inch barrel and a blued finish. It combines Colt’s Positive Lock safety with classic first-issue identifiers, including black hard-rubber "COLT" grips and a smooth topstrap. The revolver retains the fixed sight layout and period-correct markings that matter to collectors and informed buyers.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good condition, showing some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling - Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: The cylinder shows some play when the hammer is locked. The finish displays wear and scratches consistent with its age. The bore is clean and in good shape.
What's Included
- Colt Police Positive Special First Issue .32-20 revolver with 4-inch barrel
The First Issue configuration is identifiable by its black hard-rubber "COLT" grips with a fleur-de-lis motif and its smooth (unserrated) topstrap. This example follows the small D-frame pattern with a fluted six-shot cylinder and fixed sights, aligning with the early production features collectors look for.
Chambered in the rifle-origin .32-20 WCF, the barrel is correctly marked "POLICE POSITIVE SPECIAL 32-20 W.C.F." to clearly indicate the chambering. The 4-inch barrel length provides the classic Police Positive Special balance and profile.
Controls and features include a double-action/single-action system, an exposed spurred hammer, and Colt’s Positive Lock hammer block safety. The revolver retains its period-correct checkered cylinder latch, checkered hammer spur, and an unshrouded ejector rod with a knurled tip.
Built in the United States in 1922, it features carbon steel construction with a blued finish on the frame, cylinder, and barrel. The sighting setup is traditional for the model: a half-moon front blade paired with a square-notch rear cut into the topstrap. The Police Positive Special is historically connected to the lineage that later led to the Detective Special.