COLT POLICE POSITIVE SPECIAL
"D" FRAME
The Colt Police Positive Special was the Police Positive with a lengthened frame and cylinder to allow using longer, more powerful cartridges like the .38 Special.
The Police Positive Special was the model that Colt would use for all small frame revolvers up until the last of them were discontinued in 1995.
The Police Positive Special and it's various other models were extremely popular with police departments wanting a smaller, lighter revolver that could shoot the powerful .38 Special cartridge.
It was made in various forms from 1907 to 1995.  There were more versions of pistols using the Police Positive Special frame than any other Colt double action revolver.
The Police Positive Special, First Issue was available in bright blue and bright nickel.
Grips were hard black rubber from 1907 to 1923 then checkered walnut with silver medallions after that.
Barrel lengths were 4", 5", and 6".
Calibers were .32-20, .32 New Police, .38 New Police (.38 S&W), and .38 Special.
It was made from 1907 to 1927.
The Police Positive Special, Second Issue, added a grooved top strap to cut glare, and used smooth walnut grips changed to checkered walnut later.
The trigger was checkered for a better grip.
The distance between the rear of the trigger guard and the front of the grip frame was increased to give more room for fingers.
It was made from 1928 until 1946.
The Police Positive Special, Third Issue, was the post-War version with a ramped front sight, the new cylinder retention system, and a grooved trigger.
After the war Colt began assigning letter codes to all pistols.  The small frame models were the Colt "D" frame.
Barrels were 4", 5", and 6", caliber was .38 Special.
It was made from 1947 to 1976.
In the 1950's the square butt was changed to a rounded butt, then in 1966 the full grip frame was shortened to the same "stubby" grip frame as used on the other "D" frame models.  This Police Positive Special used longer grips that overlapped on the bottom of the short frame to give a full grip.