There is evidently a lot interest in what various military and law enforcement agencies are issued, and what they actually carry as well. It occurred to me that I have some first hand information about FBI issue weapons which might prove interesting.
My brother has been an agent since 1975 or so. I am a lot more interested in firearms than he is, so I have always paid attention to anything having to do with Bureau weapons. When he trained at Quantico, the FBI was in the process of transitioning from 4" heavy barrel S&W Model 10s to shorter barrelled models. This was before S&W announced the Model 13 .357 for the civilian market, which utlimately was adopted by the FBI. The trainees were issued 4" Mod. 10, which had been deactivated in some way, probably by removal of the integral firing pin on the hammer. The grips were painted bright red to indicate their non-firing status. The trainees were encouraged to practice reloading and dry firing on their own time. They were issued Buchheimer thumb-break holsters and a carrier for six extra rounds grouped by two. The agents were taught to grab and load two at a time.
My brother called me from Quantico when he was issued his duty weapon, and I had him describe it for me. I have examined it many times since and measured the barrel, but when I heard about it, I couldn't make sense of it because it wasn't a production model.
It is a round-butt Model 10, steel framed, blue finish. Inside the yoke, the designation says "10-(something)", like 10-3 or 10-4. I'll have to ask him what the number is after the dash. It is chambered for .38 special, not .357, and is so marked on the barrel. The barrel is is the same heavy barrel diameter as was used at the time on the four inch model, but it was 2 1/2 inches from muzzle to rear of the threads. This configuration has never been cataloged to my knowledge, and I have looked for it. A few years later, S&W introduced the Model 13 as the "FBI gun," but it is chambered for .357 and has a three inch barrel. The three inch length is probably better, especially since it allows the use of the longer extractor rod, but the 2 1/2 inch model is an interesting little revolver. I'd love to know how many were produced! It was issued with standard S&W magna grips and a Pachmayer rubbler grip adapter. The issue ammo was the +P 158g. lead HP we all now know as the "FBI load."
My brother was always interested in something lighter, and the FBI would let agents carry a personal weapon, as long as it met certain criteria. Each personal weapon had to be examined and approved in advance. It had to be rated to fire the +P ammo, so alloy frames were out. I had the impression that very few agents carried personal weapons as primary, but second guns were OK if approved. I recall him saying that Model 60s were very popular as second guns, but I don't know if that means that the second gun had to be +P rated.
By the mid-eighties, the Bureau was experimenting with 9mms, but my brother didn't care for them. His prejudice was reinforced when a female agent killed herself with an accidental discharge from her semi-auto she carried as a second gun, apparently a .380. She was at home in her apartment, preparing to clean the weapon when it discharged, hitting her in the stomach. she called her office and reported what had happened, then lost consciousness. Her co-workers called for emergency services and then a bunch of agents rushed to her home address. They had the apartment building, but didn't know the apartment number, so they started at the ground floor, pounding on the doors and breaking them down when there was no response. She was found dead.
Nevertheless, the semi-auto trend continued, and my brother would periodically hear rumors that they were going to phase out all revolvers. He would keep a low profile until the commotion subsided. Finally, a couple of years ago, he was issued a Sig 228 with spare mag, holster and mag pouch and required to qualify with it. For now, he still has his .38 but when he asked if he could buy it, he received an unequivocal NO.
The only .38 ammo I ever saw him with other than the 158g lead hp was some Hydra-Shok 130g. JHP +P.
In addition to the handgun, he qualifies regularly with the 12 guage and the AR-15. He is a good shot and knows how to handle the weapons even though he isn't particulary interested in firearms. That indicates good training, I think.
My brother has been an agent since 1975 or so. I am a lot more interested in firearms than he is, so I have always paid attention to anything having to do with Bureau weapons. When he trained at Quantico, the FBI was in the process of transitioning from 4" heavy barrel S&W Model 10s to shorter barrelled models. This was before S&W announced the Model 13 .357 for the civilian market, which utlimately was adopted by the FBI. The trainees were issued 4" Mod. 10, which had been deactivated in some way, probably by removal of the integral firing pin on the hammer. The grips were painted bright red to indicate their non-firing status. The trainees were encouraged to practice reloading and dry firing on their own time. They were issued Buchheimer thumb-break holsters and a carrier for six extra rounds grouped by two. The agents were taught to grab and load two at a time.
My brother called me from Quantico when he was issued his duty weapon, and I had him describe it for me. I have examined it many times since and measured the barrel, but when I heard about it, I couldn't make sense of it because it wasn't a production model.
It is a round-butt Model 10, steel framed, blue finish. Inside the yoke, the designation says "10-(something)", like 10-3 or 10-4. I'll have to ask him what the number is after the dash. It is chambered for .38 special, not .357, and is so marked on the barrel. The barrel is is the same heavy barrel diameter as was used at the time on the four inch model, but it was 2 1/2 inches from muzzle to rear of the threads. This configuration has never been cataloged to my knowledge, and I have looked for it. A few years later, S&W introduced the Model 13 as the "FBI gun," but it is chambered for .357 and has a three inch barrel. The three inch length is probably better, especially since it allows the use of the longer extractor rod, but the 2 1/2 inch model is an interesting little revolver. I'd love to know how many were produced! It was issued with standard S&W magna grips and a Pachmayer rubbler grip adapter. The issue ammo was the +P 158g. lead HP we all now know as the "FBI load."
My brother was always interested in something lighter, and the FBI would let agents carry a personal weapon, as long as it met certain criteria. Each personal weapon had to be examined and approved in advance. It had to be rated to fire the +P ammo, so alloy frames were out. I had the impression that very few agents carried personal weapons as primary, but second guns were OK if approved. I recall him saying that Model 60s were very popular as second guns, but I don't know if that means that the second gun had to be +P rated.
By the mid-eighties, the Bureau was experimenting with 9mms, but my brother didn't care for them. His prejudice was reinforced when a female agent killed herself with an accidental discharge from her semi-auto she carried as a second gun, apparently a .380. She was at home in her apartment, preparing to clean the weapon when it discharged, hitting her in the stomach. she called her office and reported what had happened, then lost consciousness. Her co-workers called for emergency services and then a bunch of agents rushed to her home address. They had the apartment building, but didn't know the apartment number, so they started at the ground floor, pounding on the doors and breaking them down when there was no response. She was found dead.
Nevertheless, the semi-auto trend continued, and my brother would periodically hear rumors that they were going to phase out all revolvers. He would keep a low profile until the commotion subsided. Finally, a couple of years ago, he was issued a Sig 228 with spare mag, holster and mag pouch and required to qualify with it. For now, he still has his .38 but when he asked if he could buy it, he received an unequivocal NO.
The only .38 ammo I ever saw him with other than the 158g lead hp was some Hydra-Shok 130g. JHP +P.
In addition to the handgun, he qualifies regularly with the 12 guage and the AR-15. He is a good shot and knows how to handle the weapons even though he isn't particulary interested in firearms. That indicates good training, I think.