Police Appreciation Thread

[Absalom]

Originally Posted by policerevolvercollector

Since this is the S&W Forum, this 29-2 was carried by Louisville KY PD in 1973:

To this I can add my most recent acquisition, which I just picked up from my transfer dealer this afternoon:

A .38 Special Victory model which went in mid-1944 to the Louisville Division of Police on the DSC contract (no top strap stamp, LDofP stamping on back strap, although this was likely not applied at the factory). There is a whole batch in the same serial range with the stamp (I've found reference to several), so I'm fairly certain this was not a surplus acquisition.

[Sgt 127]

Age wise, they don't all belong here, but, it's what I've got.



5" RM








DPD stamped backstrap.



Named DPD Lt's badge engraved on side.



Stamped LTV-1 after the serial number.



Hand engraved Tarrant co jail on backstrap

[LOBO]

At one time this Heavy Duty was the sidearm of a Caldwell, Idaho Police Officer named Dura F. Hopkins.

When I removed the grips, that little bit of provenance found on the inside of the left grip was a very nice surprise!

I have copies of the pages where he & his parents are listed in the Missouri 1930 and 1940 census.

I also found him, and his wife in the Caldwell, Idaho City Directory which I was able to get copies of the pages. It would be great to have a copy of one of the directories in hand. This is how they are listed,

Caldwell, Idaho City Directory 1951 listed as Hopkins, Dura F. (Mary R.) City Policeman

Caldwell, Idaho City Directory 1953 listed as Hopkins, Dura F. (Mary R.) Sgt. of Police

Caldwell, Idaho City Directory 1955 listed as Hopkins, Dura F. (Mary R.) Sgt. Police Department


Digi-Shots helped me out by finding this information (Thanks!),

He was born April 10, 1922 in Vernon County, Missouri. He enlisted in the Air Corps on 5 Sep 1942 - Jefferson Barracks, Missouri as a Private. He had 4 years of High School and civil occupation training as a Tinsmith, coppersmith, and sheet metal worker.

Occupation when enlisted was a Delivery Boy for Star Cleaners. Residence 1103 N. Clay, Vernon, Missouri;

Height 65", weight 158 lbs. He was single with no dependents when he enlisted.

Died 29 Jan 1991, age 69; buried Boise, Ada County, Idaho

[LOBO]

Originally Posted by digi-shots

Here's a Victory model that was originally shipped to the US Navy, Oakland, CA in October 1943. It was later used for CIVIL DEFENSE purposes.
The marking is similar to others I've seen, including the one shown in Charlie Pate's book, "U.S. Handguns of WWII" on page 148 which was issued to the Tacoma (Washington) Police Department.

The armband shown is of the period and was used by Air Raid Wardens.

Linda, it appears that our guns could have been done by the same hand.

[digi-shots]

LOBO, great pics!

I remembered seeing another "Civil Defense" S&W here on the forum, but it's been a while and I forgot that you had it!

Here's an image of the three that I'm aware of. They all look so very similar.

[LOBO]

Linda, it's interesting too that our "Civil Defense" marked Victories arrived in Oakland only 7 months apart.

[Cyrano]

This Colt Commando is electropenciled W.P.D. on the right side. Probably belonged to the Worcester (pronounced 'Wooster"), MA, police department as I read somewhere that they had received some. But could have belonged to the Winchester, Woburn, Waltham or Weymouth PD in MA; or another PD beginning in W in another state, or perhaps it was just peronalized by a Mr. Waldemar P. Dingbat.

I got it at a gun show in Houston, TX, about ten years ago along with a 2 inch barreled Commando. The 2 inch revolver does not lock up its cylinder properly, particularly when operated rapidly in DA. Anyone know of a good Colt mechanic?

[Cyrano]

This is most probably a police gun. It walked into an El Paso gun show one Sunday afternoon. I'm a sucker for 5 screws, so I bought it. It has plenty of blue wear, but the action locks up tight and ther bore is perfect; it was carried for years and only shot a little. The holster was a high quality, engraved, one but has been used for years, had the retaining strap cut off long ago and the back has been sweated on for a long time. I showed it to a friend, a retired police officer who said it almost certainly was the property of a plainclothes cop who wore it for years in the El Paso heat and shot it little.

It lives a different life now; it's my go-to revolver for the Internet Snubby Matches; mostly I shoot it with light 150 gr wadcutter handloads.

[digi-shots]

I got this M&P 10-7 from a forum member. It's stamped "C&E 1830" on the backstrap.
The Customs and Excise Dept. is a government agency responsible for the collection of revenue and also
protection against smuggling and drug trafficking.

