When I was a kid my cousin had a Colt catalog.  He was all wound up over a nickel SAA but the one I wanted was the police positive 38. I’Ve been looking for one off and on for 40 years and have never run across one.  I think it amounts to a detective special with a 4 inch barrel?  Are these good guns?  Any idea of a realistic value if I do find one.

Like this one

These are super common and about $400.  Half or so of what a nice detective sells for.  The grips in your pic look like add ons and it is a late model With the ejector shroud.  I’d look for a pre war revolver.  Handy little guns.

Those are the original grips for that late model police positive.

That pic is identical to my wifes nightstand gun.

Awesome revolver, easy to shoot well.

That particular version is not very common.  Colt only made it a few years, three I think.  The grips are original.  The older style Police Positives and Police Positive Specials are fairly common, but that's not what you're looking at.

I bought it's twin a couple of years ago.  I think I paid 500-ish and considered it a steal.  I've seen them go as high as a grand, with box and papers.

Thanks, This is the version that I have always wanted.  Don't care for the earlier guns with the unshrouded ejector rod.  I guess if I ever get one it will have to be a steal,  can't imagine paying a grand for one.  I suppose I'll stick with my S&W revolvers.

OP, keep hitting the pawn shops & gun shops. Police Positives show up in both when you least expect them, IMO.

Just make sure you get a Police Positive Special and not a Police Positive, unless you want to track down .38 S&W ammo, most of which is downloaded tin-can shooting stuff. There are also PPSes in .32-20 which are neat but also not your friend when hunting for ammo. Make sure you know what you're taking home.

They are fun, just keep in mind they are not target guns and not particularly enjoyable to shoot all day with the original thin grips. I put a Tyler T-Grip on mine to keep my finger from banging into the trigger guard. Target style grips would also do the trick. But when it's time to burn through a couple 50rnd boxes of .38s, I tend to reach for a S&W K-38 or 14 due to the extra weight, adjustable sights, and better grips.

Are there any good, more hand-filling grips available for the early PP or PPS?
I haven't been able to find any.

I put some Pachmayers on mine, IIRC?

Have you looked at Altamont grips yet?