Was reading Taffin's Big Bore Sixguns this morning and got to thinking....up until about what, 1985, the Revolver was King for American Law Enforcement. Today, every now and then you'll see a 1911 in a holster, and I know the Des Moines PD, some of their old timers still carry a revolver. I think Idaho State Police issued a 3.5" 27.

All that said, any forum members who are full time LEO's carry a revolver for a primary? If so what make and model?

Has anyone seen Police / Sherriff's carryin a revolver, and if so what make and model? Any N Frames out there?

Thanks all!

Just this past week I ran into four members of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol motorcycle unit. They were eating lunch at the same place I was. I talked with them for a few minutes and noticed the one sitting nearest me was carrying a wheel gun. I had to ask him about it. It was a nickel model 57!

The Trooper said he takes some grief from his peers about carrying an antique, but he much preferred a revolver.

It was nice to see a great wheel gun still in the service of our state.

Okie, thanks for the reply, did you happen to notice what grips he had on it? Thanks again.

When visiting The small Toen of Bramwell Wv. 1 of the city Officers walked By Carrying a S&W Revolver possibly a L Frame,Neat little town at the turn of The Century there were quite a few Millionair's Living there all The Wealthy Coal Barons Once Lived there.

As much as I like revolvers if I was on the job today a service sized auto makes sense. This really came home to me during my last LEOSA qualification. I was shooting my Model 38 while everyone around me was using their Glocks. I qualified w/a score of 85% but the autos reloaded and shot much faster w/equal or better accuracy.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

There is a guy on this forum.. Dabney? That still packs a revolver.

He posted recently about qualifying with his HB .38.

Tickles me spitless to hear of the old timers that are still doin' it with the old rigs.

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Eccentric old coot

Me too. Love revolvers. Started with a Model 19, 4 inch issued by my PD. Ended with a Glock 22. I love my revolvers but IF I was still working I would take the Glock with a 15 round magazine any day. But it would have been fun to carry a revolver the last week of work. But then again, with my luck that would have been the time I needed to use it to save my life or the life of another....yea, I think I would have kept with the Glock.

No shrug Emoji so...

But I have not seen any on duty officer wearing a revolver in many, many years here in Wisconsin. But anything is possible. I did see an armored truck guard wearing one recently but I did not stare much less ask what it was. She was working and well, you know.

I visited the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond about a month ago and they have their own PD. All carrying 4" M64 .38 revolvers. Since VA DOC is in the transition to Glock 23s, they may be the last agency in the Commonwealth armed with sixguns.

A friend of mine joined the local sheriff Dept and has always been a revolver guy but had to admit that firepower is the key and instead of a 4" model 29---he carrys a Glock in 45ACP.

What I'm wondering are there any guys out there still carrying a revolver. Thread is not to debate auto's vs revolvers. I wonder if there are any guys out west carrying a 27 or a 28.

Most likely they wouldn't allow him to carry a revolver, most PD's and SO's require guys to carry whats issued or on an approved department list.

I'm talking about guys that have been on the job for 30 + years and still have not made the transition.

If a fellow knows what he's doing, either one will do.

Do a search for Dabney on this forum he has started a goodly number of threads about being an old timer and packing a revolver as a duty gun today.

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Eccentric old coot

In the make-believe world of TV, I've always been surprised that the young nerdy character that plays an FBI profiler on the series Criminal Minds carries what looks to be a 2.5" 686 in a shoulder holster. Somehow I doubt the FBI would allow that.

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Chris
SWCA #2243 SWHF #292

SOME OLD DICKS OR DESK JOCKEYS MAY STILL CARRY A J FRAME AS A PRIMARY…..

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

I think NYPD still has a couple thousand, give or take, uniformed officers carrying S&W K frame Model 10 or 64, but the numbers are fewer each year as grandfathered members of service either retire or switch over to a semi-auto.

That's one way of saying it

Sheriffoconee carries a S&W 940 in his pants pocket and at times carries the S&W 10 snubbie that his father carried as an F.B.I. agent.

