At the time, and until 1994, the Customs Service firearms policy allowed Agents to purchase, qualify with, and carry personally owned handguns. There were approximately ten different manfacutures that were on the approved list.

The requirements were revolvers 2" to 4" barrel, in either .38Spl or .357 Magnum. Six shot revolvers were considered a primary handgun, five shot revolvers were back-up or undercover carry only.

Semi autos had to be .380 (back-up or undercover carry only), 9mm, .40 S&W, 10mm, or 45ACP. And they had to be from the approved list. Double action, or Striker-fired pistols only. We were prohibitied from carrying single action (1911) pistols.

Once a local firearms officers examined your personally owned pistol, and you qualified with it, you were approved to carry it on duty.

In or around 1994, Ray Kelly became the Commisoner of Customs. When he found out that we could carry personally owned handguns, and he freaked out. He immediately ordered Glock 17s for uniformed inspectors, and Glock 19s and 26s for Agents. Once all Inspectors and Agents were trained and issued Glocks, he killed the personally owned handgun policy.