Always wanted to get a 1970s service pistol would it be the model 15? Or did more police use the 19? Where would a guy find the 15 as SW doesn’t make new ones? Not looking for a firearm necessarily used by law enforcement (would rather buy new TBH) but what something identical to what was commonly used .

Can’t speak for other L.E. , but CHP use the model 14 from 1968 to1977, then went to the model 67 and 68 till 1991

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viking

The Model 66 was used extensively in the 70s.

My agency (EPD) issued the model 15 for a short time, and then went to the model 19 in 1973. Prior to the Model 15, the Model 10 was the standard issue.
Officers were also allowed to supply their own service revolver if they desired, but the revolver had to be from the department's list of "approved" guns.

My old -3 has been plated (by me) and I gave it a "nose job" several years ago. Many miles travelled with this one.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

I joined my Department in the 80s. When I became a Range Officer, I inventoried what firearms were in reserve and on duty. Most of the troops had Model 19s, some still carried Model 10s. In reserve we had Model 10s, 13s, 15s, and 19s. Issued ammunition was WW 38 Special, +P, 125 grain, Silvertip, JHP. There were also also couple of Model 36s for the detectives.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Became an officer in 1976 and we were issued Model 10, 4" nickel.

I suspect that most urban departments were issuing .38's in S&W model 10/64 and some Colt OP revolvers. I started in LE in 1975 with a model 10 heavy barrel. I was issued a stainless 64 when I made Sergeant and the armorer (a Sgt.) would actually talk to me. State and County agencies likely had a greater chance of using a .357.

In 1969 I carried a Department issued S&W model 10. Carried the model 10 for many years.

Thanks! How much more of a kick is a 357 to a 38? Never shot a 357 before.

when i went on in the early 70's we had to carry .38 spec only. went to az. worked full time as a deputy, we were issued model 66's and carried .357 ammo. left the s.o. went with a new incorp. city and was issued colt 1911 .45 cal, the ammo, the flying ashtray. with a female chief who kicked ***.

When I joined my department in 1975 you were required to provide your own sidearm. The majority I noted were the 4" Model 66, which was the going thing at the time. Only the cops could get them and usually bought them and sold them at a profit on the civilian market. My first carry piece was a 4" blue Colt Python. But most were either carrying the 4" 66 or some form of a 4" model 10. There were 4" Highway Patrolman. I also had my first encounter with a 3 1/2" Model 27. Still haven't been able to figure that one out. There were also a smathering of 6" guns too. Most all were in .38 or .357 calibers. That was an interesting period, just before the semi auto wave hit us.

What is the "issue" you guys speak of?

When I went from the Coast Guard to my local sheriff's department in in NC back in 1975 everybody carried what you brought from home. Same with the local PDs as far as I know. Saw everyghing from Charter Arms (Yes we gave that officer a rough time) to Browning HP, and one 6" Python. Most poplar were S&W 10s, 28s, and a few 19s. I carried a Colt Trooper while in uniform. When I moved to investigations I carried a 19 with a 2.5" barrell, and then a 39-2.

I remember another deputy telling me one night as we surrounded a house "If we get in a shoot out and I ask you for ammunition and you hand me some of that 9mm ****, I'm going to beat you to death with my revolver!"

A lot more but it's manageable. My Model 28-2 makes .38 special feel like a .22LR, but with .357s in it you wouldn't want to shoot it all day.

The appropriate response would be: "If you've already wasted all your ammo, what makes you think I'll give you any of mine?"

LEO 1962-2007
Present- Armed Security

Prior to 1975= furnish your own
1975- first Department issued service revolver was a S&W Model 64 (pencil barrel)

I started in ‘78. We had to provide our own sidearms but they had to be .38/.357. I was newly married so money was tight. I bought a used Ruger Security-Six in .357. Some officers carried 15’s, some 19’s, one had a beautiful Python and an older officer nearing retirement had an old Colt with green bullets. After about a year the department bought and issued model 66’s.

A lot depends on when in the seventies...early on 10s, 15s and 64s.

Sliding into the mid-seventies, the 19's, 66's, 65's and 67's started filling holsters. In the mid-70's the 66 was a somewhat rare, sought after bird, until production caught up to demand.