The holster was graciously given to me by a S&WCA forum member.

[Club Gun Fan]

Here are some of my Smith & Wesson Police and Smith & Wesson Security badges. The other two pictures are the coat and hat of Smith & Wesson
Police Officer Frank Nowak. The factory letter that came with it states it is the last complete S&W uniform known. For those of you that saw the museum that was inside the plant, this is the one that was on display. I also have a S&W guards Model 10. It is a Club Gun.

[Cyrano]

GREAT string, Digi-Shots.

[LOBO]

A model 28-2 Texas DPS service revolver with a letter from the Texas DPS Trooper that was issued the gun, and carried it on duty.

28-2 Texas DPS issued service revolver,

[Toyman]

A Colt New Service in 45 Colt shipped to Royal Canadian Mounted Police October 24, 1940. Rack number 2559 applied at factory.

[digi-shots]

Great guns.... keep 'em coming!

Here's one of my Colt's... a Railway Express Agency Police Positive, shipped in 1937 and stamped holster:

[Absalom]

Originally Posted by digi-shots

Great guns.... keep 'em coming!

Here's one of my Colt's... a Railway Express Agency Police Positive, shipped in 1937 and stamped holster:....

Your presentations are absolutely museum-quality.

If we're doing Colts, here's another one of mine:

Colt Official Police, made in 1950, shipped in 1951 to Allentown, PA, with 99% probability for the local police department. The letter is interesting; the guns were ordered by a NY wholesaler for shipment to the leading gun store in Allentown, whose owner, Harold Witwer, had close connections to city government; his business would have been the logical choice to handle an order for the local PD. The factory-ordered inventory numbers engraved on the butt clinch the deal: I'm sure the other 19 guns hold the remaining numbers 1 to 20. I've tried through the Colt Forum to find someone who's got one of the others, but no luck so far.

PS: Having shipped in 1951 and no special stocks listed, it would have shipped with plastic "Coltwood" stocks. Since those had a tendency to shrink and loosen after some years of hard use, the officer carrying this gun must have replaced them at some point with this new set of post-1954-style wooden factory replacements.

[policerevolvercollector]

Here are some of the more unusual ones that I have :

Remington "Smoot" .30RF St. John New Brunswick Police



This Police Positive letters to Bangkok Siam about a year before it became Thailand



Siamese Police markings



A real "Dog & Pony show".....get it? :





A Pinkerton Colt (Pinkerton National Detective Agency):





Best,
Charles

[digi-shots]

Charles, those are some great and unusual ones... !

[Toyman]

We've had some old war horses with well earned scars, this one is the opposite 1 of 2 3 1/2 inch non registered magnums shipped to Kansas City MO. P.D. July 3, 1940.
I don't think it was fired after it left the factory.

[Absalom]

Refer to post #27 in this thread.

I just received the letter on P.B. Green's M&P. Looks like I was wrong and it was a department-issued gun after all. Maybe Minneapolis had a department-buy/officer-purchase thing going like NYC, so the officers were free to privately decorate their service weapons.

Janney, Semple, Hill and Co. were one of the largest hardware businesses in Minnesota, opening in 1866. The building was demolished in the late 1950s.

Another letter that turned out to be worth the wait and the money. I'm happy.

[LOBO]

New York City Police Department service gun.....




Shield number on lower portion of backstrap,

[digi-shots]

Here are a couple of vintage pics of the local constabulary:

Give Women the Right to Vote... and next, they want a gun!

[RKmesa]

Registered magnum shipped to Captain Louis B. Keaton, Melrose PD in June 1937:

[LOBO]

From Jim Supica's "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson 3rd",


Turkish Republic Police: Model 10-9, 3", square butt, narrow white stripe on the ramp front sight, two small white dots on the rear sight, marked "T.C. POLIS" on the left side of the frame, "BFR" serial prefix, plainclothes grips; 1,250 manufactured, 88 in USA reported in the overrun. Product code 100134.

[Old TexMex]

And the totally un-glamorous Tulsa PD 4043

[Harkrader]

One of the first PD guns I acquired.
West Bend WI PD 66-1.jpg West Bend WI PD 66-1 markings.jpg

[JSW]

Here are some old photos from my collection that I thought would go real well with this thread.


