The One I Shouldn’t Have Traded
The Colt Police Positive Target .22 LR
Some guns stay with you even after they’re gone.
For me, that’s the Colt Police Positive Target chambered in .22 Long Rifle. Not because it was the fanciest piece I ever owned, or the most powerful, but because it came from my Uncle Bob. He gave it to me when I was a scrawny teenager, just starting to understand the balance between respect and responsibility that firearms demand. I shot my first tin can with that revolver and, later, my first squirrel right through the eye at 15 yards. But like a lot of young men coming back from the service in the late ’60s, I wasn’t thinking about legacy, I was thinking about speed. So, I swapped that old Colt for a box of motorcycle parts and a bottle of Jim Beam somewhere in the back alleys of San Francisco.
I’ve regretted it ever since.
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| Colt Police Positive - Target |
A Bit of Colt History
The Colt Police Positive revolver has a long and storied history. First introduced in 1905, it was designed for the law enforcement market, hence the name. The revolver was chambered in various small calibers .32 and .38 were the most common, and Colt’s marketing pitched it as a lighter, safer alternative to earlier revolvers thanks to their “Positive Lock” safety mechanism, which prevented the hammer from striking the firing pin unless the trigger was deliberately pulled.
By 1910, Colt introduced the Police Positive Target, tailored more for civilian marksmen and competition shooters than beat cops. Chambered in .22 Long Rifle (and sometimes .22 WRF or .32 Police), this model quickly became popular with folks who appreciated fine craftsmanship in a small-bore revolver that was both accurate and affordable to shoot.
Features That Still Hold Up
Now, let me tell you, my old Police Positive Target was a joy to shoot. It had a 6-inch barrel, adjustable sights, and that smooth Colt double-action trigger pull that made you feel like you were working with something built by clockmakers, not factory line hands.
The revolver’s blued finish was deep and rich, the kind of blue that almost looked black in low light but would glint like polished coal in the sun. The wooden grips had the old Colt medallions inset, and after a few summers of sweat and pine sap, they fit my hand like an extension of it.
One of the finest features was the way the cylinder locked up, tight as a bank vault, even after decades of use. These guns weren’t made for running thousands of rounds like today’s semi-autos, but they were built with pride and precision. I could put five shots in a quarter-sized group at 15 yards with that revolver, and I was just a kid. Imagine what a proper marksman could do.
The One That Got Away
I’ve told this story a hundred times, and I’ll keep telling it as long as I’ve got breath in my lungs. After coming home from the Army in 1969, I found myself on the West Coast, dirty boots, torn duffel bag, hair longer than the Army liked. The Summer of Love had already burned itself out, but San Francisco was still full of people looking for meaning, freedom, or just a way to keep the wheels turning. Me? I wanted a motorcycle.
I met a guy down in the Mission District with an old bike he was parting out. I told him I had a Colt .22 that shot like a dream. He looked at it, gave me a crooked smile, and said, “Throw in a bottle and it’s a deal.” So, I did.
I got my parts and built the bike, but I never saw that revolver again. I sometimes wonder if it’s still floating around the Bay Area, maybe in someone’s sock drawer, maybe in a pawn shop window. Maybe it’s long gone.
Why It Matters Today
Now, let’s talk about what the Colt Police Positive Target means today, especially for collectors and shooters.
For one, they’re undervalued. A lot of folks chase after Python money or the mystique of the old Single Action Army, and don’t get me wrong, those are fine pieces. But the Police Positive Target has a special place in the Colt family tree. It bridges the gap between working guns and recreational shooting, and it was built at a time when Colt’s machining and finishing were at their peak.
These guns are also remarkably shootable. In an age where ammo prices keep going up, a reliable .22 revolver makes a lot of sense for casual range days, teaching new shooters, or just keeping your skills sharp. And unlike a plastic plinker, these old Colts have soul. Each one wears its history in the bluing, in the grips, in the scratches and holster wear that tell you this gun’s been somewhere.
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| Colt Police Positive - Target |
What to Look for as a Collector
If you come across one in decent shape, especially with the longer barrel, adjustable sights, and original grips, you’d be wise to snap it up. Models from the pre-war era (before 1945) often bring a premium, but even the later production runs into the 1950s and early ’60s are well-regarded. Beware of pitting, timing issues, or half-assed modifications. A clean, unmolested Police Positive Target is a thing of beauty.
Expect prices anywhere from $700 to $1,200 depending on condition, originality, and whether the box and papers are included. But I’d argue their sentimental and practical value exceeds the going rate, especially when you think about how few are still out there in shooting condition.
Uncle Kenny’s Final Word
I’ve handled a lot of guns in my life, military rifles, deer rifles, duck shotguns, and enough handguns to stock a museum. But I’ll always remember that little Colt .22, not because it was the most expensive or rare, but because it was mine. Given to me by a man I looked up to. Taken from me, not by theft or tragedy, but by the short-sightedness of youth.
If you ever find yourself holding a Colt Police Positive Target, especially one in .22 LR, take a moment. Feel the balance, run that buttery double-action trigger, and appreciate what Colt was capable of when craftsmanship still mattered more than capacity.
And if a young man ever asks you for it in trade? Tell him to come back in 50 years when he’s old enough to understand what it’s really worth.
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