And then someone would roll in with a Python....

Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk

Back when I was a student at Ohio State in the mid 70's the Columbus PD carried either the model 19 or a model 59. Distribution was about 70% revolvers and 30% wondernines. BTW, drove a taxi while in college and spent a fair bit of time talking with the beat cops downtown while waiting on a taxi stand.

My first weapon in 1979 was a 6" Model 19. The Wyoming Highway Patrol was issued the S&W Model 66. I got that from a Trooper in my college class. Three of my co-workers carried 4" Pythons. It was a different time. When I moved to a larger, ( 600 ), person agency in south Fl I had to purchase my own revolver with department issued .38 ammunition. If you were off probation and went to the range on three different days you could then carry a S&W 39 or 59 9mm. No actual Auto Pistol Class existed at that time. I'm gettin' old.

I spent most of my 25 year career with a PD that didn't issue handguns (most of the time), but allowed .38, 9mm OR LARGER. I generally carried a .44 Special, .45 Colt or .45 ACP revolver or a .45 ACP semi auto.

As far as S&W revolvers, I saw Model 10s, 13s, 15s, 19s, 24-3s, 65s, 66s, 58s, 57s, 28s, 29s, 25-2s and 25-5s. I saw Colt Diamondbacks, Troopers, Pythons, OPs and Police Positive Specials. I also saw a few Ruger Security Sixes.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Saw NYPD during the seventies with 4 inch heavy barrel S&W Model 10s. Fine side arm.

I became an Officer in the Cleveland area in 1975. My first duty weapon was an S&W Model 28 "Highway Patrolman" with a 4 inch barrel. It had the advantage of being a serious bludgeon in the event of running out of ammunition. I still lean to the right a bit after wearing one on my gunbelt for a few years. We eventually transitioned to the Model 66.

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Loyalty Above All.. but Honor

I’ve never been a cop but I did work armed security for a couple different companies during that time Both issued 4” 38’s...both S&W and Colt. I suspect they each had both in inventory. I got one of each over time.

My training consisted of being asked if I’d ever fired a gun. Yes. Good. Don’t shoot yourself or anyone else if you don’t have to. You’re an armed guard now.

The local departments carried pretty much the same thing. Model 10’s and 64’s.

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John 3:16 .

1975 Colt Official Police, 1977 S&W Model 64 HB.

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Made it, Ma! Top of the world!

Urban Dept's were still mostly ..38 spl...... lot of political push back on issuing .357 magnums.

State Police/Highway Patrol ...... more .357

My Dad was the Capt of a Burb of the Burgh Dept....still on the Dept Pistol Team....................

Still carrying his three basic guns of the prior 30 years.....
Colt New Service .357. 6"
S&W M&P .38 4" and
Colt Detective Special .38 2".......

all carried in the 70s with "Police/Law Enforcement Only" +P and +P+ .38 "Super " Special.

Try the L frame for your 357s!

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

1980, hired by surburban Phila. Pa. department. All officers were issued Model 10 H/B's, 4". Issue ammo varied brand but mostly 125 grain plus P JHP's. Kept Model 10's until about 1989, then got 5906's.

Agree with Bam-Bam. Also larger departments had to arm lots of officers so I am sure price and standardization of the handgun dictated model. My city department had around 200 officers with about 130+ being uniform. Issued was the 4" Model 10 Nickel. Officers provided their own off duty weapon. Had to be .38 revolver and approved by department. Picture shows the Model 10 and my model 64 that I purchased in 1976 for off duty. I search several years to find a Nickel Model 10 like what I carried in the 1970's. Finally found one in 2016. A model 10-7 made in 1979.

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In the early 70’s I’d say the most common was a 4 inch Model 10. In the mid 70’s our department switched to Model 59’s. I personally at my expense substituted a 4 inch Model 19 as my carry gun, but by magic had the model 10 in my holster during inspections.

If you are looking for something to shoot reminiscent of the 70’s buy a 4 inch K-frame. Model 10’s are relatively inexpensive. But a 13 would work. Or in stainless a 64 would be about the same. Finally, you could search for an actual former department gun. They are out there. It’s fun having one that did the job. Best wishes.

