what revolver did police use to carry?
- Thread starter revolverrandy
- Start date
Single Six
New member
I started in LE back in 1989. I qualified in rookie school with a S&W model 10 on loan from my sponsoring agency. I was issued a S&W model 65 at my first department. Nowadays I'm issued a Sig P220ST,which I have absolutely NO liking for whatsoever. If I must carry an auto,I'd prefer a Ruger P-90. But back to the point... JKump,I'm right there with you on this one;I'd be much happier with my Ruger GP-100 for duty use.
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Not much to add to what everyone else has covered except to say that up until the mid 1950's, the peace officer didn't have a choice in .357 in a medium frame (K frame). It was either the .357 in a large frame (N Frame) or the .38 in the medium frame. Luckily, Bill Jordan talked Smith and Wesson into beefing up the K frame a little and thus the Combat Magnum/Model 19 was born: "The answer to a peace officer's dream" as Bill put it. The same gun in stainless, model 66, followed around 1970. However, heavy use of the high pressure .357's raised concerns about the forcing cones cracking so S&W created the L Frame. So in the 1980's, the 581, 586, and 686 became popular.
I work for one of those rare departments that still allows officers to carry what they want so long as it meets specific parameters. This includes revolvers. As a result, there are three of us who still carry: I carry an eight shot model 627pc, equipped with night sight and Herrett Trooper stocks, another guy carries his Dad's old issued duty gun, a model 64 in 38spl. He just started carrying it after 18 years of carrying an auto. The third guy carries a Ruger GP 100 .357. The other 152 officers carry semi-autos in all makes and models including all of the old-timers (hired in the 70's and 80's)
I work for one of those rare departments that still allows officers to carry what they want so long as it meets specific parameters. This includes revolvers. As a result, there are three of us who still carry: I carry an eight shot model 627pc, equipped with night sight and Herrett Trooper stocks, another guy carries his Dad's old issued duty gun, a model 64 in 38spl. He just started carrying it after 18 years of carrying an auto. The third guy carries a Ruger GP 100 .357. The other 152 officers carry semi-autos in all makes and models including all of the old-timers (hired in the 70's and 80's)
As a former LEO of the 70’s in California, we carried S&W Models 19, 27, 28 and the Colt ‘Python’. My personal carry was the Model 28 'Highway Patrolman' while my partner carried a Model-57 .41 Magnum. The most common was the Model-19. The CHP favored the Python six-inch. Ahhh, those were the days when it was fun being a cop. Man, would I ever love to turn back the clock and take my current knowledge with me.
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The dead have risen!
My father started in 1970 carrying a nickel plated S&W Model 10. He joined the Idaho State Police in 1973 and carried the Model 28 Highway Patrolman until 1979. In 79 ISP switched to the S&W Model 65. In 91 ISP switched to the S&W Model 4586 in 45ACP. End of an era. Dad is now gone, but I have his Model 65. Still in great shape. It was issued to him brand new in 1979. He purchased it from ISP in 91 when the organization switched to autos. He also purchased the Model 28 in 79. Wish he had kept the Model 28, but he let that go in a trade in the early eighties.
My father started in 1970 carrying a nickel plated S&W Model 10. He joined the Idaho State Police in 1973 and carried the Model 28 Highway Patrolman until 1979. In 79 ISP switched to the S&W Model 65. In 91 ISP switched to the S&W Model 4586 in 45ACP. End of an era. Dad is now gone, but I have his Model 65. Still in great shape. It was issued to him brand new in 1979. He purchased it from ISP in 91 when the organization switched to autos. He also purchased the Model 28 in 79. Wish he had kept the Model 28, but he let that go in a trade in the early eighties.
Model12Win
Moderator
They've used everything from .36 caliber percussion revolvers to modern Colt Pythons and Smith & Wesson .357 magnums.
When cops stopped carrying revolver in the 1980s, most were armed with .38s or .357s. Some stuck with revolvers until the early 1990s but by then most departments completely switches over.
When cops stopped carrying revolver in the 1980s, most were armed with .38s or .357s. Some stuck with revolvers until the early 1990s but by then most departments completely switches over.
