Greetings Folks:

I'm wondering if it's worthwhile or even possible to obtain official documentation for 1960s-produced revolvers with government/municipality property markings?

When "lots" or batches of revolvers were procured by government agencies, etc. would they typically be inscribed with property markings at the factory, or would they be applied by the distributor or some other entity prior to receipt?

If one was to send a Letter of Authenticity request to S&W would it include the entity to whom the revolver was made for/shipped to, or would it be a waste of time, money & effort?

Thanks for your anticipated input!

D. T.

Chances are the letter will not tell you much beyond the date of shipment and to where first shipped, nearly always to a retailer or a distributor. A LE gun may have shipped directly to a LE agency, and if so, that would be on the letter. But most guns ultimately went to private individuals. Unless you have reason to believe it originally went to some LE agency, you may be disappointed in the contents of the letter.

In general, I second DWalt's opinion.

Since you asked specifically about 1960s guns with agency property markings, I'm going to qualify this a bit, based on my observations and experience as a (casual) police revolver collector.

Before about mid-century, police guns for police departments were more often than not ordered through local commercial retailers. Very often, a police-marked gun will letter to an ordinary large sporting goods store, giving you no more than confirmation which city it served in if the markings aren't clear. Sometimes you get lucky; I have a 1923 M&P that shipped to a big store in Minneapolis, but the letter noted it was part of an MPD order. I've had others, with obvious police-typical wear, where that info wasn't available.

In later decades, it appears to have become more common for departments and agencies to order in bulk directly from the factory. The larger the city, the more likely a direct order. And some of these ordered factory-stamped markings (which would be noted in the letter), although it is much more common to see department-applied markings.

There are never any guarantees with a letter. But if a 1960s revolver bears department markings that were obviously professionally applied, there is at least a good chance it will letter to that department.

I have an M&P that shipped in 1924 that I know was used by the Philadelphia PD, but the gun didn't ship directly to the PD and the markings were added later.

I also have a Model 10 that shipped in 1971 that is marked to the DC Police, but the gun shipped to a distributor in the Midwest and the markings were added by the department.

Either way, it's a gamble.

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High Caliber History

Thank you gents for your prompt, courteous & informative responses. Your expertise is very much appreciated & couldn't have addressed my concerns any better!

Welcome to the forum.

Let's see some of those I frames in a new thread!

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Thank you sir!


I frames... I don't got no stinkin' I frames

Nice try, but no cigar.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Update: After reading much on this forum I decided to "take the plunge" & get the revolver lettered. I really wasn't expecting much.

To my surprise, it did in fact get shipped to a local distributor...as a mass order for the Iowa Highway Patrol. And the property marking was confirmed to have been applied at the S&W factory.

With the letter, I now have way too much $ in this arm, but it's in beautiful condition, a piece of history, & worth every penny...to me!

Thanks again for all your input.

Iframe32s and I have been conversing about his gun. The dealer it was shipped to was Jay's Sales in Des Moines run by Russ and Callie Lavine in the basement of their home. Russ was a Des Moines city councilman. They stocked Colts and S&Ws.
I bought several S&W models from them while working as deputy in Marion Co. Iowa

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SWCA 1932 SWHF 135