for us older L.E.O.'s revolver fans
if you could carry your own revolver for duty work

1st what would it be and why?
2nd any pix of you past revolver duty weapon
3rd or does your dept still let you carry a wheel gun

mine would be my model 66(no dash)
& why...nothing beats a real steel gun




as a court officer we can carry what ever we qualify with semi auto or revolver (revolver while in court house)

here is what i carry for auto when out delivering subpoena's

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Scott from Canton Ohio

When I started on a local PD, we were required to furnish our own sidearms. I carried a Model 58. 3 years later I went on the Highway Patrol. They furnished S&W M&Ps or Colt Commandos, but allowed us to carry POWs.
When the Patrol upgraded to Model 66's and required us to carry them, I quit and went back to ranching.

Back when I worked it was BYOG (bring you own gun).

I carried a Colt Trooper Mark III while on patrol.

When I went into investigations I carried a Model 19 (either -3 or 4 which I traded like an idiot) and then switched to a 39-2.

Off duty I had an old Colt Dective Special I picked up from another officer for $100.

Attached Images

	Colts.jpg (71.4 KB, 143 views)
	39-2 and PM9.jpg (59.5 KB, 135 views)

Around here it's BYOG at a lot of the small depts, I buy and carry my own guns.
When I started out in the Air Force, we still carried M15's. These days I usually carry a S&W 1911 9mm Pro Series but I stay qualified with my 586 L-Comp and carry it on court days.

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

Started with a Model 28, then a Model 19 (loved that gun), then to a Model 586.

The 19 and 586 were nickel plated.

I would go back to the 586 (or 686) in a heart beat if we had to.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

Mine would be a 4" 66.....-2 through -4 as I can reload a chamfered, un recessed cylinder faster.

My duty 3" 66-4 gave me good service for years. I retired it for sentimental reasons.

No pics.

I'm currently waiting to hear if I'll be allowed to qualify with a revolver in March 2011. 2010 was the first year in my career that I was not permitted to qualify with a sixgun. The RO last year simply decided there would be no revolver quals last year.....except 5-shot J-frames. Glock baby, whadya expect.

If so, I'll add a 4" 66-2 to my ticket. I'm well armed with one of those - despite the numerous internet gunboard stories of folks being set upon by gangs of PCP driven supermen, and needing the three 18 round mags.......on their belt. Regards 18DAI.

Back when we carried revolvers and bought our own gun, I loved to carry my S&W, Model 58, .41 mag. It was a bit heavy but I felt pretty secure with its one hit, one stop reputation.

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SEMPER-FI

That is one beautiful leather rig. Mind if I ask where you acquired it?

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SEMPER-FI

A Model 15 in the military. As an LEO I was always plainclothes. Really liked my LW Commander as I was shooting quite a bit of IPSC with a 1911 in those days. However the management weenies got nervous that I had not been properly trained (?) with it. My intention was to just go over to a Model 13 but it just didn't suit me.

A friend of mine had won a Ruger Service Six 4" .357 in a match and sold it to me very reasonably. Another shooting buddy, Craig Spegel, was just getting into custom grips and we whittled up a set in his workshop with me standing there being fitted for it. I used that gun and/or the Security Six version for the rest of my time, even when Glocks and SIGs were coming aboard.

Those Rugers aren't as elegant as S&Ws but they sure pack the mail. There are lots of things I'd do differently if I had it to do over again, but on that one I'd stick with Old Reliable. Maybe a 2 3/4" for a reload now.

I carried a Model 25-5 Smith (.45 Long Colt) with loops. And the 649 in my pocket. No way I'd go back. 16 rounds of .40 ammo with 2 or more 15-round mags extra are fine with me. I'm as nostalgic as the next guy but I'll take my hi cap .40 over the six shooter for police work. The 649 is still in my pocket though.

Back in the day a 4 inch Model 19. Everything you need and nothing you don't. Two speed loaders and good to go. Perfect police duty revolver IMO. Not to heavy and can shoot the 357's OK.