"AMERICA'S POLICE CHAMPION - R.J. Nowka, of Los Angeles, Calif. by winning the national police individual pistol match at the national matches at Camp Perry, Ohio, became America's foremost police pistol shot." Sep 10 1931



"NEBRASKA SHERIFF SHOWS GUN WHICH COWED G-MAN KILLERS - New York... Pictured with his wife in their New York hotel room Sheriff Homer Sylvester of Plattsmouth Nebraska, exhibits the gun which cowed the Katonah bank robbers and G-Man killers when he cornered them in his town. Sylvester is here for a radio broadcast of his experience." 4/21/37


Asst. Chief Gordon Selby, Arizona DPS (retired) - Heroes Memorial Foundation, Inc.

"Gordon Selby with his service revolver 1956"


"Gordon Selby shooting Rem 44 Mag 1956"

[cmort666]

Originally Posted by LOBO

New York City Police Department service gun.....

I have a gun very much like it which I obtained from R.M. Vivas.

Mine has even less finish, albeit with no pitting that I can recall. Supposedly it was an ex-NYPD gun that had ended up with security at a horse track.

[Sgt 127]

What a bizarre grip Sheriff Sylvester has on that gun. I just tried holding a revolver like that and it felt...weird.

[tftech1]

Here is a nice 3-1/2 inch NRM from the late 1930s that letters to the police chief of a small town in Tennessee. I feel fortunate to have it in my collection which focuses on fully original N frames, especially RM, NRM, and TL models. I would have to say that, if I had been ordering this pistol, I would have specified a Baughman QD front sight and possibly a HB hammer.

[66 shooter]

This was a great thread...thanks to all of those individuals who posted.

[JSW]

Originally Posted by Sgt 127

What a bizarre grip Sheriff Sylvester has on that gun. I just tried holding a revolver like that and it felt...weird.

He's not the first I've seen doing this, I believe Jelly Bryce was another. Maybe he had huge hands or perhaps something to do with grip adapter?

[JSW]

Originally Posted by tftech1

Here is a nice 3-1/2 inch NRM from the late 1930s that letters to the police chief of a small town in Tennessee. I feel fortunate to have it in my collection which focuses on fully original N frames, especially RM, NRM, and TL models. I would have to say that, if I had been ordering this pistol, I would have specified a Baughman QD front sight and possibly a HB hammer.

Very nice Magnum ~ Congratulations!

[JSW]

This 357 Magnum (4-Inch) shipped to a Special Agent of the FBI at their New York City office - May 10, 1937.

[iskra]

No LE work guns amongst mine to knowledge except a S&W 469 I personally carried. Otherwise just this slightly homely Smith Model 15 Commemorative; personal memorabilia. My how the years do fly!
Just my take

[jsfricks]

S&W Combat Masterpiece 5" MSHP, one of 365 ordered by the Missouri Highway State Patrol. Below is a brief bio of the only officer to own this gun.





William D. East was born in 1918 and spent his early years in his hometown of Elsbury, a little Missouri town north of St. Louis on the Missouri River. He joined the Air Force during WWII, wanting to be a fighter pilot. He was too large for the fighter cockpits and, instead, became a B-24 pilot. His bomber survived several successful runs but he was eventually shot down over Italy.
After the war, he rejoined his wife, whom he married in 1942, and joined the Missouri State Highway Patrol. After his training, he was assigned to Troop D in the SW corner of the state in Carthage, Mo. Concurrently, he joined the Missouri Air National Guard and was assigned an L-19 aircraft which he hangered in the small civil defense airport in Carthage. He loved to fly and had his L-19 in the air almost every day. Bill continued his MHP career in Carthage, and 10 years later was promoted to Sergeant of Troop D. His SW pistol was with him every day. During this time frame, Bill undertook competitive pistol shooting with the Missouri Nation Guard and became a successful marksman in 45 cal. and 22 cal. He shot for several years at the national pistol matches in Camp Perry.
Bill continued his love of flying and developed a concept of traffic control and emergency response that involved both fixed wing and helicopter aircraft. Bill was able to get his concepts approved by the State. The first action that was taken was for Bill to attain his helicopter pilot’s certification, which led to the State and Red Cross purchasing a Bell helicopter for his use. The second concept of his program involved fixed wing aircraft and for this, Bill went back to flight school and obtained his multi-engine certification as well as his instructor rating for everything but jet engines. Consequently, 1965, he was appointed to the new MHP of Director of Flight Operations, promoted to Lieutenant, and transferred to the MHP headquarters in Jefferson City, Mo.
One of the innovations of Bill’s flight operations was the use of a twin-engine aircraft for executive transportation for the Governor of the state. In this role, Bill wore civilian suits and carried a snub nosed SW instead of his trusty service revolver. Bill’s flight operations grew to include a half-dozen pilots (who he trained and certified) and a stable of 4 single engine, 1 twin engine, and 2 helicopters
Bill retired from the MHP in 1976 after 30 years with the patrol. The patrol allowed him to keep his revolver as a retirement gift. Bill passed away in 1976.

