Hi,

I would like to know what the front strap marking means.

Thanks

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Sorry , here is the main picture

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The only thing I can think of is the NYPD Deputy Commissioner, Public Information.

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My sgntr is mor thn 30 chrctrs

The only way to find out, and it is not fool proof, is to letter the revolver, to see where it was shipped, and if the markings are factory.

There may be others out there who have one of these with that same marking, so maybe someone will come along. Apart from that, it is guess work, as I do not believe S&W kept a record of markings. But, I could be wrong.

The numbers are a very distinct font, and if nobody recognizes the specific abbreviation, a collector here might at least be able to give you an idea whether or not this could be a factory stamping. All things considered, I doubt it, but it's possible. The quality of the stamping appears pretty high.

A letter is definitely your best bet. If it letters to a department or agency, or at least a geographical location that makes sense, you'd be closer.

It's the only one on the acronym list that would make the slightest sense, but I think this gun pre-dates the creation of that position by several decades.

Maybe it's "Dynamic Church Planting International".

District of Columbia Police Inspector #22, that is my guess.

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Life NRA, Life TSRA, C&R FFL

This one gets my vote. Not a fan of spending $50 to letter a gun to see what hardware store sold it.... but I would letter this one.

MODERATORS,

PLEASE MOVE THIS THREAD INTO "ANTIQUE SW" SUBFORUM.

THANK YOU

The District of Columbia's police department as been the "Metropolitan Police Department" since 1861. Thus I suspect a DC police inspector's revolver would be stamped "MPDPI" not "DCPI"

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Less seriously I'm going to go with:

Dougherty County Paranormal Investigators

How many people own an *actual* ghost buster Smith and Wesson?

Detroit PD issued Safety Hammerless revolvers back when.
I'd contact the Detroit Police Museum, see if the marking is familiar to them.
Worth an email or phone call.

I was told this is a Washington DC police gun trade-in,,,



It is stamped MPDC

Front strap markings are unusual & I've never seen that one before. It is well worth a letter. Please post the results if you decide to get one!

I don't think it is Wash D.C. They have used the "Metropolitan Police Dept. DC" inscription on the BACKSTRAP for many years until switching to "MPDC" in the late 1960s or early '70s.

Best,
Charles

Though the revolver is a S&W, you may want to post your images on other forums as well. There must be 21 other similarly marked guns and someone may have seen another.

The stamping looks too neat to be a private, one-off job...I'd hazard a guess that there may be at least 21 others as Rick mentioned .

Of searchable acronyms, the NYPD association makes the most sense. I'd also throw in a guess that "D.C." may indicate a Department of Corrections, and it's anyone's guess what "P.I." might mean. To keep those rowdy Marines from Parris Island in jail?

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Yes, Rick, I just posted pictures on Colt forum.

Washington DC postal inspector.

District of Columbia Penal Institution?

D_____ County Penal Institution?

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I need ammo, not a ride.

I have one of these



Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

Definitely worth lettering. It appears the bluing is in the lettering which may indicate that it was factory applied. I see no indication of cold blue around the stampings and the revolver has not been reblued.

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Mike Maher #283

Hello Brick, Im a 32 and 38 SH fan. Can you post a few up close pics? Is the trigger blued?

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Looks like case color to me.

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Mike Maher #283

S&W letter arrived: the revolver was shipped to DC Penal Institution, Lorton, VA.

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Great looking old revolver. Glad you lettered it.

Interestingly enough, though, the letter says the revolvers were stamped "D.C.P.L.", but the actual gun is stamped "D.C.P.I."

I wonder if that's a typo in the letter?

Probably a typo.

I used to drive by the DCPI in Lorton every day before I moved. It's now a museum.

Workhouse Prison Museum | a prison built by it's prisoners

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High Caliber History