I just received my authenticating letter from Roy Jinks on my 1939 M&P nickeled revolver! It was shipped in the year I was born, and acquired only very recently.





Here's the scoop from Roy:

We have researched your Smith & Wesson .38 Military and Police Model of 1905 Fourth Change, caliber .38 S&W Special. Company records indicate that this handgun serial number 6707xx was shipped from the factory on August 30, 1939 and delivered to Department of Police, City of Richmond, IN; attn. E.H. Duckett. The records indicate that this revolver was shipped with a 4 inch barrel, nickel finish, and checkered walnut silver medallion square butt grips. This shipment was for a single unit and it was billed at the police price of $24.00. We have enclosed a copy of the invoice for your records.

The invoice notes that E.H. Duckett was the Chief of Police for the City of Richmond!

So it turns out that this may very well have been Chief Duckett's sidearm! It does not appear to have been carried or shot much, as you can see from the picture above.

I've tried to Google information on Chief Duckett to no avail. Does anyone here have access to information on him? I'm tickled at this result, as the gun now has provenance as a police service weapon! Any further information that can be dug up would be very much appreciated!

John

__________________
- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

John

That gun is in mint condition,which, of course, is very nice! I have to wonder if it actually saw much, if any, police service, given its condition.

I think it was not uncommon for police weapons to be shipped to the chief, but it may have been for someone else on the force. Or, it might have been for the chief himself.

Regardless of who it was for, it survived in magnificent condition.

Enjoy it, Mike Priwer

The actual receiving entity for the gun was officer John Rizio according to the invoice, but the gun was specifically sent to the attention of Chief Duckett. That's all I know for sure now...

John

__________________
- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

John IIRC you searched long and hard to find it.
I'm very happy for you.
Regards
Paul

The old adage of good things come to those who wait showed here.

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

Did they have BBQs in Indiana? Maybe 'Sunday got to meeting' category? Somewhere out there is an empty carved leather accessory...

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Randy
Provenance nerd

Thanks - you may recall that the reason I wanted a gun configured exactly as this one is that when I was a small boy, a nice bank guard at the bank where my dad worked took the trouble to show me his revolver that he was carrying in his holster. I recalled it in some detail - and this one is its virtual twin!

John

__________________
- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

It sure is purty.
Has some sweet bling appeal. Glad you found it.

The Chief's first name was Ellis. Found some clippings, but only one photo, in a group. I'll see if I can capture it for you and post it.

Edit: Not exactly Hi-Def. I'll poke around for better photos a bit more.
Edit: Not finding any more photos, just arrest clippings. Would have been nice to find a pic of him wearing or shooting it. Oh well.

MANY thanks for checking that out! I'll look forward to seeing what you came up with - good show!

John

__________________
- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

It might have been a sample gun. That would explain both why it was specifically directed toward the Chief, and why it does not show any signs of actually having seen duty.

But as Mike said above, it is very common for guns shipped to police departments to letter “Attn: Chief XX”, just like guns shipped to Army installations often letter to the “Commanding Officer”, without that gentleman necessarily being the final recipient.

Attached Images

dsc V626.jpg (52.1 KB, 485 views)

I am no fan of nickel guns, but that one is absolutely beautiful.
Congratulations on a long sought prize.

$24 in 1939 is worth $445.12 today, depending on where you look it up.


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congrats, cool and beautiful. very nice. kenny

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Too good

Congrats on the grail. Beautiful!!


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Congrats on gorgeous birth year nickel 1905!
Not sure if Richmond Indiana news article I found online is same John Rizio but possibly could be. Here are contents of front page of pictured newspaper article.