Rudy Lozano/Blackhills Leather made that rig for me. I also had him make a matching holster and double mag pouch for my S&W 1911 9mm Pro Series to go with the belt and handcuff pouch. He does very nice work.

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

For uniform carry these days we are required to carry a Glock 22 or 23.

When I started in law enforcement 16 years ago in 1995 I carried a S&W 586 with 4 inch barrel.

When on duty in plain clothes or off duty we have a little more leeway in what we can carry. I often carry my S&W 65 with 3 inch heavy barrel.

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- Change it back -

When I first started in the late 70's it was bring your own gun, and mine was a Model 66 that my Dad bought for me at GT Distributors up in Rossville.
Changed agencies and was issued a Victory Model that had been nickel plated....you could still read the "U S NAVY" on the topstrap.
When I went to the DA's Office as an investigator, I carried whatever I wanted....
After being an elected Sheriff for 18 years, my carry gun of choice is my Model 58 (Model 49 as a backup/off duty/whenever I have my pants on gun)
FWIW, you new guys on the job may be interested in the fact that I was issued a badge, bus drivers hat, 3 shirts, 3 pair of pants. If you wanted anything else, you had to buy it...like a winter coat, raincoat, ammunition, handcuffs, stick.......we weren't issued portable radios either....when you got out of the car, that was it for the radio

During my 30 years I was issued: S&W Model 10 4", S&W Model 15 4", Colt Det. Spl., S&W Model 64 2", H&K P-7 9mm, Glock (Model ?) 9mm, and finally Glock model 23 .40. My favorite would have been between the Colt & S&W 64. If I was still in LE I would opt for the Glock .40 - it's a different world out there now. My back-up was a S&W model 38 and is still my daily carry (retired now).

Hey there Sheriff, You did better than we did. We got the hat and the badge. The rest was on us. At $345.00 a month, things was a little sparse for a while.
Joined the WHP and went to a screamin' $430 a month and they furnished everything including 50 rounds of practice .38 ammo a year. That was fat cow doin's.

S&W model 15, 4 inch with 2 good speedloaders will get the job done out to 50 yards. Beyond 50 any good rifle, or an 870 with slugs.

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Martin Co,FLA(finally made it)

Don't underestimate a hand gun. I threw wood splinters in a feller's face enough to make him quit shootin at me at a 85 yds.

Now I'll admit I was hot footin' it to my rifle, but that hand gun got his attention long enough for me to make it to cover.

Yup, you State boys always eat high on the hog, gettin' all that ammo and a coat.
It's funny Iggy, I buy my troops everything except their nameplate for their uniform. Boots, hat, coat, vest, firearm, ammo, raingear, portable radios, in car camera, radar, laser...pay for training....
Times have changed. But I wouldn't go back.....not at all.

From 1974 - 1982, only the Lt's had hand-talkies, got out of the car and no radio. We had call boxes scattered around town, sadly I lost my key years ago.
We were issued M-19's, carried it the entire time I worked in patrol. In the dicks I carried my personal 2 1/2" M-19. Still have both of them, and don't feel the need for any other S/D weapons.

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Always Stay Strong!

Sheriff,
Nah I wouldn't go back either. I don't think I could do the job today. There are so many restrictions and regs that I would be in trouble all the time.

I was a heck of a lot happier keepin' somebody outta jail than puttin' them in.

We did things back then in the name of justice, that would put us in the iron hotel today.

Nah, I'll just remember the good ol days.

I would gladly carry a revolver if I had a chance vs the Glock's my department issues us. I remember reading a story where Texas Ranger Frank Hamer tried out a 1911 and it jammed. He put the gun down and went back to carrying revolvers. As many times as I have carried semi-autos, I always go back to wheelguns. I would either carry my 27-2, my M & P .38 or my 57 any day of the week knowing that it won't jam, the shell won't stovepipe etc.

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Vaya con Dios

"866-A's 10-7 for detail at the City Cafe. You got the number if you need me."

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Georgia On My Mind

We had a numbered list of coffee shops, court, and other frequent stops that we all used.