The CA prison system still uses revolvers mostly, though they are changing over to Glocks over the next couple of years. "Prison guards" are unusual though in that they deal primarily with long guns and not hand guns. When they actually shoot something it is usually a rifle or a 37mm, not a hand gun.

Lots of cops carry one of the airweight j-frames as a backup gun under their vest, in a pocket, or other location.

As a primary? Yeah. They are around. Anywhere from NYCPD to small town depts and rural sherif depts. Almost always old timers.

There is no advantage to revolvers for police work except using what you know and are good with from your original training. Those still using them certainly deserve their respect though.

The grips were factory targets. Nothing particularly special or aftermarket. Glad to reply, been looking for an opportunity to tell that little story.

I like Dabney's posts too. I'm always pleased to see him telling about still doing it old school on the job.

The local sheriff's department used to carry model 10's up until a few years ago. Now most if not all are carrying 40 S&W glocks. Frank

I did some work in a few Federal buildings 5 years ago, that required a pretty extensive background check. The uniformed Feds that guarded the entrances were all carrying .357 Colts.

A recent and great post:
A mighty GOD and his servant's Model 10

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Possum—The other white meat!

I'm a PA DOC Corrections Officer and we still carry S&W 65's loaded with .38 +P's. Mostly 65-5's, with a few newer -6's and I think the odd -4 and -3 mixed in. Most have Pachmayr Grippers, some Uncle Mikes for the -6's, a few with the original wood Magna PC's. I love wheelguns and it's fun to shoot the relatively easy qual course every year with these 65's.

The "rigs" are nothing special, when we have a hospital trip or some other reason to carry a 65 we just undo our belt and slide the Don Hume leather holster and the double speed loader pouch on. The gun is more of a "show of force" we're only to use it as an absolute no other option last resort to protect life. In other words you better be darn sure you or someone else is absolutely going to die unless you shoot.

PA is a bit backward in certain areas so likely the 65's will soldier on for several more years until enough of them wear out from annual quals to warrant replacement with some kind of auto. Given this state's somewhat stubborn resistance to change the PA DOC will probably just order new 64's to replace them, since they don't seem to trust us with autos. The CERT team, however, recently got Glock .45's, I don't know the model number I'm not a Glock o Phile. I can name every dash number of 65 in service at my prison but can't name the Glock

We're not "LEO"'s but we're kind of in the same family tree, so to speak

Many state DOC's seemed to cling to the wheelgun and 12 gauge pump much longer then police agencies, probably due to the fact that we're not police and our weapons are purely for defense, we don't drive around stopping crime, the guns are for protection for events like taking inmates to hospitals or Dr. appointments. So there isn't as much of an urgent need to "upgrade" to auto loaders that will be locker dust magnets and belt ornaments, for the most part, when the revolvers will serve just as well. Plus revolvers are more "dummy proof", you drop the rounds in the cylinder, close it and holster it. Reverse when you get back from the trip. The less people messing with mags and racking slides, unloading the chamber, probably the better.

I posted this pic before, from the Fallen Deputies Memorial a couple of years ago. A S&W 627 Pro. 8 rounds of 357 Magnum with a couple of speed loaders is plenty. Even though the tactical ballistic nylon and velcro crowd may disagree, it works for me.

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Tom
"Panem et Circenses"

I would say you are very well armed. Gotta love the 8 shooters.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

Like the Trooper I ran into last week, you sir, are my hero!
Good on you.

I have a friend in a smaller county who carries a plastic gun on his duty belt, but a K frame 38 in a shoulder holster under his uniform jacket. He has a very loose "backup" list for his department.

I'd move the cuff case off the center of my back, and I can't remember how long it's been since I switched to a double case.

NYPD has a few hundred, at most, grandfathered officers who still carry .38 revolvers. (Sounds like a lot until you remember that they are over 30K sworn.) Going through O'Hare a few years ago, I chatted with a CPD officer who was still carrying a revolver; can't recall what model. I knew an officer here who on occasion would carry a 625MG in 45ACP.

As for Oklahoma HP, they seem to have a pretty flexible policy unlike most state agencies and their silly uniformity fetish. Met one 25 or so years ago during a Motor Carrier inspection who was carrying a 1911.

