In my first year (1971) of police work the Model 10-5, with a 4-inch tapered barrel and in blue steel, was our PD-issued service revolver. At that time in my life all of my hydraulics and plumbing was on-line! I was young and indestructable, or so I thought. I was, what the vets called, badge heavy. A phenomena that can, and does, affect a lot of new cops just starting out. The most likely patients of this illness are young, just starting out, cops! For myself, I got over it in a short period of "learning-it-the-hard-way" trial and error. The reason I'm even mentioning this to my friends here at the forum is to better frame the state of mind I was in back in 1971 as a "rook" of the highest order at our PD here! The badge heavy illness started quickly with me, after I got out on my own in the squad car answering calls. No one looking over my shoulder now telling me this or that, heck fire, I knew it all, or so I thought, foolish young man that I was! My firearms knowledge had not yet developed for this know-it-all cop and I, like the other young cops, thought I needed a .357 to replace my Model 10-5 and my Colt OP that I was qualified with too. I, at that time, thought the .38 antiquated and not strong enough for a modern cop to carry. I got my .357, a Ruger Security-Six, still have and still love! I just didn't know that I was already in command of the "best" in quality service revolvers. Later, as I started settling down, I came to realize just how "limited" I really was, in character and skills, and an absolute lack of humility! Accepting the Son of GOD into my life got me going into the RIGHT direction. It was only when the "greatest" of great things that has ever happened to me, becoming one with CHRIST did I start to realize my weakness and through HIM and HIM alone did I become strong and became quiet. Not this same blathering man, annoying to some, but loved by the world that says more is never enough!

If I were to be put back out on the street again, my Colt OP, Model 10-5, or Ruger Security-Six .357 would be in my duty holster! I was grand-fathered in with my Colt back in 92 when the PD went to the S&W 4586 Pistol from the Model 66. I retired, then went back to work again in law enforcement as a Deputy Sheriff in charge of security at a government complex (HHS Building) here in Columbus. This place is affectionately called Fort Apache, where wayward souls, in need of help (welfare) come to and also a palce that supports and houses 5-different mental health clinics. Heck fire, I just thought I had retired. Fort Apache is jumping with anti-social behavior all-the-time! Thank the good LORD for the taser we have now! The best thing, in law enforcement, to come along since the wheel! I have collected many sixguns over the passing years but only these mentioned here go to work with me. The Python I dreamed of as a "rook", I have, to include some other nice six-shooters I have been blessed with. But my 10-5, OP, and Security-Six (been with me since 73) would be in my duty holster ahead of the current issued S&W M&P .45 Pistol. It is, as most of you know, a polymer made, square-looking auto-loader that is matt-black and, for me, just plain ugly! Proficient and reliable these S&W .45 Pistols are, for sure. But not for an Old School cop, who was fortunate enough to have started when the "best" was issued, the Model 10-5. Those sixguns could "still" do the job, this, I steadfastly stand by!
Thank you my friends for your patience with an old lawman!

David

I haven't had your law enforcement experience, but my head-of-the-bed home defense gun is a 1966 four-inch 10-5 I wouldn't trade for anything. I love the K-frames, and the J's. My EDC is a .38 Special +P 640.

Years ago I had a Security Six and foolishly traded it away. I'm very much a revolver man.