I would call in " Pat 25 10-10 @ 3." That way the scannerphobes din't know where we were.

"944 10-6 on detail" We told the dispatchers where we would be eating before we went to eat, therefore we didn't have to give our location....of course, they always needed us to bring them something to eat as well...so going without talking to them wasn't a choice anyway

I spent over three and a half decades on the streets of Los Angeles[patrol, gangs, SWAT, gang detective and SIS-plainclothes/undercover surveillance].
I carried various blue and stainless steel S&W .38 revolvers for the first 15 yrs. The excepton to the above was during SWAT missions, I carried various Colt .45 auto's. The 1911A1 was my favorite handgun and caliber for many years.
In approx. 1986, while assigned to SIS[surveillance] I started carrying the S&W Model 645 and also the Models 4506 and 4566 when they were produced. The last several years before retirement in '06 I carried Glock Model 21 & 30's.
I never felt th .38 special caliber was adequate for my primary handgun, as such I often deployed the "Judge"--read shotgun!I think the S&W j-frame .38 is a great back up and carried several during my career.
I still own several S&W handguns I carried during my LEO days. I started collecting S&W revolvers a few years ago. Mostly Pre War N-frame .44"s.
I enjoy shooting some of these old guns!
There is no way I would choose a revolver for my primary handgun in this day and age! My retirement carry guns are Glocks in various flavors I still train with both revolvers and autos on a weekly basis.

Happy New Year!

John Helms

I started with a small sheriff's department in 1976. I was issued some uniforms and a badge. Had to provide my own revolver (I used a M27 converted to .44 Special) and leather. Very few walkie-talkies; back-up at night was miles away or might even come from the next county over. Pay was loow.

Went to a medium sized police department. I was issued a breast badge and a hat badge. Had to buy my own uniforms and provide a handgun and leather. The city gave us $50, which paid for the raincoat. Everything else was payroll deducted. The good thing was that I could get guns paid for via payroll deduction. I bought a couple of M28s, a M25-5, and a M24-3 that way.

Sidearm selection was good. The policy was .38, 9mm, or BIGGER. I carried mostly .44 Specials or .45s-both .45 Colt and .45 ACP-pistol and revolver.

My department had portable radios that plugged into the dash. You could unplug it when you left the car, but don't drop it or you had no radio then. These were GEs and were so-so in quality.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

1975, Model 19 and Remington 870 were department issue. Model 36 and 1911 purchased by myself. Model 36 was my BUG and the 1911 kept in my briefcase/report desk. (And placed on the seat of my car when I was parked under a street light at night catching up on my paper work.)

As a rookie deputy many moons ago it was BYOG and it was a 686. I went to a city PD years later and I was issued a model 64 which left me feeling a might light on the iron. Several years later the PD moved to the auto and went to the 645, I was rejuvenated. Years go by and we jump ship to H&K 45's, [10 year] bad choice! We have since been issued new Glock 21 SF and they are nice. As for which wheel gun... I would gladly carry a 625, a 627 or go retro and give me a 22-4. As far as that goes any N frame would do!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Be safe

Respectfully, I must ask what drew you all to a job with low pay, horrible hours, possibility of serious injury? Surely the company car was not that appealing?

Heck that was pretty good pay back then. You got to wear that cool uniform with them neat Rayban sunglasses If you were lucky, you got to ride a motorcycle once in a while. It beat herdin' cows and fixin' fence for $150 a month.

Well Colby, respectfully I'd say that anyone who has to ask that question will never understand, not to mention that the possibility of serious injury was (and remains) part of the 'draw'.

I am reminded of a quote from an old Brit fighter ace many years after WWII had ended...something to the effect that 'They gave me a fast plane, plenty of ammo and lots of Germans to shoot at...He**, I would have paid THEM to do the job!' :-)

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Run Fast, Bite Hard!