The reality is that it is simply much harder to shoot a revolver well (that is, both fast and accurately). Doable, but much more training time intensive. As a rule, that is not a good use of limited and expensive time for most agencies, and there is also a lot less access to properly tested service ammo in revolver calibers. There are also a lot fewer options in duty appropriate security holsters. The old school gun buckets simply don't cut it today. They didn't then, either, but we know more about safety and offender behavior.

I like my revolvers, but I am not near as proficient as one should be to carry one as a duty weapon. (But I in fact do have a Level 3 holster for a 4" N frame I could use for any of the 3.)

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NHI, 10-8.

Since I opened my shop, I have been carrying a M64HB. All I can say is that if I had to carry that everyday for 10-12 hours, I would quit! I have no idea how some of you carried these boat anchors every day let alone a N frame 28. I think I may switch to my lightweight Colt Commander

I carry a 627 Pro Series, four speed loaders and four full moon clips plus a baton, a Taser, a flashlight, a Swiss Army tool , two pair of handcuffs and a walkie talkie. I also have a Ruger LCR in my offhand pants pocket. I am the last one in my agency that carries a revolver. I still beat all those auto guys on the dueling tree regularly. The revolver shoots where I am looking, it is very reliable and it comes to hand very quickly.

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Thank you for your concern Doug M. The location of my handcuffs works for me while working as a Mounted Deputy in this type of detail. Without going into a lot of boring mounted arrest tactics, this setup works for accessing cuffs with either hand. This is in the unlikely event I have to arrest someone at a parade function....

If working regular mounted patrol or in support of ground units at some type of event, I'm using another duty belt which is set up differently. We're usually working in large crowds or breaking up fights in support of ground units so handcuffs aren't a major part of the battle plan while on horses. If I do need to deploy cuffs, while working with 1 or 2 other Mounted Deputies, this works out just fine.

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Tom
"Panem et Circenses"

I think the concern is that in the event of a fall, the cuffs over the spine may cause even a minor impact to result in serious and painful injury. This would be even worse if falling from a horse.

I carry my cuffs next to the belt buckle so I can reach them with either hand. It is a good looking rig you have there. The 627 is a heck of a weapon.

Course he/you still carry a revolver........ he's still riding a horse.......!!!!!!!

Where's the Winchester 92 and is the computer mounted on the saddle horn?????


LOL just pulling your....... reins!

texmex got my concern right. Although not a common problem, the risk is severe. There was a case some years ago (I'm getting old, probably more than 20 years ago) written up as an article (I think in The Police Marksman, but don't rely on that memory either) by a guy who ended up paralyzed that way.

I also have relatively short arms for my size, and sadly, a bit more diameter than I should. (Means no reaching around back, but I also didn't have to put anything past about 4 or 8 o'clock.) My cuff case was up front and just to the side of the buckle.

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NHI, 10-8.

I retired (officially) in 1980. Our department and most all departments mandated 38 spl. 4" or 5" S&W or Colt revolvers. Mine didn't furnish, had to buy your own. (I preferred that)
As soon as I went into investigative services I purchased and packed one of the original S&W Model 39 ones. I've always been a 9mm guy. It was easier to carry than a revolver with that shape.
About the last two years of patrol services, I bought a Colt 357 Trooper. (Good revolver)
I regret ever parting with that Model 39. It's M&P Shield 9 today.
About the time I retired I bought a H&K P7M8 and still have it.
One of H&K's best but too costly to manufacture and required a high sell price. I guess the German police departments got a near
cost price back then. It was their design request.
I feel it was a good decision to go to semi autos. The 9mm is coming back due to bullet development.
I've felt they have always been soft shooters.

"The streets are paved with the sun bleached bones of Lieutenants that wouldn't listen to their Sergeants"

-Lt. Gen. Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, USMC

My LT carries a 629 with two speedloaders.....lever actions are approved if you go through a course that the agency teaches. Several guys carry 1911s...

Once in awhile I still see older NYPD officers carrying revolvers.

