I had heard that these existed. They were issued to Louisville KY PD SWAT during the '70s.

I just closed the deal today!

Allow me to introduce y'all to my Louisville PD Model 29:

..that is GREAT...how many departments actually issued .44 Magnums and marked them!!!

Bob

Hey, introduce me to one of its friends! That would be cool as my dad's side of the family is from KY, and that is a prefect shooter grade gun.

Winner! Very cool weapon!

29-2? Serial number? How many did they issue? Anyone know?

Sweet !!!!!!

Nice swap! LOL

hardcase60

Damn...now I have to tell my wife about ANOTHER revolver that I just gotta have. She's gonna kill me, I hope you can live with yourself.
Awesome revolver, thanks for sharing it. I'd like to see some old Louisville PD SWAT photos, just to see how they carried it.

That was one SWAT team that you wouldn't want to mess with. Amazing.

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I type. Therefore I am.

Now that is cool.

When you care to send the very best.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

And probably never loaded officially with anything but .44 Specials.

Before the switch to semi-autos, LPD officers carried N frames, but loaded with non-magnum loads. A lot of them like the heavier frames, and bigger bullets.

For years, magnum ammunition was not allowed. The powers-that-were always believed that magnum ammo would go through walls, people, etc., and kill someone two blocks away.

Great catch!

boy i'd love to have one of those,im from louisville

Nice to see the used a quality stamp instead of the armorer just using letter punches to type LPD

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Jim
Many K and N Frames

Yes it is.

I saw one a couple years back that belonged to a local gunsmith, he may still have it. Also, I worked with a retired Louisville Police Officer that said he was issued one in the early 70's when he was on the SWAT team. I believe his son has it now. I will make some phone calls to verify.

That matches the info I got on this one. Might be the same??

I talked to a retired LPD officer today and he said there were 100 made for the department as their issue gun. He stated that the NAACP got involved because the 44mag was not necessary for law enforcement, so the guns were issued to the SWAT and Commanding officers. I also talked to the gunsmith that owned the one I saw and believe he stated he sold it earlier this year.

Oh yeah. the Seventies. My father's agency issued S&W Model 28 and then went to the Model 65 in the late seventies. But even in Idaho the "horrible" power of the .357 magnum was considered to be controversial so dad's agency issued 110 grain SJHP +P+ 38 Spl. That way the admin could honestly say that the officers might carry 357 magnum revolvers, but the revolvers were loaded with .38 Spl rounds. Very hot .38 Spl rounds, but hey still .38 Spl.

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I type. Therefore I am.

I was a Louisville Housing Authority cop at the time and LPD officers (not just SWAT) could carry Model 29's and a number I knew did. I think "Dirty Harry" had a lot to do with this and a Model 29 was darn hard to find in local gun shops at a reasonable price. The Charter Arms Bulldog .44 Special was also a popular off-duty and backup gun back then.

Thanks for all of the "likes"!!! Now......where can I find a police issued Model 58??!! LOL!

PRC, I've got a San Antonio PD marked model 58, but it's not for sale. I think there's some San Francisco marked 58's out there also. I've never seen a PD marked 29 until tonight. Back in the early 70's we still had to buy our own duty weapons. I was working a real rough area and bought a used 6 1/2" mod 29 sporting coke grips for an intimidation factor as much as anything else. I carried it in a swivel holster that reached my knee. I rode then more than walked or I wouldn't have carried such. Not long after I got it the Dirty Harry movies started and when you could find one the price was out of sight. I made a nice profit on the 29 and bought a mod. 58 that had sat in a display case for years at a LGS for less than $150. I carried it until they issued mod 66's and I no longer had a personal choice for a duty weapon.

A friends Father was a small town police chief and carried a 657 for most of his career. He actually got shot twice in his career. The guy that shot him got out of prison years later and shot at him again. The other time he got shot he shot himself holstering a 686. That was how he met my friends mom. She was the nurse that cared for him in the hospital. They have been happily married for 30 plus years.

Very cool Smith revolver! Congratulations!

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Steve
NJ State Trooper (rtd)

Same here. I carried a 4" blued Model 19. I did, however, know two guys that carried personallly owned .44 magnums. One had a 4" 629 and the other at a different agency used a 4" blued 29. On the other hand, I also knew a deputy that carried a Walther P-38 and one that swore by his Ruger Blackhawk .357 single action. That's been many moons ago......

That is pretty damn cool. Nice catch!

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

Im quoting this for all those who say this only happens with Glocks.

Nice gun btw

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

Very Nice Weapon!

I carried a Model 58 as a rural county deputy. (ammo was silvertip H.P.) Ammo was difficult to find and expensive, (I did not reload) I went back to a Model 29.

And now days, the kids complain that the .40 S&W kick too much.

Ahhhh.... For a return to the days of wooden ships and iron men.

Congrats on a great score. She's a beauty!

Doug

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I only take a knee for God

Very gratifying to learn that a department was able to understand the need for a well armed team and made it happen and that you were able to find one of their .44 Magnums. I do question why PHOTO BUCKET has to remain posted all over your photographs, others mentioned the neat stenciling which I am unable to see. At any rate your find is something to be very proud of and I thank you for sharing.

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Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198

Life given to a 7-year-old thread.

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

Hi smitholdtimer, there was a photobucket revolt a few years back when they decided to no longer offer free hosting.

Most have since migrated to other services, but you can still click on the pic to get the banner-free version.

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- Post No Bills -

DIRTY LOUIE ?
It will never catch on.