The San Antonio Police Department has always had guns shipped by the manufacturer with "S.A.P.D." stamped; on the Colt .45 Single actions on the butt of the weapon. On the Smith & Wesson there were four models marked "SAPD" on the left side forward of the trigger guard - these were the SW Model 10 (both Bull Barrel and "Pencil Barrel"), the SW Model 58 .41 Magnum and the SW Model 65 .357 Magnum (The Colt's were issued from 1927 until 1937 and prior each officer provided their own weapon, the Model 10's were issued after 1934 until 1974, the model 58 1974 until 1979, the model 65 1979 until 1991) the Glock Mod 22 issued 1st gen 1991 until 2013, marked with SA****TX as the serial number (**** was the badge number - SA0662TX - ) the next generation 22's were marked "SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT" on the right front of the slide. the SW M&P was issued starting in 2013 until present day. Just some information on the SAPD issued guns.

I started picking up "properly marked" department guns many years ago for a couple of reasons. I am in LE, so it interests me on that level, and USUALLY they sold for less than an equal condition gun without the markings. That is not always the case certainly. I have managed to amass a few nice ones over the years.

I have this thing for 3" K frames, so my personal favorite is a 3" P&R 65 that is stamped on the backstrap from Mass State Police. It had the box, papers, tools, and even the retired detectives badge as part of the set.

Also at the top of the list is an early 60's vintage 29 with the departments badge and unique issue number engraved on the side, and a couple of Austin PD marked 38/44's.

The rest are far less unique, just a mixture of mostly 10's and 66's with an occasional 15 or 19.

I am glad I got them when I did because I can't afford them these days.

I plan to start selling them off sometime in the future after my sons pick out what they want after I'm gone.

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BT
EGO VOLUNTAS HAUD OBEDIO

The dept marked guns that carry a premium (for me at least) are those modesl that are in high demand anyway. Not many depts issued 3.5" mod 27's, like Austin PD, or the 3rd model 44spls, issued & marked by Houston Police Dept back in the 30's. Add to these the couple depts that issued and marked the mod 58's. I have the first two, and would pay a premium for a marked 58, but I didn't start out looking for the PD guns. I was looking for that particular model and just ran across them.

Charlie

I have a model 64 , fixed sight 38 special , stamped B.R.P.D.
They traded in the model 64's for the model 65's, upgrade to 357 magnum with adjustable sights. My best buddy bought one of the model 65's when the Dept. went to semi-auto 9 mm's.
His brother was on the force so we had an inside track to get them. Wished I had gotten a model 65 now !
Gary
Still living in B.R. LA.

I do wish though that a few years back at the big Tulsa show I hadn`t passed on one of the traded in California Youth Authority 3 inch model 64`s marked "CYA" on the frame because the obvious double meaning.


I've got one of those. I get a lot of comments on the CYA marking, plus its a really great shooter. One of my favorite carry pieces.

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Retired Dep Sheriff & Armorer

All my guns are shooters I do not believe in safe queens even taking my 1880's single action army out once a year and shooting 50 black powder loads through it. I enjoy the history of guns as part of my interest so I like the pd marked guns for the history they represent much the same as getting a jinks lettered gun and finding it went to a famous organization or person. Add value? Not exactly but if I had the choice between two identical condition guns one pd stamped and one not I would take the stamped one personally

I think they are cool. I picked up this one stamped "La State Fire Marshal". It's in excellent condition. My dad has a 66-3 2.5" stamped "LAPP" (Lousiana Probation & Parole). It's a little bumped and bruised, but tight as a drum.

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At one of our local gun shows one dealer was selling some Baton Rouge Police Dept (BRPD) model 10's with nickle finish. I'm sad to say that these were the worst condition revolvers that I have ever seen. Rust showing through the nickle plating scabs of it, cylinders extremely loose,endshake like you wouldn't believe and the sight blades in the rear sights were all bent, dented or other wise messed up. Strangely the bores did look half way decent. Must have been sitting on the shelf for years before someone closed the books on them and they were sold. Frank

I've always thought dept market guns were interesting. I had a Model 15-3 a few years back that was marked D.P.S. 1595. I was told by a couple of people who at least seemed to know what they were talking about that it was either Texas or Arizona Department of Public Safety. That was good enough for me. I didn't pay more for it, or get more for it when I sold it.

But I did buy a 1939 Colt Official Police 38 with a 4" barrel once that was stamped on the backstrap Dept Treasury Secret Service (Might not have been in that order, but those words). Most certainly a uniform officers gun. I thought it was neat and posted pictures on the Colt Forum. I got a nice email from a fellow offering to buy it for more than I paid for it. He collected dept marked Colt's and didn't have one so marked. I told him I didn't want to sell it, but I'd keep him in mind.

About a year went by and I realized I hadn't fired the thing but one time, and hadn't even taken it out of the safe for a while. It was just another gun to me, but I knew there was someone who really wanted it. I got in touch with him and yes, he was still interested. A sale was arranged and we were both happy.

I did wonder about what kind of stories that gun could have told.

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John 3:16 .

I always make it a point to look for police guns because it means I can buy it for cheaper. Doesn't matter to me if it has stamps or chicken scratch or nothing at all. I would say that 90%, if not more, of my guns are police trades.

