A little write-up I did on NYPD Colt Commando revolvers just came out in the Colt Collectors Association journal, The Rampant Colt.

I'm working on a similar article and serial number table for the Victory.

At the risk of being accused of self-aggrandization, I have attached a link to the file as it is a bit to big to put here.

www.vivasandson.com/CCACommando.pdf

Best,
RM Vivas

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RM Vivas
SWCA#1482L, SWHF#837

Great article!

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

Utterly fascinating! Imagine, the War Production Board ordering retailers to list small arms in commercial inventory so the WPB may purchase them... Not the only time such matters occurred. My family worked for Pepsi-Cola in that era. Coke got the lion's share of publicity as a supplier to the troops, but the Government requested Pepsi to sell them tens of thousands of tons of sugar. Many firms REALLY "stepped up" at that time, outside of regular military procurement.

Also fascinating: the various grades/classifications of Patrolman during this time of national peril (and it really was) and that 57 officers would be patrolling temporarily without a sidearm, altho accompanied by a veteran officer. Thanks for this thread.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

Very interesting read. Thank you sir.

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BT
EGO VOLUNTAS HAUD OBEDIO

Excellent scholarship. Very few people do original research, cite sources, etc. I look forward to the article on Victory Models.

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Kevin Williams SWCA1649 HF208

One of the things that confused me for the longest time ws the new hires during the war having the initials TP under the heading of rank. I figured they were Mole Patrol (Transit Police).

Turns out they were "Temporary Patrolman; Military Replacement". That very specific title referred to men who were hired to be Patrolman to replace men who had been called up to the military. They filled in for the missing man and when that man came back, they were let go from the Department and the returning man went back to work.

To bypass Civil Service issues, these men were restricted to the rank of Patrolman; they were not allowed above that entry level rank. They did not pay into nor were they eligible for the pension system.

In all other regards, including injury and death benefits, they were equal to the 'regular' patrolmen.

At the end of the war there was a movement to have these Temporary Patrolmen;Military replacements 'roll over' into being 'regular' patrolamn, but for various reasons (including some possible financial shenanigans by the petitioning organization) this did not come to pass.

Really a shame as these guys had all the training and a couple years experience by wars end. I think they got screwed over. As far as I can tell, the last TP:MR was discharged around early/mid 1946.

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RM Vivas
SWCA#1482L, SWHF#837

Very nice and very interesting, thank you for sharing!

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Jorge