Was at a Southern Illinois hospital today and some department of corrections guys came in with a prisoner who I guess was getting treatment.

Anyway one of the CO's had a Smith and Wesson Model 64. Very cool. I understand the Illinois DOC is one of the last if not THE last state LEO type organization that issues revolvers as standard issue in the US.

Just thought you fellers might care to hear this. Nice to know at least some S&W six guns are still putting in a hard days work.

I suspect Illinois has no particular attachment to revolvers -- they cannot afford new guns! They are flat broke and up to their neck in debt.

Considering what the job of DOC guards is, the question is. Why would they need to upgrade to an auto.

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Support your Police, & NRA

Really you have a point. How much firepower do you need to stop a guy hand cuffed and chained in a bright canary jumpsuit??

illinois leaders just approved a budget, raised taxes on everyone, and all is beautiful...wink wink...just ask them.....

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There's nowt so queer as folk

Thankfully I do not live here, just visiting. I would never live here of my own free will. These people are absolutely enslaved by their government, and seem all too happy to oblige.

Back to the gun, it had aftermarket grips on it. I could distinctly see the exposed grip frame at the butt so I'm thinking Pachmayr compac pros or something. Could not tell if it was round or square butt. He was using a traditional leather holster with exposed triggerguard. I did not see if/how he was carrying a reload(s) as he was facing away from me and I just saw his gun being carried on the right. The other guy that was with him just seemed to have a baton, no gun.

Very cool. The only other revolver I can remember seeing being used by security/LEO was a stainless revolver being used by a Metrolink guard up in St. Louis about 7-8 years ago. I have no idea if they still issue them or not. I am only 26 so most LEOs/security people I have ever seen have almost universally been armed with autopistols.

Anyone have any mentions of recent LEO or security people using revolvers?

I still see private security guards using revolvers from time to time, always S&W stainless K/L frames with Hogue grips. I imagine most of them are model 64s or 686s, but most guards I ask respond "no, it's a .38" as if they've never heard of the model numbers.

Never understood how a person could have a job that requires them to carry a gun and NOT be interested in firearms. Never made sense to me.

We are gun people. Some who go into security work see their equipment (including sidearms) as just another tool, and on top of that a heavy one they are ordered to carry. I would guess their level of interest in guns would be heightened relative to the level of danger they encounter on a regular basis, but that may just be me too.

Since they may not be familiar with firearms, or they have access to several types and simply choose one that fits their holster before going on duty, it is not surprising to me they don't know the ID of their handgun. You would probably get a similar answer asking about the model of radio they have.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

What's a radio? How many rounds does it hold? Does it come with extra "rads", or "ios"? Do I have to move to Illinois to get one? Do they hold value like Smiths? I'm only 72 years young but I can't recall seeing one in my LGS.

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Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570

Ask armorers what kinds of firearms abuse they've had to deal with. It never ceased to amaze me that someone entrusted with public safety, much less their own personal safety, would treat their duty firearm in a casual and negligent manner...yet I found just that kind of attitude among some. Fortunately, they were few.

You would be surprised at the number of police, and even long term police that have little or no interest in firearms. It is just a tool, no different than a hammer to a carpenter. It was issued to them, and they have to shoot it once a year and put a minimum of rounds on a target. Some guns may get carried and shot on quals for several years and never even get cleaned.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

One local security firm here requires the use of revolvers for their armed guards. Don't recall the name of the company right now, but they train their new hires at my gun club and use revolvers.

I had a guy in my precinct, I went to the yearly outdoor range with him, When he pulled his revolver out of the holster it had dried onion, food bits, jelly donut filling and powder on it. The range master just took the gun over to the armorer and they cleaned it. They said they have seen worse. I guess when you have 41,000 cops you are bound to get some non-gun types who don't maintain their "equipment."

Back in the day (1970s-80s) we had equipment inspection once a month-saturday of daylight shift. We worked three weeks on and one off. Evening-Daylight-Midnight in that order. Better have all your gear in order and leather polished as the platoon sargent came down the line with his white gloves. That included our nickel model 10 4". Hopefully le agencies still do this sort of thing.

VaTom we had role call , then the Sgt. would walk through and inspect the troops. They only picked one item to key in on, Flashlight or a pen or maybe they inspected your shoes or tie clip. They never ventured into the gun area, on my job with any where from 25 to 75 guys standing role call on a shift they did what they could to make us keep up the equipment. We did get $1000 a year uniform allowance so really there was no excuse not to.

Very cool.

There's still a few guys with revolvers on the job in Philly, saw a guy with a 64 early this year. Other than that the only guy I've seen carrying a revolver on the job is me. I think I'm the only guy in any agency in my county who still persists in carrying a revolver, everyone else went to pistols years ago. Our prison was the last agency to give up revolvers, traded their 686's in several years ago and replaced them with XD's.

I figure at this point there are two types of LEO's who still carry revolvers by choice. One is guys who are nearing retirement and can't be bothered getting a new gun. The other is stubborn characters like me who insist on doing things our own way.

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Wheel guns are real guns.

That's all too common. I remember an armored truck guard picking up deposits and had a 4" model 64 or 65 (couldn't tell holstered). When I asked what it was he replied, "I don't know. It's whatever they gave me when I started." I'm sure he's never even shot it.

I wonder what type of ammo these corrections officers are carrying?

My favorite is still the maggoty revolver story I read on the forum.

If DOC can't afford autos, couldn't they just go pick some up from the CHPD property room? From what I hear of the homocide rate, they should have plenty.

I met a Ocala motorcycle cop a couple years ago that was carrying a 4" 686.

That would presume that "plenty" of those homicide cases are being solved, and the perpetrators are being appropriately dealt with - and I'm not sure that is a safe assumption...

Just like already posted, they are broke and it ain't no joke!
Bond Buyers- you probably want to avoid buying Ill. Bonds-

Illinois cut near junk by Moody's and S&P, lowest ever for a U.S. state - Chicago Tribune

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