Colt Police Positive Special First Issue .38 Special N.O.P.D.-Marked Revolver, 4-Inch, Blued, 6-Shot (1920)
This Colt Police Positive Special First Issue is a documented New Orleans Police Department service revolver, property-stamped "N.O.P.D. No. 153" on the butt. The low inventory number aligns with a bulk factory order and narrows production and delivery to roughly 1920, placing this revolver on duty at the start of the Prohibition era in New Orleans. It retains its factory blued finish, 4-inch barrel, and black checkered hard-rubber COLT grips, and it comes with its original box plus a period Colt advertising card.
Built on Colt's D-frame with a 6-shot cylinder, this double-action/single-action service revolver features the Colt Positive Lock internal hammer block safety, an unshrouded ejector rod, fixed iron sights (half-moon front and topstrap notch rear), and a checkered cylinder release latch. Markings include the Rampant Colt logo on the left frame, "POLICE .38 SPECIAL" on the barrel, and Colt address/patent text on the top of the barrel. The municipal property stamp and First Issue configuration (pre-1928) define it as an early, purpose-built service sidearm.
The N.O.P.D. property number "No. 153" indicates issuance from one of the department's first modern, sequentially numbered batches, consistent with a bulk procurement. That sequence, together with the 1920 manufacture date, ties this revolver to the earliest days of Prohibition enforcement in the city.
Constructed with carbon steel barrel, frame, and cylinder, the revolver wears a polished factory blued finish and black checkered hard-rubber COLT grips. It remains in safe operating condition, and the bore shows strong, distinct rifling with lands that remain sharp.
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 revolver is in safe, functioning working condition. Wear is present on working surfaces, with no broken parts and no corrosion or pitting that interferes with its mechanism. Some rust is present. Rifling remains strong and distinct throughout the length of the barrel. Light frosting is evident in the grooves, while the lands remain sharp.
What’s Included
- Original box
- Colt's Revolvers advertising card (World's 20-Yard Record)
This First Issue Police Positive Special reflects Colt's early 20th-century service standards with its compact D-frame, reliable DA/SA action, and Positive Lock safety system. The fixed half-moon front sight and topstrap notch rear provide a durable, snag-resistant sighting setup suited to duty carry.
The N.O.P.D. property stamp "No. 153" on the butt, combined with the department's sequential numbering practices, supports its identification as part of an initial shipment of modern service revolvers. That provenance, coupled with the 1920 manufacture date, anchors its place in the Prohibition-era history of New Orleans law enforcement.
Factory markings include the Rampant Colt logo on the frame, "POLICE .38 SPECIAL" on the barrel, and Colt address/patent text along the top. The revolver retains its polished blued finish, unshrouded ejector rod, checkered cylinder release latch, and black checkered hard-rubber COLT grips.
Built in the United States with carbon steel throughout the barrel, frame, and cylinder, this 4-inch, 6-shot revolver remains mechanically sound, with a bore that shows sharp lands and well-defined grooves.