I purchased a police surplus 3953 (which I have been very happy with) on a famous gun auction site, and the frame, slide, and barrel are all stamped with a three digit number and "N.P.D." I observe a ton more of these up for auction, each with their N.P.D. markings.

What agency is the "N" in "N.P.D.?

Maybe Nevada?

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Goal Life Member
Traveling Man

Nashville, Newark?

Wouldn't be a state if it was a PD.

Silly question, but did you ask the seller?

Someone selling a ton of these probably knows where they came from.

If your seller doesn't know, try messaging any or all of the other sellers and see if they do. Posting a photo of your 3953 here may also jar someone's memory .

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I also have an N.P.D. marked 3953, all I have been able to determine at this point was that in 2005 or 2006 the Newark, NJ Police Department issued a "S&W 9mm" but then change to a different maker. Their S&W 9mm's were put into storage. In 2007 Jersey City PD had some issues with older S&W 9mm's and NPD loaned them some of their "S&W 9mm's" until the problematic guns could be repaired or replaced. The guns were returned and went back into storage. Newark PD has not responded to my request for info regarding these "S&W 9mm's" and if they were 3953's or not. I was told that at one point they issued both 6946's and 3953's, but I could not confirm that. But I do know that NPD has a tendency to mark their guns and store them for some time before finally letting them go.

The only department's I am aware of that ever issued or approved of the 3953 are Canadian agencies, a couple department's in New Jersey, a couple in Massachusetts, and the NYPD. Most were only issued to detective and other plain clothes positions. My quest for info continues!


ETA: The seller of my 3953 purchased from a wholesaler and did not know what N.P.D. stood for.

In my recent search for a TSW, I found an outdoors sports store that currently has police trade-ins of 3953 and 3953TSW in stock. I did not end up buying from them, but I did call them a couple of times and they were happy to pull the pistol I was interested in out of their warehouse and inspect and answer my specific questions, so maybe they would be helpful to you.

Not sure if it is okay to include store names in posts, but if you want to pm me I will give you the name of the store and their website info.

Count me in as one who would like to resolve the NPD initials. Man do I like this pistol...size, DAO, a metal gun, and hammer fired. I should have bought it when it was new! There was another seller listing a 3913 with NPD marking as a Nasville detective's gun. No idea of credibility of the assertion.

Newark NJ PD did use third gen S&W at one time.

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Back to back World War Champs.

I have a model 64 stamped B.R.P.D.
Stands for Baton Rouge Police Department.
Just have to track down the N .
Natalbany, Nacogdoches , Natchez, Natchitoches, Narco, Nome... It will NOT be New Orleans , theirs are marked N.O.P.D.
Gary

Not Nashville. Nashville PD issued S&W 64 until going to Glock 22 about 15
years ago. Neither was marked.

WHere did you but it?

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I BACK OUR BLUE

My vote is for Newark. I have documented evidence that Newark PD did use the NPD abbreviation on their service guns, although it is several decades older than your pistol. Below a picture of a Colt, lettered as one of 100 shipped to Newark PD in 1930.

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The U.S. Customs Service issued a small number of 3953 pistols along with 6906 pistols, until approximately 1992, when they adopted the Glock 19.

I just saw this pistol at the Gander Mountain on Capital blvd. Raleigh. I did a double take, at first I thought I saw N.Y. P.D.
The action was smooth but it had a lot of holster wear. I didn't inspect the internals.
I'm thinking Absalom is right on the money.

Attached Images

6946 npd.jpg (94.2 KB, 334 views)

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Patriots Forever!!

I'm voting Nawlins.

Boy, there are a bunch of them (marked NPD) out for sale now! I bought a 6946 from Gander Mtn for a fair price that is in very good condition, I did not even need to replace the grip and they have some number of them offered for sale online. They can also be found on various auction sites from a number of different vendors.

Newark (NJ) PD stamped NPD on their pistols. My buddy had a 6946 issued to him from 1995 to 2005. He didn't recall model 3953 but couldn't swear they weren't around as well. His was def 6946 (very similar pistols if i'm not mistaken).

that weapon is definately NOT NYPD 5946...since NYPD requires their officers to buy their own weapons, they are not marked....an exception to that would be when NYPD was testing and issuing the 5946 to patrol officers, they were lazer marked SWXXXX...I know this because I was one of 2 officers in my precinct that got the weapon, which I still have

Norfolk Virginia


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As I mentioned earlier, it's safe to assume it's Newark (NJ) PD. And he vouched their SW's said NPD on them. Which makes it badass because anything and anyone that survives the streets of Newark is badass.

I agree, NPD is the Newark Police Department. I have one of the 3953's with NPD on it also. When purchased this year, mine was in excellent condition on the inside, but the slide had a lot of wear, scratches, etc. I had a local gunsmith bead blast it back to looking like new.