I never got paid to chase thieves, hunt fugitives, catch bandits and killers, I did all that for free. They have to pay me for the tedious paperwork, sitting and waiting for lawyers, standing in the rain, sleet, snow, or 115 degree heat directing traffic, hiring and firing, doing the budget, and all the "****". They have to pay me for that stuff, I always figured I did the real "work" for free....
If they have to pay you to catch thieves, bandits, killers, rapists and outlaws, then you probably need to be in another line of work...

Some of my friends would ask me that. I told them I was getting paid for doing the same thing we used to get in trouble for doing: Staying out all night looking for trouble, driving fast cars, and playing with firearms! What better job for a 23 year old!

Seriously, I decided that I wanted to go into law enforcement when I was about 15 years of age. I had intentions to save the world, or at least make it a better place. After 38 years in the criminal justice system and doing nearly every job except probation officer and inmate, there was a relief when on 4/2/2010 I was no longer under a sworn duty to defend the Constitution for the first time since 1971.

Feels good to get your civil rights back, eh? :-)

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Run Fast, Bite Hard!

The same reason that my son is fighting in Afghanistan today - Someone has to.
And there's a lot more to it than pay, hours, and potential consequences.

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

I'd say that many of us simply wanted to "help people" or serve our Community or State. That was my excuse.

Started in 1974 carried a 4" blued M-19 , with a 2" M-60 as my off duty. We eventually went to M-59's and 39's for the plainclothes guys.

Moved to MT and carried a personal purchase 686 on the Helena PD until I started on the Highway Patrol in 1985. We were issued ANCIENT 4" M-28's many of the guns "S" prefix models!! I lucked out with a NIB 28-2. Carried the 28's until we went 9mm and 5903's then SIG 229's in .357 SIG.

Would I carry a wheelgun TODAY? Hell no. I'd grab one of those SIG 229's and feel VERY WELL ARMED.

FN in MT

When I first hired on they gave me a Model 15, told me to come back in a couple weeks as they were expecting some Model 28s. I went for the trade a short time later. They furnished the gun and ammo but you could carry your own either Smith or Colt. I took the Model 28 but told them to keep their ammo. They were issuing 158 RN Lead 38s cast and loaded by prison trustees,.........no thanks.

I still have the Model 28, which they let me keep when I retired. If I was to go back into LE, it would be my choice for a carry duty weapon.

I needed a job out of high school after I decided college was boring. PD was hiring with a HS diploma or a GED! Dad said it was either stay in school, get out of the house or join the Army. I got out of the house and joined the PD instead of the Army. Worked out well for me. It wasn't a "calling" for me and I'm not one of those guys who knew he wanted to be the police since he was 2 years old, but in short order I realized I had a front-row ticket to the greatest show on earth and it was FREE! Did some police stuff made some good friends from all walks of life and had some laughs over 25+ years. I wouldn't want my kids to do it though.

I never considered the pay to be THAT low, even when friends were driving cars that cost more than I made in two years. The hours were GREAT as long as you didn't have kids. And even with kids, working mids allowed me to be home with the kids when the wife was at work. As far as risk of injury, there are a lot more dangerous and mundane jobs out there that aren't nearly as fun.

I see the OP still has a "Grip Protector" on his 66.
I would carry a 4" M19, the one they wouldn't let me carry at work back then. I went from a M10 4" pencil barrel to a 3" 36, to a Sig 9, to a Sig 40. Wheelies okay for BUG or OD carry.

I loved the job, don't ever forget that Adrenaline is the greatest drug in the world.

As with so many here I could not go back and do it again, nor would I want to.

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Always Stay Strong!

Gentlemen,

I very much enjoyed reading this thread, and want to thank each of you, very sincerely, for having done, and still doing, a very necessary job!! With me being a love of the .41 Magnum, in all it's various flavors, I loved reading about those who chose to use that wonderful caliber in doing LE work!! It was Evan Marshall, and a few others, whose writings drew me to the .41 in the first place, and after talking to some of the LEO guys I met when I was a Range Safety Officer at a local gun club, who had good things to say about that caliber, I was hooked for life!!

