Colt New Police
The New Police was developed for use by the police, in
replacement of the old "Cop and Thug" single action model. It is the second
pocket size double action revolver issued by Colt.
It was introduced in 1896, and a target model followed in
1897. Both models were discontinued in 1905 and succeeded by the Police Positive
model, which had an improved inner mechanism. A total of about 49.500 were
produced, which is relatively small. Collectors will discover that this model is
quite hard to find.
The story goes that serial# 1 was submitted to T.
Roosevelt for trial when he was head of the New York City Police Board
(1895-97).
The New York Police Dept purchased over 4,500 specimens,
all marked "NEW YORK POLICE" on the backstrap.
The gun was available in three calibers: .32 Colt short
and long, .32 S&W shert and long, and the specially for that revolver developed
.32 New Police, which used a heavier bullet and a more powerful charge of powder
than the usual .32, which gave it more "stopping power".
Either blued or nickel finish were available.
The revolver is practically identical to the New Pocket
Model, except for the longer grip. It is very light (17 ounces with a 4"
barrel).
The cylinder turns counterclockwise. The early models
were equipped with plain wooden grips, soon followed by checkered hard rubber
grips with the name COLT in an oval at top.
Marcel