Added: wherever they come from, its a fine pistol. Mine is NPD 188. Long but smooth trigger pull. The only issue I have with it is grasping the slide; with the onset of a bit of arthritis, it can be hard to get a good grip on a slide, and the 3953's slide (without safety/decocking levers) can be a little slick. The 3913 remains my favorite because it is the opposite; the two levers make it very easy to grab a hold of the slide. (I'm leaning more towards a single stack pistol over my long-used J frames, thinking that 8 plus 8 more, close at hand, is better than 5 plus five that are harder to reload -- given the world we live in today. Not to re-start the revolver vs pistol -- chevy vs ford -- .45 vs 9mm epic debates, I am paying more heed to the thought: no one ever felt they had too many rounds. Like the 3913, the 3953 is very good carry piece -- maybe a bit easier to carry than the 3913, thinner, if gripping it isn't an issue for you).

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S&W Rover

Always wondered which department it was.
For some reason I thought it might have been Nashville.
Whichever, N.P.D. 131 my absolute favorite EDC:

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

New Orleans will be marked N.O.P.D., they always use N.O.
Might be worth the price of a S&W letter , would answer the question more than likely.

Gander mountain is selling 6946 that's have NPD, gander mountain states that they bought them from Norfolk Virginia... maybe that one is from the same batch


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It could be any city or town beginning with N that issued these guns.

I have a 39-2 marked MPD C-188 but I wish it had been stamped as neatly as those NPD pistols. Mine is electro-penciled and none too neatly.

Here's a pic.

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Those of you with same model, I wonder how close your serial numbers are. They could be of the same original purchase order.

I have a 6946 marked NPD2257. I bought it at Gander Mtn about 3 month's ago. Shoot's great......

The photo of the tag from Gander Mountain refers to the pistol as a S&W DAK which is a description associated with SIG. DAK is double action Kellerman. So much for GM gun knowledge.

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Made it, Ma! Top of the world!

There are no " silly questions". Just do not respond or help the guy out. No need to be snide. Best

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Mine is marked NPD 2245 with serial #TFN39XX.

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. Mine is TFN 42xx


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I worked for Naples Police Dept. I know these guns are not from there, but it would be neat to have one just the same.

There seem to be enough of you guys who have a N.P.D. gun, you should all chip in a few bucks and one of you should letter one of these .

Northfield Minnesota? I hear they take a dim view of lawlessness there.

How bout all the NPD guys kick in a few bucks and elect 1 guy to letter his. Might solve the NPD mystery at least for the 3953 series,maybe more.
Just a thought since I've seen that NPD issue come up more than once with other members.

I have two 6946's from NPD (Gander Mtn this last Dec.) and one from FRPD (Fall River, MA I think) bought a while back. All 3 shoot great. The NPD's had tired Hogue grips (replaced with new factory grips) and were scuffed up a bit but polished up right nice.

What did you use to polish them? I'm gonna try and do the same thing... any pics?


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I used Mothers mag polish on the entire gun. Took that "yellow stain" look away on the frame. Spiffed up the slides real nice. Most effort was on the sides of the slides to keep the glare down from the sight areas.
Also, there appears to be at least 2 different NPD stamping styles.
DonZ's pic shows N.P.D (space) XXXX type while both of my 6946's show: NPDXXX style. Could be from 2 different batches or 2 different police depts.?
I am new enough that I haven't figured out how to post pics yet. Will have to work on that.

I used Mothers mag polish on the entire gun. Took that "yellow stain" look away on the frame. Spiffed up the slides real nice. Most effort was on the sides of the slides to keep the glare down from the sight areas.
Also, there appears to be at least 2 different NPD stamping styles.
DonZ's pic shows N.P.D (space) XXXX type while both of my 6946's show: NPDXXX style. Could be from 2 different batches or 2 different police depts.? I got both of my 6946's from Gander Mtn. One of my 3953's is also stamped N.P.D. xxxx I think. Got that one from a private party and is at the gunsmith's getting fixed.
I am new enough that I haven't figured out how to post pics yet. Will have to work on that.

In response to the title of this thread, I believe the 'PD' in 'NPD' stands for 'Police Department'

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an actual conservative

My first thought as well!

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Made it, Ma! Top of the world!

Gander Mtns web site say's the 6946's marked NPD are from Newark,NJ. PD........

Hmm.... okay, so either they're guessing, or making stuff up, or they bought different batches of the same model from two different agencies that use the same acronym. Take your pick.

I have a 6946 with NPD, it is from Norfolk Police Dept. I bet yours is too.

As the OP, it should probably be me who gets his pistol papered to find out once and for all what N.P.D. stands for.

If somebody would send me a link to get started, I'll foot the bill. Can't seem to find the info on the S&W web site.

Very commendable!

Use the pdf. version linked here:

Smith & Wesson Collectors Association