Source: ATF P 5300.11 · Curios or Relics List · Jan 1972 – Apr 20253,573 entries · 4 sections
The C&R RegisterA finding aid to the ATF Curios or Relics List, for Type 03 collectors
C&R · II · 089

Colt Border Patrol revolver

Section II: curio or relic, still subject to the Gun Control Act

Official wording

ATF P 5300.11 · APRIL 2025 EDITION · SECTION II · VERBATIM · PDF P. 4 ↗

Colt, Border Patrol Model Revolver, .38 Special Heavy Duty, Police Positive (D) style frame, S/Ns within the range 610000 through 620000.

What this entry requires

  • ATF REQUIRESYour serial number is one ATF listsATF: “S/Ns within the range 610000 through 620000”
  • INFOATF states no date; production was about 1952.

Editorial facts · Our research

Country
United States
Manufacturer
Colt's Patent Fire Arms Mfg. Co.
Type
Pistol
Action
Other
Caliber
.38 Special
Made
Listed serials only · c. 1952production; ATF states no date¹
Service
Commercial
Search listings ↗Check a specific gunReport an error ↗

Source

Official wording
ATF P 5300.11, April 2025 edition · Section II · PDF p. 4 ↗ · ATF original ↗
Entries
1 line
Verbatim check
Checked against the PDF text before every release
Editorial facts
Confidence: Medium · Last revised 18 October 2026 (Evidence pass) · How we rate confidence
References
  1. web.archive.org ↗, years: RIA (archived): Colt Border Patrol Model double action revolver, "1 Of only 400 manufactured circa 1952"
Fact tags
  • ATF the ATF wording states it.
  • REF ¹ an outside reference supports it; the number points to the list of references.
  • ESTIMATE an approximate or indirect reading, for example the production range of the base model.
  • NO CITATION we haven’t attached a reference for this fact; it’s our editorial reading, not ATF’s.
Source checked
20 October 2026: ATF’s page still lists the April 2025 edition
Corrections
None

Historical context

Colt Police Positive (base model shown for Colt Border Patrol revolver)
Shown: a Colt Police Positive, not the Border Patrol heavy-duty revolver.

Image: Wikimedia Commons, “Colt.png” by Dake, CC BY-SA 1.0. Retrieved October 2026.

Summary: Wikipedia, “Colt Police Positive”. Text CC BY-SA 4.0.

FROM WIKIPEDIA

The Colt Police Positive is a small-frame, double-action revolver featuring a six-round cylinder, chambered for either .32 or .38 caliber. A .22 caliber model was also offered. Designed primarily for sale to federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies, the Police Positive was introduced into the firearms market by Colt's Manufacturing Company in 1905.