Model 13 police gun and imoprt marked. Paid $295 a few years ago


Police gun G22. Also $295 last year


Brinks security model 10. $265 a month ago


5 of the 7 guns on the table we're police guns


HK USP 45 Fl sheriff's department


My carry gun for the last decade has been a police gun

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

Out here in Arizona we have a large dealer/distributor, From time to time they have advertisements for police and security guard trade ins. They had a whole bunch of those NYPD silver guns with the hammers bobbed. They keep them in a big box and they go for $189-$300 depending on the gun and the condition of the batch as a whole. I had a few friends that bought them for a night stand, tool box gun. Cheap enough and they were in descent shape for the price.

Personally, if the marking is well done, I prefer them as I think it adds character and interest.

A 15-3 with a D.P.S. marking would have been Arizona Highway Patrol.

These pop up at regular intervals and dealers either ignorant, hopeful, or deceptive try to sell them as "Texas Ranger issue" since the Texas Department of Public Safety also uses the D.P.S. acronym.

Just because I like to find out things, I contacted the very helpful folks at the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum in Waco, who looked into this for me and let me know that based on all they could determine, Texas D.P.S. never issued any Model 15 so stamped.

On the other hand, multiple (albeit self-proclaimed, but you gotta trust people at some point ) former AHP members have confirmed the Arizona provenance of these 15-3 models.

Never go to this Waco museum
Unless you have a whole day.
The amount of large frame revolvers on display deserve that sort of attention.

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Ain't it the truth. I was at the Tulsa show a month ago as a vendor so didn't get to walk around as much as I would have liked, but have never seen as many overpriced Smith revolvers in one place before. Folks asking $900 for shooter grade Model 28's

Where in Arizona a recent transplant here and have a hard time finding any smith revolvers at all that are not extremely overpriced

To me, it is all about what the gun is, (model, condition, etc.) not what it is marked. They don't shoot any different. Bob

Being from Kentucky, when I saw this 1076 in the case I grabbed it up, because I thought it was pretty neat. Actually the fellow working at my LGS is an ex-State Trooper, and knew the gun and the Trooper that it was issued to. He told me a story of when it was used to save the guys life from a shotgun wielding bad guy. (I told the story here when I first got it) The listed price of $675 suited me just fine at the time.

I also have a 66-1 that I bought as a police trade in back in the early 90's, for $200 bucks. I have no idea what the stamping stands for. It could be any number of cities that started with a "T", like Tulsa, Tampa, Topeka, Toledo or maybe from a small town here in KY, like Tompkinsville, and maybe a badge number. As you can see, it's under the grips and not as neat as some I've seen here. It looks like and engraving pen (vibrating type) was used.

They don't bother me, but I'm just a shooter, not a true collector.

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I personally collect PD revolvers. Some agencies are more desirable than others and can actually increase the value of the gun.

I have plenty of PD revolvers that are worth more marked as oppossed to if I bought them unmarked

I like department marked guns, especially if the markings look professional. Here's a Detroit Police, nickel, 5 inch, model 10 with the markings on the back strap. Personally, I would value this gun slightly higher than the same gun, same condition without the markings.

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I'm gonna grow fins.

I'd say it this way....

If I had been a member (or had a connection) of such marked LE Force....I'd pay a premium. If not....probably not. But, collectors....so, maybe yes. It might deserve a premium. How much? Well, see my first sentence.

That being said....

My Dept. (Honolulu PD) did not mark their revolvers or semi autos. I served through the era of the revolver to semi-auto switch. 1978-2003

Mod 18 .22LR 4" blue.....used in initial training
Mod 15 .38 Sp 4" blue......my first issued revolver
Mod 67 .38 Sp 4" SS.......it's Hawaii salt air, Duh.
Mod 5906 9mm 4" SS........everyone was going 9mm

Anyway, I managed to NOT turn in my M15 for the M67. But, I was "forced" to turn in my M15 for the M5906. Call it....uniformity. I can remember at the time, that the supply room guy said that I should attach a tag with my name....and MAYBE if it got sold off locally. I might be able to buy it back. Humm....I had no idea what the price was gonna be so, I passed.

Anyway, today.....if I could have it SURE. I'd like to buy my old revolver. Even if it's NOT marked with "HPD" on it.

Aloha, Mark

PS....I'm NOT saying that HPD never ever marked their firearms. But all the issued ones that I've seen, were not (during my time).

The only firearm that I currently have that is mark is a 1911A1 series Colt 1911 from the Detroit Police Dept. Apparently when it was removed from Service they took an "X" stamp and over marked the PD logo. It was then converted into a Bullseye pistol and looked a little rough so I picked it for what I thought was a cheap price. Turned out that it had been tricked out by Schokey and was so marked. Shoots like dream.

Here more literally that usual, the trite answer to the worth of an LE marked weapon... "Whatever someone will pay for it." Of course completely begging the question, except that perhaps a more than average personalized and variable matter...

I do tend to believe that except for certain high-profile agencies, their nomenclature markings reduce value. That said, noting most agencies ‘of particularly public interest’, normally not marking their weapons at all!
A longtime collector in general, the only circumstances where I’d purchase a LE marked weapon are 1. (as I have) where it’s a commemorative reflecting my own employing Federal agency. 2. If I had a connect with a department/agency which did issue guns and I’d carried such model weapon. 3. A rare or collectible model in which I was interested in acquiring AND only a decent LE marked model available. Such purchased at reasonable price and most likely held only in interim pending acquiring an unmolested edition.
Of agency marked weapons, far less reduction seeming, when the weapon manufacturer did the marking professionally. So be said “original factory gun so identified”.
Just the aside from an above post involving “scratching” markings. Most likely a seized weapon marked for evidence or forfeiture.
Just my take