Make: Colt

Model: Police Positive Target, G-Model

Serial Number: 16730

Year of Manufacture: 1919

Caliber: .22 WRF (NOT .22 Long Rifle)

Action Type: Single/Double Action Swing-Out Cylinder Revolver

Barrel Length: 6"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade pinned to a slotted base fixed to the front of the barrel, adjustable for elevation. The adjustment screw for the front sight is missing. The rear sight is a "U"-notch dovetailed to the topstrap, adjustable for windage.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece smooth walnut. The grips have scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. Overall, the grips are in Very Good condition as not original to the gun.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Refinished

Bore Condition: The bore has been sleeved. The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore, but there is some tool chatter. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 8+/10 as re-bored.

Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 90% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. There are several scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches with a few spots of minor oxidation. There is a spot of wear on the right-rear of the barrel at the frame. There is infrequent minor erosion under the finish with more notable erosion on the front face of the cylinder. There are tool marks on the face of the muzzle and forcing cone. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings range from clear to worn and incomplete. Overall, this revolver is in Good-plus condition as refinished and re-bored.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: The Colt Police Positive was an evolution of the New Police revolvers. It was made during the same span of time as the Police Positive Special except that the Special had a longer cylinder for the .38 Special cartridges and had a slightly longer frame to hold it. This Police Positive Target revolver was made in 1919, an earlier G-model chambered in .22 Winchester Rimfire. The Target Model has adjustable rear and front sights and a matte finish on the topstrap to reduce glare.

The .22 WRF was awkwardly introduced as a more powerful .22 rimfire cartridge just at the end of the black powder era. The introduction of smokeless powder saw high-velocity loadings of the .22 Long Rifle cartridge surpass the performance of the .22 WRF, rendering it obsolescent almost as soon as it came on the market. Despite this, there are some ammunition manufacturers who still make limited runs from time to time.

This G-model Police Positive Target appears to have been someone's favorite, having not only had a new finish applied and custom stocks installed, but the bore was sleeved at some point in the last 100 years, breathing new life into an old classic. It is in Good-plus condition as refinished and re-bored, showing its age but retaining good mechanics. While this may interest the Colt collectors, it should also still make for a fun plinker or a prime candidate for restoration. Please see our photos and good luck!