I grew up in CA and I recall the CHP officers could carry a personally owned 38 or a 357 as long as they qualified with it. At work one day there was a barricaded subject in a house down the street and city PD and CHP arrived. When the subject opened fire so did all the cops. City PD officers had 38s and the CHP guys had Magnums.

Here's what the gunfire sounded like from 200 yards away: boon...boom...boom...BOOM...boom...boom...boom...boom...BOOM...boom...boom...boom...BOOM...

BTW-Tragic outcome. The barricaded subject was actually a sheriff's deputy with emotional problems. He had killed his girlfriend and he killed the first cop to arrive but nobody realized it until it was all over and they found the officer slumped on the front seat of his cruiser and a bullet hole through the side window.

Anyway, after the Newhall Shooting in 1970 the CHP mandated all officers carry the same sidearm. They choose a 6" S&W in 38 Special because some officers couldn't handle the recoil of the 357s and didn't shoot them well. A special order S&W in stainless with a shrouded ejector rod dubbed the Model 68 was issued.

Are you sure your dad carried the 28-2 for 25 years? Seems like he could not have had it before 1962 when the 28-2 came out and by 10 years later the agency required everyone to give up their 357s. No matter, a great memento to have.

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