[ServiceGun]

This 38/44 was shipped to the Colorado Highway Patrol in Denver on October 3, 1935.

Went back to the factory October 1977 which accounts for the reblue and probably front sight too. Stocks aren't original.

[Toyman]

When Las Vegas and Clark Co. S.O. merged to make Las Vegas Metro in 1973 the power that be decided to issue model 59 S&W as the S.O. was already issuing the 59.
This one of 180 shipped to Metro in spring 1974.

[RKmesa]

This one's seen a few miles. St Louis Police 38 Special 1905 4th.

[Toyman]

A model 686 issued to an Iowa State Patrol pilot .



A 4026 from Kansas City MO. Police

[Absalom]

I think this one is the only police Smith & Wesson with a pedigree I got after this thread was alive the last time:

A pre-Model 10 (shipped quite late for a gun without a model number and actually lettered as a Model 10) that shipped to the NYPD in 1959. By that time, shield number stamping was no longer commonly practiced.

[J.D.]

My South African Railway Police model 11-4

[Bobbysixkiller]

My dad was a state trooper here in OK. He passed in 88. He carried this model 29[IMG][/IMG]

[Bobbysixkiller]

[IMG][/IMG]

[Bobbysixkiller]

Technical difficulties. Sorry

[Trooper Joe]

I purchased this model 66 (same as model 19 but in stainless) from the widow of our former Michigan State Police range officer. When I first got it, it seemed to be a little "notchy" when I tried to open the cylinder. Took it to the MSP armor and he advised that the former range officer did shoot this gun a lot and probably slightly stretched it. The armor was able to tweak it so the gun works perfect now. It is quite comfortable with full house .357 158 grn loads with Pachmayr rubber grips on it (not quite so comfortable with these wood presentation grips but not bad).







These guns were issued to Troopers who shot Distinguished Expert during our quarterly qualification shoots. The department required these to be loaded with only .38 Special ammo (issued). Later, they purchased the model 64's (I think that was the model. Same type of revolver only in .38 Special.) I think that they were concerned that some Troopers were carrying .357 ammo in the issued Model 66's.

Trooper Joe

[digi-shots]

One of the early detective agencies was the Pinkerton National Detective Agency. It was established by Allan Pinkerton in 1850.



Here's a famous photo taken by Gardner in 1862 of Allan Pinkerton (on the left), President Lincoln and Major General McClernand.





Until I can find a vintage example, this more modern 12-3 Pinkerton will have to do. It was carried by a local "Pinkerton" guard and is in excellent condition. The alloy frame shows hardly any wear.

[okiegtrider]

Seems fitting that this thread got a little new life in the midst of National Police Week.

[Absalom]

Originally Posted by digi-shots

One of the early detective agencies was the Pinkerton National Detective Agency. It was established by Allan Pinkerton in 1850.
........
Until I can find a vintage "Pinkerton" model, this more modern model 12-3 will have to do. It was carried by a local "Pinkerton" guard and is in excellent condition. The alloy frame shows hardly any wear.
......

Fascinating. I had no idea they were still around, just updated and with a new corporate owner. I found a company history timeline on their webiste:

History of the Pinkerton Detective Agency | Pinkerton

Historians have a rather jaded view of the "value" of Pinkerton's intelligence work for the Union during the Civil War, by the way. And their later work as a PMC for the corporations during industrial conflicts didn't make them terribly popular. But they seem to have adapted nicely and gone global.

[okiegtrider]

Honoring the fallen.

[Muley Gil]

Originally Posted by Absalom

Fascinating. I had no idea they were still around, just updated and with a new corporate owner. I found a company history timeline on their webiste:

History of the Pinkerton Detective Agency | Pinkerton

Historians have a rather jaded view of the "value" of Pinkerton's intelligence work for the Union during the Civil War, by the way. And their later work as a PMC for the corporations during industrial conflicts didn't make them terribly popular. But they seem to have adapted nicely and gone global.

I think Allan Pinkerton was a definite asset, to the Confederacy! He over estimated the South's manpower time and time again and kept his friend George McClellan from attacking numerous times.