Colt Police Positive Value?

[keith1911]

This revolver belongs to my parents neighbor and it is definitely not for sale as it belonged to his wife's grandfather.

Supposedly it has never been fired, and it looks that way based on the condition. The front of the cylinder barely has marks on it, maybe only from the factory test firing. From what we can tell it was made in 1909. So two questions, what would be the value in it's present state, probably never been fired, with no box or papers? If he were to fire it occasionally how much would the value be lowered?

Thank you.

[SkyHawk]

If it has not been fired and it gets fired, the value will drop markedly.

What does the breech face / inside of the recoil shield look like? If it has not been fired save for maybe at the factory, it should not have any impressions of case head.

Also, what does the forcing cone look like and the area on top of the forcing cone, between the forcing cone and frame top strap? And what does the top strap look like in the cylinder / barrel gap area?

If it has been fired much you would see leading and/or carbon build up, and the top strap would also have some flame erosion.

I don't know what the value is if it is unfired, but suffice to say it is a lot

[sfe187]

Gun show prices range $300-$400 for a shooter, unfire and no box just add few percent more. Some calibers are hard to find ammo in CA so price accordingly. Snub brings a bit more. But in general PP are dime a dozen, not much monitory value more family value.

[ronrichards64]

My vote is 500$ . The grips are 200$ on their own . Do not shoot it if you don’t want the value to go down.

[Turbinator]

Nice - I have one of these (pictured elsewhere in this forum). Unlike yours, my copy is well used. Chambered in .38 special. Also likely from the same time period / era as yours. I never found these to be particularly desirable from a collectors standpoint, as mentioned, probably means more as a family heirloom / pass down.

Turby

[SkyHawk]

This one with no finish left went for $450 + ship and tax

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/940624317

It is hard to find a comp for an unfired one of that vintage, because that would be a very rare thing. Likely though, it would be worth well more than "a few percent" above a shooter.

Prices are all over the map but some late model unfired examples have gone over $1500. Scroll through all the pages here

https://truegunvalue.com/pistol/colt/police-positive-special/price-historical-value-196

[oddjob]

I would ask on the Coltforum. Proofhouse says 1923 birthdate. I think the "1909" is the model. Nice revolver!

[Ducky's Dad]

Anyone here know the differences, other than nomenclature, between the Police Positive and the Colt 1917 Army Special, both chambered in .38 Special?

[2761377]

^^^

Police Positive is on the "D" frame, also Detective Special.

Army Special (aka Official Police) is on the "E" frame, from which the "I" frame Python was developed.

[Ducky's Dad]

Thanks. I have an Army Special that was a total beater when I found it, so I had it lightly polished and blued (it was truly a beater). It's a great gun for plinking and I am surprisingly accurate (for me) with it.

[Wyatt Burp]

[sfe187]

It is hard to find a comp for an unfired one of that vintage, because that would be a very rare thing. Likely though, it would be worth well more than "a few percent" above a shooter.

You are not wrong. However in my few percent argument, Op doesn't have the original box and papers, no letter, gun in that condition usually most likely refinish. OP's picture are not high res. a Original NOS with original box and papers and letter sure they can command 1K-$2k but its most highly unlikely. If OP wants to go down that road, get the letter, verify by Colt experts to verify finish, invest in time period box and papers. then maybe he can try to command the rare top dollars. But post on a local forum claiming its a "unfired" is not gonna work for me at least. remember everyone always has a "unfired" gun out there. Also nothing special on the barrel or caliber. Run of the mill gun. Family value is priceless

My assessment stands few percent above $300-$400 (for me).

[SVT-40]

It's been fired quite a bit. In the third pic you can see the gas ring around the firing pin hole.

This ring occurs because gas leaks out around the primer at the time of firing. This gas "tattoos" the back of the frame around the hole for the firing pin leaving a very distinct ring.

It's still a excellent condition revolver. Just well taken care of, not unfired.