The Palladium- Item - December 23, 1953
John Rizio and Sgt. Elwood Clark, Lawrence Harris, Harold Ryan and ... ft - MM II- '"II I . I . Patrolman Norman Seikel takes the part of Robert Dowling, escaped prisoner, while Patrolman Capt. John Rizio in re-enacting hotel. Fourth and Main streets. , Seikel shows how Dowling der a hat on the bureau in Room Rizio, shows how Rizio lunged at Dowling's wrist, starting to disarm him. Day's News Spotlight Focused On Richmond Police As Reporters, Cameramen Quiz Captors OF Convicts Richmond became a focal point of national interest Wednesday morning as word spread of the daring capture by local police of the two escaped convicts from Michi gan. Telephones jangled in the Rich mond police station and at The Palladium-Item as newspapers from Detroit, New York, Chicago and other large cities wanted ah on-the-spot account of the capture of the pair. Movie cameras were set up in the police station in order to obtain sequences for use on nation-wide televsion news casts Mayor Lester E. Meadows lauded the officers and the police department for their alertness and determination in catching the convicts. "I'm very proud of the department," the mayor said. "The work by the department in the last three davs has demonstrated the ef ficiency and co-operation that exists. The citizens of Richmond have a real police department." Two guards from the Jackson, Mich., prison returned the escaped convicts to solitary confinement in Cell Block 15 Wednesday evening. That was the scene of the prison mutiny in April, 1952. Eight of the 13 escaped convicts are already in solitary confinement there. Three more were due there Wednesday night from Detroit, j where they were nabbed Monday. Photos taken bv The Palladium- Item were driven to Dayton, Ohio, v 'A N I ife - ' l ArMf 1 I ffy -.- v. ? i ?,4 Richmond police department took and the two prisoners, Roman Police Chief Lucas Rone, Harold Ryan, "stands in" for Dowling s capture at the Mack attempted to grab a gun from un 10 in the hotel. Ryan, posing as for transmission by wirephoto to newspapers over the country. A Tuesday edition of a Detroit oaDer was noticed in the office of The Palladium-Item telling of the two of 13 escaped convicts that were still at large. In a two-line six-column banner the paper said, "Police Press Hunt For Last 2 Felons." Another head- line said "Toughest of 13 Escapees Still At Large." Sgt. Elwood Clark said both men were about "out on their feet" for lack of rest. The two thugs told Clark that they had not slept except for short naps since their escape from prison. That amounted to about 82 hours. One of the men, asked how far it was to Kentucky. When an officer replied that it was about 70 miles, the man replied, "We wouldn't have made it anyway, I was too tired." The convicts were thought to have entered Richmond by way of U. S.-27 although they had not traveled that route all the way from Jackson,. Mich., from where they escaped. "We couldn't," one man said, "there were too many cops. In Detroit they were really breathing down our necks," he added. Both men appeared clean shaven, Dowling was dressed in a rumpled brown suit while Usiondek was attired in grey slacks and a green shirt. When arrested Dowling had $7.62 in cash and Usiondek had $9.47. . Usiondek is the larger of the two men. He is about five feet. eleven inches tall and of a husky rl Sj xF -s-eS VI V v j - ' I Dart in the capture of the Michigan convicts here Wednesday. Left to right, front row, are Capt Usiondek and Robert Dowling; Captain John Rizio, at the camera, and Robert Matheny, for spotting the parked auto of two escaped Michigan prisoners. The two men, patrolling on South Third street, spotted the car and asked for a stolen car check on it. It turned out to be one stolen from Detroit on Monday night. A young Detroit engineering salesman, Robert D. Fulmer, jr., parked it in front of his girl's house to pick her up, leaving the motor running. Returning in less than a minute, the car had disappeared. A neighbor told Fulmer that two men had just driven the car away. Fulmer, just back from a business trip into Ohio, had planned to leave Thursday for a holiday in Philadelphia. He reported to police the car was covered with mud from his trip to Ohio. i build. He weighs about 185 pounds. , Dowling is smaller and is about j five feet, nine inches tall, weighs about 150 pounds. He According to the International News Service, three of five persons in Detroit who were placed under police guard while Usiondek roamed in freedom expressed relief when told of his recapture, When Usiondek was tried for murder he had vowed revenge on all the persons that had testified i againsi mm. Mrs. Frances Kanarsk, sister of Pete Kubert, one of Usiondek's two murder vcitims, left her home immediately to go Christmas shopping in downtown Detroit. She testified in Usiondek's murder trial and was placed under police guard once his escape was announced. Mrs. Edward Lowandowski and a brother, Steve Janowski, also said to be on Usiondek's "revenge list," were joyful at the news pnth h. CnHoi fo,re ih.t !!,inn. dek w ould come to their homes "disguised as Santa Claus and kill us." "What a Christmas present!" de- clared Mrs. Lowandowski. Circuit Court Commissioner Tom Pasieczny, former assistant Wayne county (Detroit) prosecutor, who piloted the state's case against Usiondek, was returned from Windsor, Ont., where police took him for safekeeping. Pasieczny was not immediately