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SWCA 3255 SWHF 615

First of all, to all the current and former LEOs participating in this discussion I offer a big, Thank you for your service.

As for cop revolvers, I suspect every model of S&W 38 and 357 caliber revolver was used in law enforcement by some department or another back before semi auto pistols took over. I have several S&W revolvers that were used by police. Some are stamped or inscribed, others I know their history because they shipped to police agencies.

If you have an interest in owning such a revolver, search the Gunbroker listings and find a local dealer to have it shipped for you. There many former cop guns offered. I think you'd like one with department markings. No shortage of them.

Stamped for the Corpus Christi PD.



Marked Florida Highway Patrol.

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No life story has happy end.

When I joined the PD in 1969 we were issued 38/44 Nickel 4in and in the early 70s we changed over to Mod 27 Nickel 4in.

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Dogs are better than people.

My first department, in 1968, issued both the Colt OP & Smith M10. The second agency issued the Model 15 and later the Model 64 before transitioning to the Glock 23 sometime in the ‘80s.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

My first service weapon was a Colt Government Model .45ACP.

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Pine_Worker
Ex-LEO, NRA Life

In Arkansas in the early 70's I actually knew a few deputy sheriffs who were carrying S&W Victory Models. But mostly 4" Model 10's and Model 15's. If I remember right the Arkansas State Police normally carried 4" Model 66's.

I came on in 1973 and we could buy any gun we wanted to buy as long as it said S&W or Colt. It could be a .357 but we were only authorized to carry .38Spcl.....when I was in the Academy the Department issued 158gr LRN but soon changed to 110 grn JHP before I graduated the Academy; but they were a brand I dont think anyone ever heard of and if I remember correctly they were either 3M or 3D brand...(perhaps someone can chime in) They were horrible and would not expand from our 4" barrels. We also had to wear them in Border Patrol Holsters in plain black with a 2" leather. Also at while in the Academy the only authorized extra ammunition carrier was the single or double "dump pouch" some guys put their extras on speed strips but a few "radical" officers began to defy the "Brass" and began carrying speed loaders. I still have mine and they were push button not the "dial type." they are the only style like that I have ever seen and they still work like the day they were bought. I bought a Model 19-3 4" (the only length authroized) Nickel. It lasted my whole carrier and I did not begin to carry a semi auto until I retired 21 years later and went to work in our State Law Enforcement Agency. I think I was the only person on my department that actually had a Model 19 as most guys carried the Stainless version....or Model 10 and the occasional model 15. My off duty and plain clothes gun was a 2" Model 12 until we were ordered not to carry them because they could not handle +P loads. I bought a used 15-4 because I always liked the looks of it and wanted one. It is only used at the range and was never carried on or off duty.

We used 3D brand .38 wadcutters (remanufactured) for training and qualification. .Don't recall what brand of duty ammo but it was jacketed hollow point rounds.

When I started in '72 we had a mix of S&W's and some Colts, all in .38 Spl. The group I hired in with (4 of us), were sent to a clothing store in the City that also sold guns. We each received a new S&W Model 10 with the heavy barrel.

A few years later the Dept. bought new Model 66's for everyone, 4 inch for Uniform and 2 1/2" inch for Plain Clothes, along with the 4".
We issued .38 Spl. +P lead semi wadcutter ammo (The FBI load).

I was one of the firearms instructors at the time and also became the armorer.

Later the Dept. issued Sig P226's to Uniform and P229's to Plain Clothes.

In each case when new guns were issued, we had the chance to purchase our duty weapon for $75.00. I passed on the Model 10, but bought my 4" Model 66, and since I was a Detective by then, I also bought my 2 1/2" Model 66 too.
My Sig P226 was given to me upon retirement per our Contract with the City.

We used reloads for practice and qualification (.38 Spl.), but twice a year I had everyone use the issued +P loads for qualification, and then everyone was issued new ammo for duty use.

If I remember correctly, we shot up the 9mm ammo for qualification, and were then issued new ammo for duty with the Sigs.

When the Sigs were issued, the Dept. sent 2 other Officers to armorer school for them, as I had a full plate working in the Detective Bureau.

In 1977 the Wichita PD gave me the choice of a blue or nickel model 10 HB. I chose a nice nickel one.

