Make: Colt
Model: Official Police (Our Research indicates MPD is for Municipal Police Dept., Boston).
Serial Number: 655241, matching serialized parts
Year of Manufacture: 1941 / ATF Classification: C&R
Caliber/Gauge: .38 Special
Action Type: DA/SA double action and single action 6-shot revolver with swing-out cylinder
Barrel Length: 4"
Sights/Optics: The front sight is a blade with a painted white face fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a square-notch integral to the topstrap. The topstrap is serrated to reduce glare.
Grip/Stock Configuration & Condition: The reproduction grips are two-piece textured hard rubber panels with checkering and a "C" surrounding the stock screw. The grips show very light handling wear, the checkering is still very well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips rate in Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp with light fouling. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 9.5/10.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 80% of its metal finish. The finish shows most of its finish loss on the cylinder and at the muzzle end of the barrel. The remaining finish has moderate handling marks and edge wear. The screw heads on the grips show moderate tooling and retain turnable slots. The bottom of the grip frame is marked "M.P.D. No. 31" indicating it was an officer's service weapon. The markings are clear and complete. Overall, this pistol rates in about Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this firearm. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment: This prewar Colt Official Police revolver, serial number 655241, was manufactured in 1941 and represents one of the last commercial-era service revolvers produced before Colt shifted fully to wartime contracts. Since its introduction in the 1920s, the Official Police had become one of the most widely issued American law-enforcement revolvers, trusted by city, state, and federal agencies for its strength, reliability, and smooth double-action trigger. By the early 1940s, it was firmly established as a benchmark duty revolver in the United States.
Chambered in .38 Special with a 4" barrel, this configuration reflects the classic American police sidearm of the period. The .38 Special cartridge had become the standard law-enforcement round by this time, valued for its accuracy, controllability, and practical effectiveness. The bore rates an excellent 9.5 out of 10, and the action functions correctly, indicating strong mechanical condition beneath its service-worn exterior.
Approximately 80% of the original blued finish remains, with matching numbered parts throughout. The grips are reproductions, while the butt is clearly marked "M.P.D. No. 31", identifying this revolver as likely an officer's issued service weapon and adding a layer of interesting law-enforcement provenance. As a prewar Colt Official Police with likely duty history, this revolver offers a tangible connection to American policing on the eve of World War II.