In any case, no matter which firearms you all chose, or were issued, please accept honest thanks from my wife and I, for doing the jobs you did!! For many years, we have prayed for the safety of our military, LEO's, Firefighters, and Emergency Medical Personnel, every single night!! Thanks, again, Gentlemen, and may God Bless you and your families, always!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

P.S. One of my Uncles was in LE for most of his life, only retiring after having been stabbed three times in the spine with an ice pick, by some *** punk kid who he chosen not to shoot!! He suffered for the rest of his life with that wound. Never complained about it, though. He was a good man, and I always respected the job he did in local PD's and also the CHP, as I respect you Gents.

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Honor God, above all.

The first gun I carried in LE was a Model 19 four inch and that was in 1971. The last gun I carried in LE was a Sig P220 in .45acp and that was in 2004. Both good guns. I carried other inbetween and I aways felt as comfortable with a good revolver as a good semi auto.

Rule 303

Well, for all the po-leece I've known over the past 40 years:

We were (every last one of us),... convinced that it was our eternal destiny to save the world from all the bad folks. Back then.. in the back-when... we were (every last one of us) idealistic enough to believe we could !!

We (every last one of us) just didn't know (or believe) there would've been more of them than there was us !!!!!!


DOE: 12-24-72 @ $433 / month, with $50 raise after 6 months + $50 more IF you got your "year" in. We finally went over $1,000 / month in Fall '76 - I'm talkin' bout young, single & RICH !!!


Mod. 10 Heavy bbl. to start, then a 4" nickel 19-3. Got the M-58 nickel in late '74 and the pre-war M-1926 .44 HE, 5" nickel in '77. Bought M-60 while in dope unit, '76. Still have it, the 58 and the .44 HE.


Came to the job at a good time, had a good time, left at a good time. If I had it to do over again, knowing now what I couldn't have possibly known then, and 20-years old again.... I'd do it over again "smarter" - but just as wide open !!


David

I am gratified to see so many of us that carried the Mdl 58. I was the lonesome stranger as far as I knew back then. Until I heard about some Texas PD issuing them, I thought I was the only fool to carry one.

I was issued a Model 15 with the "Chicago" load, 158 grain LSWCHP+P (1978). After a year, I could carry a personally owned weapon, and carried a Python with the same issue ammo (still have that gun).
When I finally retired in 2007, after a number of departments, the issue gun was a Glock 21 and a S&W 642 BUG.
If I were to go back today (and I really don't see myself doing that), I'd carry my Python again and still feel comfortable.

When I was 13, my dad gave me a Colt Trooper MK3. Years later, he retired from the big city PD. We moved to a small town and he decided to go to work for the PD there. He "borrowed" (LOL) my Colt for a duty gun and used it until he retired from the street.

About the time he went off the road, I started the academy. The old Colt went with me and followed me as my first duty weapon. It proudly served two generations of Texas lawmen.

I then bought a 439 S&W that I carried for six months. My last and longest carried was a Colt Gold Cup. Two years ago I purchased an M&P 45 for a duty weapon(just in case I get a wild hair to go back on the job).

I would not feel under gunned today packing a revolver. Give me a Colt, Smith,or Ruger....... 4" 357 and a couple of speed loaders......I'll be happy AND well armed!

First (and favorite) service gun was a Model 65. For a while, also carried a dept-issued Model 57. Would gladly carry the 65 today, but my dept does not allow wheel guns anymore. In place of the 57, my next choice would be a 58. (Never terribly fond of adjustable sights on a duty gun.)

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LEO since 1981.

Back in the day, standard carry was a 4" Model 19. I'd still be happy with one.

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Rick, W0FG
CTR2 68-72

Hmmm. Interesting nostalgic thread!

If I could carry any of my revolvers on duty, for uniform duty I'd pick my 624 4". Since I am plainclothes for the time being, I'd opt for my 3" 13, but I would have a tritium dot installed in the ramp first.

When I started in 2003, my first issue duty gun (which retired to my safe) is a 4006. I'm now carrying an issue G23 with night sights, and use a Streamlight M3X after dark.

Forgot to mention; our dept. encourages us to carry our duty gun while off-duty, but doesn't preclude other firearms.