Hello folks,

Today I came across a 4” 681 at my LGS today and it ended up coming home with me.

It is an early no dash 681 with AEE serial number with the M recall stamp. Aside from a few external blemishes, it does not appear to have been shot much.

Although it has no other police markings, it came with a steel plate at the bottom of the stock with a Commonwealth of Massachusetts Police shield. I’m from Massachusetts and have seen other police-issued S&W but those had “Mass State Police” stamped on the backstrap.

Have any of you seen this shield before? Could this gun have been issued to a local MA Police department, even though it has no markings other than the shield?

That is in advance for you feedback! Here are a few pics for reference.

Regards,
686PC

This looks like a generic state seal that many badge companies produced and sold at one time (and may still do). Many NC local PD and Sheriff's deputies wore tie tacks that look like that, albeit with the NC State Seal.

The "head knocker" butt plates were popular in the 1970's. A local deputy in a county I worked in had a butt plate on the bottom and had a glass eye (have no idea where he got it) mounted in the side of the target stocks. Got a lot of attention.

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Bill

I dont understand...sounds like there was an option this wasn't going to come home with you?

It looks like the bottom lettering was removed?

I don't have any specific info on that agency, but you could send in for a letter and it might tell you where it was shipped. It might also just have gone to a distributor and not the dept that late in the game.

Good luck, it looks like a neat one!

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On the Oak Savannah

In my experience, state police agencies never use "Police" in their uniforms and logos. It's always "State Police" or "State Trooper."

And, if this example's style is not commonly known, it's unlikely to have been an MSP gun, because state police agencies are very strict regarding uniforms and equipment. Either they all had these, or no one did. You would never find one guy with something this obviously customized. His supervisor would eat him alive.

So, unless people who know say that's how MSP did it, I would guess not MSP. Probably a local agency from Mass.

Very perceptive, oysterer! You seem to have my affliction; I’m deep into the 357 S&W revolvers cult and there was no chance this would not come home with me.

Cheers,
686PC

That gun could have come from any local police officer or security guard. I don't think the MSP ever issued L frames and if they did, it's unlikely it would have had that butt plate attached. The MSP used mostly 10's and 64's until they went to SIG 9mm's. The empty space under the seal is so that an officer could personalize the plate. The butt plates were quite popular in the 70's and 80's when everyone was still using revolvers. The only way to know for sure is to do a letter but I don't think my curiosity would be enough to spend the money for one on such a common, late model gun. It is a great revolver none the less.

I'm not 100% certain, but I believe the last revolvers that were issued by the Massachusetts State Police were the S&W Model 65 and the Model 60.

I would suspect that your revolver may have been issued by a local police department. The Commonwealth Seal is also used by many smaller departments and Campus Police agencies.

I might also add, take a look at that front sight. It appears to have been filed down. I think a police armorer would go ballistic seen a front sight filed down, even if it was a fixed sig gun. I would take it that the sight on that gun was tuned at the factory for 125 grain hollow points. I may be wrong though. I'm not much on fixed sights, so excuse me if I'm wrong. I have just never seen one that is flat on top.

Does not look like the sort of thing that would have been on an issue sidearm, but it could have been a retirement gift.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Hi Fishjager, the front sights of the 581 and 681 come from the factory lower profile, like you see on mine, because of the lower rear sight window. I have another 681 that’s unfired and has the same setup. Definitely different than the 686 sights.

I have developed a preference for k frames with no adjustable sights. They are no frills combat revolvers. Last of its breed before the plastic wonders took over the market.

It looks a bit like someone made that up in their home shop. Some heavy gauge steel, a drill press, some files or rotary sander, and screws from the local hardware store. A bit of epoxy, and the badge is in place. A nice artifact to commemorate someone’s time in law enforcement. Or maybe just a wannabe law enforcement type. We know there are a few of them out there.
The 681 is a fine revolver. Congrats on a nice purchase.

As said this was popular in the seventies and early eighties. My dad was a officer / chief of police in Western Massachusetts and had two different butt plates with a replica of there hat badge, one was stainless and the second was brass. The officers would change out the grips for special occasions (parades, honor guard, funerals, etc.). The first time I saw this was when my dad took me to see the MSP motorcycle drill team.
My dad recently passed away and I found both of the butt plates but not the presentation grips they were mounted to.

Not all departments issue handguns. At many of them, officers furnish their own. That is what it appears to be in this case. I actually prefer to furnish my own. I never believed in the "one size fits all" theory. Issued guns nowadays usually come from the lowest bidder.

no info on your new revolver but i really like the butt plate. one like it's on my must have list.

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Too good

As a couple members pointed out, that is one of the generic badge designs used in Mass. I grew up there and was something of a police buff back then. Massachusetts has quite a few small towns that used those ready made badges.
I suspect that the maker of that plate obtained a pin or a tie tac from one of the police supply stores and applied it at the buyer's request. All in all, though, that's a good-looking plate that was custom made for that set of stocks, so I'd enjoy having it.

I am from MASS and those plates were added. There was a guy set up at a gun show back in the early 90s and he had all kinds of plates like that for other agencies from fire departments to military badges. You could pick a badge design and he would custom mount it to your grips (not at the show). He would have it done in about a weeks time. I am assuming the owner was a MA State police officer but for his personal firearm.