It would probably be hard to name a revolver model NOT used by cops somewhere at some time. Up until the 1940s the San Antonio PD still issued Colt SAAs. But DA Colts (mostly Official Police and Positive Police Specials) along with S&W Models 10 and 15 were most popular.
Some departments allowed officers to carry a choice and the 14 was favored by some. The cops in the infamous "Onion Field" incident were LAPD and carried 14s. Of course these are all 38 Specials.
Some departs allowed more powerful guns. In pre-war days the 44 Special was often seen in cops' holsters. I know S&W 44s were favored by Arkansas cops as I have seen several stamped for local agencies. The 357 and 41 Magnums were carried in some cities.
Here are some of my wheel guns stamped with PD markings.
Utah Highway Patrol.
Florida Highway Patrol.
Corpus Cristi PD
St. Louis PD.
Bavarian PD
Some departments allowed officers to carry a choice and the 14 was favored by some. The cops in the infamous "Onion Field" incident were LAPD and carried 14s. Of course these are all 38 Specials.
Some departs allowed more powerful guns. In pre-war days the 44 Special was often seen in cops' holsters. I know S&W 44s were favored by Arkansas cops as I have seen several stamped for local agencies. The 357 and 41 Magnums were carried in some cities.
Here are some of my wheel guns stamped with PD markings.
Utah Highway Patrol.
Florida Highway Patrol.
Corpus Cristi PD
St. Louis PD.
Bavarian PD
Bob Wright
New member
The Memphis Police Department carried the Colt Official Police .38 Special. They switched to the S & W Military Police (which was to become the Model 10) around 1955 or so. The S&W had the heavy barrel. Plain clothes detective usually carried the Colt Detective Special, later the S&W Chiefs Special.
The MPD adopted the 158 gr. SWC from Remington after tests showed it tended to "skid" along pavement rather than ricocheting.
i believe the Shelby County Sheriff's Dept. carried both the Colt 357 or the S&W Model 19.
Of some interest, maybe: There was Kennedy General Hospital located in Memphis, for men of all services recovering from war wounds. Part of their hobby/therapy was making revolver grips from clear Lucite. The back side of these was opaque white plastic, with small rose buds, four leaf clovers, and what-not in the clear plastic. I saw many Memphis police carrying Colts with these grips.
Bob Wright
The MPD adopted the 158 gr. SWC from Remington after tests showed it tended to "skid" along pavement rather than ricocheting.
i believe the Shelby County Sheriff's Dept. carried both the Colt 357 or the S&W Model 19.
Of some interest, maybe: There was Kennedy General Hospital located in Memphis, for men of all services recovering from war wounds. Part of their hobby/therapy was making revolver grips from clear Lucite. The back side of these was opaque white plastic, with small rose buds, four leaf clovers, and what-not in the clear plastic. I saw many Memphis police carrying Colts with these grips.
Bob Wright
I carried both a Colt Official Police 38, and a Smith & Wesson Model 10 while working as an armed security guard in the early 70's. I never did fire either of those guns. "Training" consisted of being told, "Don't shoot yourself or anyone else...unless you have to."
Closest I've ever come to doing police work.
AFAIK, the city/county police around here all carried Model 10/64's.
Closest I've ever come to doing police work.
AFAIK, the city/county police around here all carried Model 10/64's.
Longhorn1986
New member
"Up until the 1940s the San Antonio PD still issued Colt SAAs. But DA Colts (mostly Official Police and Positive Police Specials) along with S&W Models 10 and 15 were most popular."
I know they carried Model 65s. I picked one up a few months back at a gun show in Houston.
I know they carried Model 65s. I picked one up a few months back at a gun show in Houston.
Bob Wright
New member
Quoth SaxonPig:
You're right, I'm sure. I had a friend on the Memphis Police force about that time, and that's what he was issued. This after I was discharged from the Army, so 1960~1962 would have been the time.
Bob Wright
You're right, I'm sure. I had a friend on the Memphis Police force about that time, and that's what he was issued. This after I was discharged from the Army, so 1960~1962 would have been the time.