My agency went from Colts to the S&W Model 67. Area agencies issued mostly S&W K frames along with a few random Colts and Rugers.

When I became certified as an armed security officer in Virginia in 2009, it took a week of training.

BTW, Virginia armed security officers are REQUIRED to carry hollow point ammo.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

The "flying ashtray" to me this was the Super-Vel .45ACP 190gr JHP...... ????, awesome ammo in a .45 ACP (if it feeded well), I still have 50 cartridges of this Super-Vel ammo!!!... I shot it in a Sistema Colt Mod 1927 and a Winchester 1892 carbine converted to accept .45 ACP cartridges, a real powerhouse with either!!!!!
Best Wishes
Roberto Renauld

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"Off we go..."

In December of 1974 I was hired by the Westchester Il police department.At that time we purchased our own handguns and those had to be a 4 inch Colt or Smith and Wesson .38 special or .357 revolver.I bought a nickel python and found that a majority of the men on the department carried pythons , model 10s or model 66s.The department transitioned to semi autos in the early 90s and the weapons that were allowed were any semi auto capeable of firing 9mm and 45 auto.Later 40 S and W was allowed and the 40 S and W was made mandatory for all new hires in the late 90s early 2000s.There are still some 9 mms and 45 autos around but 95% now carry 40s and sadly the only revolvers left are backup snubs but those seem to be slowly going away too.

Well, it depends on the round, 357s are not created equal. The difference between a mild 38 and a hot 357 where both are fired in a light J frame is probably double or more in the perceived recoil. Just my $0.02. There may be people on here with some actual scientific data. That would not be me. I am going by the "ouch" factor.

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SWCA 3417 HF 642 NRA-TC

I also worked for a BYOW department, but the department's range officer recommended to recruits who did not already own one to buy 2 Model 15s: 1 4 inch, 1 two inch - duty and BUG/OD same manual of arms, same speed loaders.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

An unauthorized speedloader saved my bacon in ‘74 when I had to reload my issued Colt DS in the midst of a gunfight w/armed robbery suspects. Despite my experience the agency never did officially OK them.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

Were they department marked? Know anyone that has one?

Thanks. Would be a nice partner for my KHP Heavy Duty. We probably have some mutual acquaintances.

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SWCA 3255 SWHF 615

My dad and I both retired from the same sheriff's dept. in So. Calif. He started in 1959 and was issued a used Colt Official Police. In 1970, he was issued a new S&W Mod. 10-6 (Heavy barrel). He carried a personally owned Colt Trooper for a short time in the mid 60's until the sheriff ordered all deputies to carry the issue Colt OP. As a detective in the mid 70's, he carried a couple personally owned guns, including a 2 1/2in Mod. 19 and a Mod. 36.

We were issued the model 67. I quickly bought a 66. I could carry magnums in the gun but my reloads had to be 38s.

I think around 1973 I was just out of high school and working in a small store. This was in CA. Like 3 doors down the cops were called to a domestic disturbance. The suspect was a sheriff's deputy. Tragically, the first officer to roll up was a city PD cop and he was killed by the first round fired. He slumped over on the seat of his cruiser and nobody knew he'd been hit until it was all over.

PD, SO and CHP officers all descended. A gunfight quickly erupted and I was about 200 feet away in the store. Couldn't see much but I could hear the gunfire. PD and SO had 38s. CHPs had 357 Magnums. Bang...bang...BOOM.

Rampaging deputy was finally killed by a sniper. Inside they found the girlfriend dead. It was a very bad day. No idea why the deputy went nuts.

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No life story has happy end.

Started 1970; Dept provided everything but the weapon. Bought a used Model 10 made in 1967 (still have it). Ammo was Super-Vel until they folded about 1976? Then used Rem/Peters JHP 38+p or Rem/Peters .357 125 JHP.
About 1987 DA semi-autos were authorized in .45 ACP, but only ones available were S&W or SIG. ammo for those was Winchester 185 Silvertip. Retired and then worked for U S Marshal (Court Security Officer) and was issued old FBI model 10 S&W revolvers with the “Treasury Load” .38 110 grain JHP +p+. Some districts issued the FBI load (158 grain LSWHP).