We were issued the 4” Model 15 but b/c I’m a lefty the only holster they had in Property was an old 6” swivel. I wet some paper towels and stuffed them into the bottom portion of the holster and let them dry. It worked great and I used that holster until the Property Section finally issued me a 4” Border Patrol holster about a year later.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

One of my buddies on the Albany Police Force carried a personally owned Model 19 6'' for a while. He was the only authorized officer to carry a revolver when working after the department went to autos..

His Zone was in the Albany Pine Bush and that area is way overloaded with deer. (no hunting or discharge of firearms)

He got special permission to carry that gun as a big part of his job was shooting deer that were hit by cars. The force was issued 9MM (sorry I do not remember which gun it was now)

He used the 9MM on deer and was not impressed, so he got permission to talk to the chief. That area was not a hot bed of trouble so he was allowed to use the 19.

This was a couple decades ago and he is long retired and I also moved so have no clue if there are any officers authorized revolvers at this time!

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

...6 inch model 14s on Adam 12...

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A Country Boy Can Survive

I started with my PD part time in 1991. About 1/3 of the guys still carried revolvers, all 4". I never saw a 6" until I went to revolver instructor school in 1993 or thereabouts. One of the students used a 6" Python for the class and, reportedly, carried it on duty as well. Sadly, I missed the heyday of revolvers and pretty much everyone in our area, besides our guys, were carrying some sort of auto by that time.

Both LAPD cops taken hostage in the Onion Field murder carried 6” revolvers - a Colt Officer’s Model Match and a K-38.

Pictured in the murky photo below with bad guy’s guns, a .32 auto and a Colt .38 Special.

It’s hard to tell in the photo, but the OMM has Fuzzy’s on it, and it looks like the Smith has Mershon (pre-Pachmayr) grips.

Attached Images

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

Yes. I knew a few officers in the 80's that carried 6 inch revolvers. One guy packed a S&W Mod. 25 .45 ACP. He was very bonded to his choice of revolver. This was an optional choice for his agency that issued 1911 .45 autos.

Another guy I knew carried a 6" Colt Python and another deputy packed a 6" S&W Model 19. Many CHP officers carried 6" revolvers - but I didn't know any of them personally. Holsters ranged from the Hoyt Speed Holster to the Bianchi or Tex Shoemaker. If I could go back in time and do it over again, I would give serious consideration to carrying a 6" revolver - probably a Python.

I observed that the Florida Highway Patrol carried 6" revolvers in the mid 70's. I cannot remember the make or model. They were nickel plated, IIRC.