available for comment. The whereabouts of the fifth person marked for death by Usion dek were not learned. Usiondek was convicted in 1942 of a holdup murder of a Ham - back row, left to right, Patrolmen left, commends Officers Larry tramck, Mich., restaurant owner. He has been in prison 11 years on a sentence ot me lor muraer ana another 25 to 40 year sentence for armed robbery. Dowling has been in prison one year where he is serving concurrent terms of three to four years for larceny from a building and one to 15 years for breaking and entering in Detroit last May. The gun which two escaped prisoners from Michigan haa in their room when captured Wednesday is held by Police Captain Rizio, who disarmed the prisoner. French Christmas Mail Piling Up Due To Strike PARIS tiPl French soldiers moved i into post offices and railroad sta- in and out of the French capital i for the second day. iTD Pair Is Surprised In Room Of Hotel Men Surrender After Brief Struggle; Returned To Solitary Confinement Alert observation and fast, determined action on the part of Pachmond police officers early Wednesday morning brought about the capture of two widely-sought convicts from the Jackson (Mich.) rrisnn. Roman Usiondek, 37 years old, reported to oe a psycopauuc killer, and Robert Edward Dowling, 33, were apprehended by a quartet of Richmond officers after a brief but furious struggle in a room at the Mack hotel. Fourth and Main streets. Guards from the Michigan prison left here Wednesday afternoon at 1 o'clock with their prisoners. The men were handcuffed to one another and placed in the rear of a prison station wagon. The specially-equipped vehicle was due back at the prison before 6 p. m., and the men will be placed in solitary confinement. Police officers watched as the men were led out of the City building, where they had been kept behind bars for about eight hours. A heavy steel wire mesh separated the driver and guard from their prisoners. The capture was made as the result of what Police Chief Lucas Rohe termed "excellent police work." The capture of the two culminated 36 hours of exceptional police activity and brought from Mayor Lester E. Meadows immediate words of commendation. On Monday night, Chief Rohe, co-operating with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), led his men in the capture of a Richmond ex-convict wanted for a Minnesota bank robbery. Less than 10 hours later, after a sharp gun battle following two filling station holdups, two men (Ohio bandits) were captured. See Two Loaves Of Bread At about 1:30 a. m. Wednesday, Patrolman Lawrence Harris and Robert Matheny spotted a late model Michigan automobile parked in the first block of South Third street. The car was splattered with mud, and, on inspection, the police discovered two open loaves of bread and a bottle of ketchup in the car. Cigarette butts were scattered over the floor of the car. The officers reported their find to Captain Rizio at headquarters and they watched the car for nearly four hours. At about 5 a. m., Sgt. Elwood Clark and Patrolmen Harold Ryan and Norman Seikel, led by Captain Rizio, entered the Mack hotel, Fourth and East Main streets. Upon inquiry of Earl French, desk clerk, it was discovered two men answering the description of the two escaped convicts had registered at the hotel about 9:15 Tuesday night. ine men nad no baggage and had walked into the hotel from the direction where the Michigan car had been parked, the clerk told the officers. The men had been assigned to Room No. 10, police were told. The four officers went up to the designated room. Capt. Rizio knocked on the door of the room. The convicts inside demanded to know who was at the door. "It's the police," Rizio said. When there was no answer Rizio ordered the men to open the door or it would be kicked in. Door la Opened A moment later Dowling opened the door. He was in his underclothes and apparently had just left his bed. Usiondek, apparently still half asleep, was seated on the edge of the bed, also in his underclothes. The four officers entered the room and began questioning the men. "We've found a Michigan car parked down by the corner and we'd like to talk to you fellows about it," Capt. Rizio told the convicts. The men, at first evasive and uninformative, gave their names as John O'Conner and Joe Beck.Capt. Rizio demanded proof of the identification and after a measured pause Dowling said. "Yes, I've got identification. I'll show you." He then started for a bureau in the room where his hat lay. Capt. Rizio followed a step behind the cornered convict. Reaches For Gun When he reached the bureau the convict lifted the hat up with his left hand and grabbed a 7.65 millimeter German automatic from under the hat with his right hand. "This is my identification," Dowling snarled at Rizio. Rizio seized the convict's wrist and with a quick twist sent the gun spinning from Dowling's hand. After a brief but heated struggle Capt. Rizio subdued Dowling while the other officers were holding Usiondek. There was one shell in the gun firing chamber, but the clip was not in the gun. but was near by. Extra shells were In a paper sack. Both men were brought to police headquarters where, after further questioning, they admitted they were the escaped convicts, j In a cardboard box found in the convicts' car police discovered an 18-inch, leather covered lead pipe. Road maps and other papers were piled in the box. (PAIR IS SURPRISED) (Continued on Page Two)

