Since, I tapped the gun fund for a while yesterday, I was idly looking online late last night. Then, I spotted it!
It was in a North Georgia Cabela's store about 10 minutes south of the Tennessee state line. I am on vacation this week. So, I called and the gun was indeed still there and yes they would trade! I threw some tradin' fodder in bag and drove the 2 1/2 hours to the store.

It is a 5" S&W 3rd Model.44 special marked for the Providence RI Police. Serial # is 38901 & the backstrap is marked as "PPD 19".
Would this have shipped in 1932? How many did were issued?

I'll replace the stocks in short order. I believe I have a set of the correct ones. How old are the ones on it now?

I am assuming that this was ordered through Wolf & Klar?

I have a 4" that went to them in 1930 also.

Best,
Charles

Attached Images

	IMG_3118.jpg (85.6 KB, 400 views)
	IMG_3119.jpg (102.2 KB, 319 views)
	IMG_3122.JPG (22.1 KB, 274 views)

Sharp looking 44 for sure. Nice find.

# 37585, a 5" blue .44, shipped in March 1931.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Great find, Charles!! Thanks for sharing with us. You have found some real winners lately.

Best Regards, Lea

__________________
SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Finding PD marked 3rd model 44's (Wolf & Klars) is just soooo much darn fun! The only marked one that I have is the Houston (TX) PD version which was shipped to to W&K in a large order. Congrats Charles!

__________________
Randy
Provenance nerd

I'd be surprised to find out it would have gone through W&K - considering that Providence is less than 100 miles from Springfield. Especially since it's a LEO piece.

Does that one have a 'notch' on the left side of the trigger guard? I believe some of the Providence issued guns had their trigger guards relieved to clear the latch on the Audley holsters issued by the department....

Mark

__________________
S&W Forum Member #721

I SUSPECT Providence P.D. did business direct (with S&W). I have but one reason for my suspicion, and that is S&W gave them a K-22/40 ("with grip adapter attached") on March 14, 1940. The serial number is 684418. It was shipped to Sgt. John M. Crowley, Firearms Instructor by Prepaid Express. The cost (presumably the cost to manufacture the gun/grip adapter (and the shipping)) was charged to S&W's advertising account----a whopping $14.55. All this was approved by "H.W."

And if you have a thing for Providence P.D. minutia, send me a P.M. with your mailing address, and a copy of the invoice for the 22/40 will appear in your mailbox.

Ralph Tremaine

And if you get a letter showing your gun was shipped direct to P.P.D., let me know I guessed correctly---it'll help offset the times I've guessed wrong.

Wow man that is so cool ,great gun congratulations .

Nice catch!!

__________________
Life NRA, Life TSRA, C&R FFL

Re W&K: First a SWHF letter would tell you where it shipped. But askide from that... didn't W*K have an exclusive on that model for some time as part of their agreement to guarantee purchases of 500 or so guns? Not sure when that ran out...

__________________
Randy
Provenance nerd

And having belatedly taken notice of your user name, it seems reasonable to assume you might also like to have some other P.D. trivialities. This one is another invoice--another 22/40 ("with grip adapter attached")----given to another police department---Boston---shipped to their "Ballistic Bureau".

Ralph Tremaine

Yup, they did. But I don't know if that would've precluded direct sales to LEO agencies - especially given the relatively close proximity of Providence and Springfield.

Doesn't make sense to ship guns to Ft. Worth, then back to Providence - unless maybe they shipped direct to PPD, and billed through W&K....

Surely someone here has lettered a PPD 3rd model that can answer that question.

Mark

__________________
S&W Forum Member #721

My understanding is that W&K convinced S&W to make the 3rd Model beginning in 1926 but S&W did not catalog it until 1940. It was available for special order during that time frame. W&K did not have an exclusive dealership.

__________________
Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

These should be the correct stocks for the period.

Best,
Charles

Attached Images

	IMG_3137.jpg (90.3 KB, 110 views)
	IMG_3138.jpg (82.7 KB, 78 views)

I've seen pics posted here on these three guns and can't remember who has them. I just got one of the PPD guns and have a few questions......

Best,
Charles

They went through my hands.
Whatcha need?

__________________
Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Lee,
I was curious about the shipping date and if they went directly to Providence PD or via Wolf & Klar. How many were in the shipment?

I just picked up PPD 19 (serial # 38901).

Best,
Charles

Charles,
I don't think they were lettered since I don't have a copy in my files and I don't remember a letter.
I remember hearing they were ordered thru W&K and W&K had them shipped by S&W directly to PPD. Can't say that is true, but it makes sense for saving time and money.
Even though the serial numbers were consecutive, they were numbered PPD 5 / PPD 16 / PPD 45

I see yours has the notch in the trigger guard caused by an Audley Safety Holster. All three of these did.
I also see yours is a Factory refinish. All I have ever seen are.

I merged this thread with your original to keep all the data together.

__________________
Regards,
Lee Jarrett

I found out that all 40 of these went back to S&W in March 1965 for refurbishing. Mine is marked 365 on the grip frame & came to me with diamond magnas appropriate for '65. I have since replaced these with a period correct set.

Best,
Charles

I just acquired PPD #34. It has the R-S in a square on the left grip frame with a 12 69 date. It also has a hole for a lanyard through the serial numbers (38906) and the number stamped twice on the side of the frame.
It has the most curious refinish I've seen, very nicely polished on the sides and cylinder with the top of the frame all the way around to the backstrap and up under the trigger guard bead blasted with a heavy, non-glare frosting. The front sight has been altered with a flat on the rear and is also matte finished.
The sideplate fit is Very nice and I believe the factory might have done this polished/ semi-matte, dual-textured bluing?

Attached Images

	Left Grip Frame marking-.jpg (58.7 KB, 69 views)
	Left side-.jpg (58.9 KB, 75 views)
	Matted Top frame-.jpg (52.2 KB, 70 views)
	P.P.D.jpg (192.6 KB, 69 views)
	Sideplate fit-.jpg (75.8 KB, 67 views)

Further info from a ship date request.
".44 H.E. Third Model serial 38906 was shipped in August 1931 and is one of Providence RI police department guns. It is one of the few that was shipped direct and not to Wolf & Klar first. Hope that this helps. Roy"

Do you suppose that means that all the PPD guns shipped direct to Providence, or just that particular gun?

Mark

__________________
S&W Forum Member #721

Very cool. I grew up in RI as a kid. Lot's of fond memories. My cousin who is now retired was a Rhody State Trooper. Great history behind these guns. BTW nice find.