Bob Wright
Driftwood Johnson
New member
Howdy
Rant mode on:
I really dislike the term "back in the day". Completely meaningless. When are we talking about? 1950? 1900? 1880? 1776? If somebody wants to know something, why can't they state a date, rather than use an inaccurate term that could be interpreted many different ways?
Rant mode off:
This Colt Army Special chambered for 38 Special was made in 1921. By the mid 1920s the military was not buying many revolvers, in fact they were not buying much of anything. But lots of these revolvers were being sold to law enforcement agencies. So in 1927 Colt changed the name of this revolver to the Official Police model. The Official Police model was produced until 1969, and more than 425,000 of them were made. I have no idea how many were sold to law enforcement, but I suspect a lot were.
I bought this S&W Model 10-7 about 15 years ago. It was manufactured in 1968. I have always assumed the number hand stamped above the trigger is a police armorer's inventory number, stamped there to keep track of the guns he issued. This is an iconic police revolver.
This is a J frame S&W Model 36. A compact, five shot 38 Special revolver. It was made in 1961. Prior to 1957 this model was known as the Chief's Special. Perfect for a plain clothes policeman to carry in his coat pocket.
The large revolver at the top of this photo is a S&W 38 Military and Police, basically the same gun that became the Model 10 in 1957. The diminutive I frame revolver below it is a S&W 32 caliber Regulation Police. The 32 Regulation Police was a six shot revolver chambered for the 32 S&W Long cartridge, a cartridge that would be considered to be under powered by today's standards. However from 1917 until 1942 thousands of these were made. After WWII they were made again from 1946 until 1960. In 1957 the name was changed to Model 31. In 1961 the frame was changed to the J frame, the same frame as the Model 36. Production ceased in 1998. There was also a five shot Regulation Police model chambered for the 38 S&W cartridge, not to be confused with the 38 Special cartridge.
I would say that with a name like Regulation Police, a lot of these were sold to law enforcement agencies, despite their lack of power.
Rant mode on:
I really dislike the term "back in the day". Completely meaningless. When are we talking about? 1950? 1900? 1880? 1776? If somebody wants to know something, why can't they state a date, rather than use an inaccurate term that could be interpreted many different ways?
Rant mode off:
This Colt Army Special chambered for 38 Special was made in 1921. By the mid 1920s the military was not buying many revolvers, in fact they were not buying much of anything. But lots of these revolvers were being sold to law enforcement agencies. So in 1927 Colt changed the name of this revolver to the Official Police model. The Official Police model was produced until 1969, and more than 425,000 of them were made. I have no idea how many were sold to law enforcement, but I suspect a lot were.
I bought this S&W Model 10-7 about 15 years ago. It was manufactured in 1968. I have always assumed the number hand stamped above the trigger is a police armorer's inventory number, stamped there to keep track of the guns he issued. This is an iconic police revolver.
This is a J frame S&W Model 36. A compact, five shot 38 Special revolver. It was made in 1961. Prior to 1957 this model was known as the Chief's Special. Perfect for a plain clothes policeman to carry in his coat pocket.
The large revolver at the top of this photo is a S&W 38 Military and Police, basically the same gun that became the Model 10 in 1957. The diminutive I frame revolver below it is a S&W 32 caliber Regulation Police. The 32 Regulation Police was a six shot revolver chambered for the 32 S&W Long cartridge, a cartridge that would be considered to be under powered by today's standards. However from 1917 until 1942 thousands of these were made. After WWII they were made again from 1946 until 1960. In 1957 the name was changed to Model 31. In 1961 the frame was changed to the J frame, the same frame as the Model 36. Production ceased in 1998. There was also a five shot Regulation Police model chambered for the 38 S&W cartridge, not to be confused with the 38 Special cartridge.
I would say that with a name like Regulation Police, a lot of these were sold to law enforcement agencies, despite their lack of power.
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Bob Wright
New member
I can't document the statement now, but I recently heard/read that the Colt Official Police .38 Special was more favored in the Southern states, while the rest of the country favored Smiths.
Bob Wright
Bob Wright
walnut1704
New member
Here's an interesting graphic from the Colorado State Patrol webpage on Colorado Gun Laws.
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/csp/colorado-gun-laws
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/csp/colorado-gun-laws