The recent thread about getting an heirloom gun made me pull out my dad's NYPD service revolver. Trying to pin down the date a little better than what I could find using the Std Catalog.
Pre model 10, serial C1329XX; shows somewhere between 1948 and 1952. I THINK my dad joined the force in 1950.

I was also wondering if anyone has any insight on the NYPD serial number stamped on the backstrap -whether these were issued by NYPD or if the officer bought his own and they assigned the number for some other purpose?

One neat feature is the Made in the USA Pachmayr version of the Tyler T grip - for some reason it does NOT fit any of my other K frames but it really does make holding and firing a lot more comfortable and accurate.

TIA.

C1329XX indicates probable shipment around late 1950, possibly into 1951. No help on the NYPD number. There are some cop gun collectors here that might be able to help.

Back in the day, WAY before my day, NYPD revolvers were stamped with the officer's name and shield number. But they were always the property of the officer and not the NYPD. We had to buy the gun and it was yours when you retired.

That went away eventually. But in 1950, it was surely going on.

If I had my dad's 67 year old service revolver, I'd pay the money to have it looked at gun S&W. it probably needs a tune up. I wouldn't refinish it, but I'd get it looked at.

Enjoy that revolver. Pass it down to your kids as Granpa's gun.

RMRivas is a member here. He has actual log entries with the gun and officer name. He might even have your dad's. Shoot him a PM. He's the expert here.

Thanks for the contact!

My Dad also was NYPD, 1941-1978. His duty revolver, a 4" M&P, is stamped on the backstrap with his patrolman's shield number. AFAIK that was the practice in those days. I feel very lucky to have it & plan on passing it on to my son.

AFAIK, the name was always optional, and while not uncommon, was not general practice. One finds it usually on older revolvers, and it was ordered done privately by the officer. I have a Colt PP from 1915 with the name engraved on the side. The shield number stamping (butt or backstrap) was general practice, but petered out in the 1950s. I have a NYPD-shipped M&P from 1959 that does not have it (I know the name and shield no. that goes with that gun), and I have not encountered a later gun with a stamped number.

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This is an early post war M&P with the U.S. made Pachmayr grip adapter. It's great to have your dads duty gun. Someone mentioned sending it back to S&W for a tune-up but I believe if it doesn't have a model number S&W won't touch it, but if it's functioning fine get out and enjoy it.

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Jeff