Attached Images

Rizio Article Palladeum.jpg (43.2 KB, 54 views)

Hey John, it looks like your man was Ellis Hawley Duckett. Born on 21 Oct 1901 in Union County, Indiana to William Duckett and Anna (Paddock) Duckett. A quick browse through the city directories shows that he was a career police officer, who served as the chief of police for some years. He died on 23 Jul 1975 in Richmond, Indiana, which suggests that he spent his entire life in the Hoosier state.

Email me at [email protected] and I'll share some documentation about Ellis that you can keep with your gun.

Mike

that wouldn't be a good deposit now

Cool! And by coincidence, to his right, is a Sergeant Bemus from my old department, Denver PD. Small world, and I imagine a lot smaller back then...

Appears Mr. Ellis Duckett was a life long residence of Richmond IN. The 1930 census shows a young 23 year old working for the Police Department along with the 1940 census and his WW II draft card registration. He passed away in 1975 and his death certificate says he was a retire Police Office. I see they buried him in Modoc IN as I attached a shot from the Find A Grave webpage for his memorial.

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	death certificate Ellis H Duckett.JPG (144.2 KB, 30 views)
	WW II Draft Card E H Duckett.jpg (168.0 KB, 25 views)
	E H Ducket tombstone.JPG (30.0 KB, 34 views)
	1930 census E H Ducket.jpg (15.4 KB, 19 views)
	1940 census E H Ducket.jpg (13.9 KB, 15 views)

Lots of detective work going on here! Congrats on the awesome revolver!

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Pass it on.
Mark

To all the very resourceful folks who provided all the amazing information on Mr. Duckett - THANKS! It's very seldom that much is known about the original purchaser or user of a firearm!

John

__________________
- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I just moved from Richmond, IN 2 years ago! Such a cool gun and story. I knew a lot of the RPD officers and Wayne Co. Sheriff Deputies. Shot with a few at PPC matches. Glad that beautiful revolver found a home with you! Enjoy :-)

The best nickel guns are the ones that haven't been shot and are not going to be shot. Like this one, a real prize!
Happy Birthday~~