A few years ago I did see a younger officer with brand-new looking gear carrying an old .38 in a beat-to-hell holster, I'm not sure how he managed that since as far as I know the only options available for new officers are: G19, P226, or a 5946. I'm guessing it was his father's.

About 8-9 years ago I was driving on I30 in western Arkansas and saw some inmates doing cleanup along the highway. They were watched by a pair of horse mounted, uniformed men but I couldn't tell if they were corrections officers or sheriff's deputies. One had a S&W revolver with target stocks and it looked like a 4" N frame to me.

Maybe 5 years ago on a visit to Chicago I saw a senior cop (a Lt. or Captain not a patrol officer) with a group of cops watching a street event (some sort of fair). He had what looked to me like a 4" K frame with target stocks in his holster. I said hello and told him it was really cool to see an officer wearing a revolver. Well, he did NOT want to talk to me about his pistol and I felt lucky I got away without being arrested or beaten.

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No life story has happy end.

I work in Law Enforcement and I just picked up a snub nosed Model 19-2 blued that I will be qualifying with this coming week and I will be carrying it for work and will alternate it with my issued Sig and my personal 1911 has my primary duty weapons. I don't work in patrol position so I have the flexibility to use non issued weapons has my primary has long has I qualify with it.

All of the LEO's at the Smithsonian still carry revolvers. I know they're Smiths, but I never asked them what model. Worked there for a few years and never bothered to ask ... shame on me.

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High Caliber History

Yep, Saxon, I can relate. A fellow who is nervous to talk to the public, well I guess he is in the wrong line of work.

I have seen a Dallas policeman here and there carrying a revolver. H. Ross Perot bought all of DPD's officers pistols about a generation ago, and I think he gave them choices between Glocks and SIGs and Berettas, but I can't recall for sure. Still, from time to time I see a revolver in an LEO's holster.

I don't think DPS Troopers are permitted to carry revolvers but I could be wrong. I think they carry pistols in .357 SIG. But some LEOs across the state still can choose wheelguns as far as I know.

Hey Thomas, Why the moon clip in the gun and speed loaders in the pouches.

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Take my advice Im not using it

I don't know about Thomas, but some guys that don't really like moon clips that much will still carry one in the cylinder. It makes ejection really positive and pretty much eliminates the chance of getting one hung up under the ejector star. My experience with the 8 shot 357 is that I can actually load a little faster with the speed loader than I can with the moon clip. The speed loader seems to keep the cartridges lined up better. In the moon clip, they have more wiggle room and sometimes it takes a second to get them to all go in the holes at the same time. I even use Hornady Critical Defense ammo because the pointy bullets make it faster to reload and also because it is a pretty good round. I'm trying to get our local law enforcement distributor to get Critical Duty in for me in 357 Mag.

The pouches I use are actually made to be mace pouches. I carry a moon clip in the bottom of each one and a speed loader on top. The moon clips are easier to get out of the deep part of the pouch (just stick your finger in the hole in the middle). Trying to get a speed loader out of the deep part of the pouch means you have to try to get two fingers down in there and there is a chance you will dump the cartridges while pulling the speed loader out. The speed loaders also mean that if something happens to my primary revolver, I can dump cartridges out of the speed loaders to reload my LCR back up revolver. The speed loader are also easier to un load and load at the range for qualification. I have the Five Star 8 speed loader loading block and it is super for swaping out duty ammo for practice ammo.

Thanks for explaining the thinking there texmex. Also a great idea with the mace pouches and the clips in the bottom. Cheers, Theo

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Take my advice Im not using it

Dr. Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) carries as his main weapon a 3" barrel Smith & Wesson Model 65 with wood grips in thumb break holster in front of his right hip. It looks very uncomfortable the way he wears it. The FBI has allowed the 65 to be carried since it came out,as far as I know it still is but not many if any still carry it.

Over 100 NYPD cops still have service revolvers, and many many more use them for off duty.

Still seeing plenty of m10 and m64's on Buds and other sites for sale stated as police dept trade ins. Must be a few still out there.

I wish this was true, but the Bureau hasn't allowed any revolvers since 2001.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”