C339xx shipped from S&W in 12/48. The first M&Ps in the C-series shipped in 3/48. As previously mentioned, different PDs had different duty handgun policies at different times. Many small (and some large) PDs required officers to buy their own, sometimes from distributors or retailers offering a LE discount. Other PDs owned and issued them. You may be disappointed in the information you get in the letter. Or maybe not. You pays yer money and you takes yer chance.