This question is for the 'fine' NYPD seniors, who policed in the 1980's. This was when the S&W Model 64 and the Ruger GP-NY Service Revolvers were the 'two' choices rookie cops selected from, on Gun Day at the Academy.

I have read/heard that the Rodman's Range Staff (Instructors) would encourage the rooks to select the S&W Model 64 as their 'duty' sidearm instead of the Ruger. Is that true?

Also, the Model 64 was the 'favorite' by a wide margin, and no 'encouragement' was necessary for the new recruits, in making this important decision. Is that correct? Many thanks in advance!
David

It's been quite a few years back but I don't really remember the range pushing the Smiths over the Ruger except for the female recruits or guys with small hands I think a 3" Smith was an authorized choice. All the choices were spur less, double action only. I don't recall the Smith model number. The off dutys were a Ruger which was pretty large and a Centennial. I still have my Centennial and it works just as good as the day I took it out of its blue box.

The range guys didn't push either one. You picked them up and held them for a few seconds and chose. Most picked the 64 just because it was a better looking gun, I think. The job used to offer the ruger Service Six before the GPNY. Ruger stopped making the Six series and the job went to the GP. Both the 64 and the GP were available in 3" barrels.

I like rugers. Had a GP100 and have a Service Six now in .357. They're both good looking guns. But for some reason, the spurless models of the Rugers were horribly ugly. The absence of a hammer really throws the looks off.

I can't recall the range guys pushing anyone to pick a specific revolver.I wasn't a gun guy at the time and picked the 64 figured I couldn't go wrong with a smith.

The Model 64 NY-1 is a nice-looking revolver in anybody's book; mine stands guard near the front door of my home...

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Very nice a 3" later model !!!


I have a few myself

Yes Wheelgun28 I believe you do!

Nice 4" RB NY-1 Wheelgun28,That had to be tough to get.

It is a hard variation to find. I had been keeping an eye out then someone on the forum had one for sale and I grabbed it.

The hardest to find is the M-60 NY-1.

The funny thing is you look for somethings for so long you dont stop even after you find one.

A few weeks ago a found a second RB 4" and a M60 NY-1. So now I have two of each...

The M60 is my least favorite gun to shoot, but I search them out...

The Rugers arent the most common guns to find, the 3" GPNY is quite scarce. I bought that from a forum member also

That would be the late 80's. The Early 80's Smith option was the Model 36 (Chief). The 64 (Centennial) came later on.Most recruits had never owned guns before but everyone knew the Smith & Wesson brand. The same couldn't be said for Ruger, which also offered a fine, but bulkier, off-duty weapon. Range instructors, in my experience, never pushed one or the other. I went with the Smith.


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I got this NY-1 marked from a wholesaler in Pa back around 1989. Story was NYPD cancelled the order. Wish I'd bought more. 25 years ago they were happy to move them. Joe

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