what is the main reason this gun bring show much $$$$ in the seller's market?

Quick Story....
1989, a officer who I met later in life was involved in a serious vehicular accident while on duty and his duty weapon was taken from him in the accident (Model 66 3")

sometime had gone by and during recovery, he realized his gun was never returned to him. and no one claimed to have it.

I did not know this at the time. I came to know this person in the 90s but the missing gun, I still did not know about.

fast forward to mid 2000s, I qualified a bunch of retirees and one had what I believe to be a Model 66 3"....and he would have been the above person's supervisor but I did not know about the weapon at that time.

Last year, this person ordered a Model 66 3" to replace the one he never got back. He paid over a grand for the piece. He told me about the his model 66 being taken and never returned. I relayed what I had seen years ago and there was no way to prove that piece was actually his. he told me to let it go.

So whats the deal....why is a Model 66 3" a desired piece?

thanks in advance