Do ANY police departments today still issue the .38 Spl. Model 10?

[Dave T]

If I was a crook my worst nightmare would be some 60 year old police officer and a well worn in model 10. There is something to be said for shooting the same gun for 30+ years. Not to mention the triggers on old model 10s are just phenomenal. You're as good as dead if they get the drop on you.

I will admit experiences may differ but my experience with 60 year old cops carrying Model 10 was that at least half of the revolvers would come out of the holsters so filthy, rusted and generally gummed up that they wouldn't fire. If the gun happened to be functional the owner/carrier might not be able to meet the minimal speed or accuracy requirements of qualification.

Not everyone carrying a "plastic" gun sprays n prays. There are those who actually aim and control the trigger. Similarly, carrying a revolver doesn't guarantee good shot placement. Way too much "painting with a broad brush" in this thread, at least in my experience.

Dave

 

[Old cop]

The revolver vs. auto argument will go on forever. It is really about shot placement and what you are trained to use. I had to use my service revolver more than once during my career so I'm wedded to the wheel, but that's just me.

At 65 I'm too old to even think about reentering LE and have no desire to. If I HAD to I'd probably want a revolver, but that is a real pipe dream (thank goodness).

 

[Knightrider03m]

Detroit Police still does. If you see an officer with one strapped to their hip, then you know about how long they have been on the job

 

[4306]

Illinois Department of Corrections uses Model 64s, though there is a rumor of switching to 40 cal Glocks.

 

[sheriffoconee]

We don't issue revolvers, but we authorize them. I had to attend a meeting today in Atlanta, and I wore my Dad's 2 inch Model 10 that he carried as an FBI agent in the 60's and 70's in my new Lobogunleather belt slide....I carry a 49 in my pocket no matter what else I may have on.
That M 10 is mine now, and I am proud to still carry it at times....

 

[redlevel]

We don't issue revolvers, but we authorize them. I had to attend a meeting today in Atlanta, and I wore my Dad's 2 inch Model 10 that he carried as an FBI agent in the 60's and 70's in my new Lobogunleather belt slide....I carry a 49 in my pocket no matter what else I may have on.
That M 10 is mine now, and I am proud to still carry it at times....

Sheriff, I carry two revolvers with me every time I go to Atlanta, too. Usually a long gun of some kind behind the truck seat. I try not to stop as I whiz through, but I might break down or have a flat or something. Every time I have to go up there I remember why it is I live in S. Georgia.

 

[clang444]

If you go through Chicago O'Hare Airport you still see the occasional old timer Chicago Cop with a revolver in holster - usually a Model 64, but some blue guns too. I've also seen a couple of the older women carrying model 36s of 60s.

 

[sheriffoconee]

Sheriff, I carry two revolvers with me every time I go to Atlanta, too. Usually a long gun of some kind behind the truck seat. I try not to stop as I whiz through, but I might break down or have a flat or something. Every time I have to go up there I remember why it is I live in S. Georgia.

Roger that....I can't WAIT to get back home after doing my time in Atlanta....

 

[luis]

If you go through Chicago O'Hare Airport you still see the occasional old timer Chicago Cop with a revolver in holster - usually a Model 64, but some blue guns too. I've also seen a couple of the older women carrying model 36s of 60s.

Those Chicago old timers are the smartest cops in Chicago! Why? Their guns were privately registered in Cook County prior to 1982 and are exempt from all the BS laws Chicago would pass.

 

[Topspeed]

I was issued a Model 10 in 1979 while in the police academy. What a reliable, straight shooting firearm. We traded them in for Model 4506's in the late 80's. We were given the opportunity to purchase our Model 10's for 137.00. I didn't do it and regret it to this day. I don't believe any US departments currently issues Model 10's today.

 

[feralmerril]

I am 70 years old and started out with revolvers over 50 years ago. I carried revolvers on my guard jobs over 35 years. While they were only guard jobs I had to qualify as regularly with them as often as most police departments do. I have and still do own autos but I never was as fond or as familiar with them as revolvers. I probley have over two dozzen good DA revolvers to sort through to take with me on my outings. I do a lot of boondocking-trail rideing on our ATV. The gun that go`s with me the most is this old 1953 M&P. It`s as simple as it gets. Light to pack, I dont worry about scratching up my pythons or 27, and it`s this same gun that stays loaded in arms reach in the bed room. The exspendsive safe queens are locked in the safe. I wouldnt be surprised if some study was done and it was found that this gun held the most popular spot for a old time police revolver.

 

[awit357]

It's still being issued here in the Philippines especially in cebu city, model 10, 64 and 686's and our cops here in the city don't feel outgunned and they're really good w/ it. It's the city's local government unit that's issuing it to the local cops.

 

[dogngun]

please be patient. i am from the south and there for ignorant. can you explain why someone would not want retired LEOs to carry? i would think it would extend the department's reach and effectiveness at little expense.

I'm from Pennsylvania, somewhat in the north, and I wonder the same thing...and what is the purpose of the restriction on the date of the gun itself?

mark

 

[Doug.38PR]

I am 70 years old and started out with revolvers over 50 years ago. I carried revolvers on my guard jobs over 35 years. While they were only guard jobs I had to qualify as regularly with them as often as most police departments do. I have and still do own autos but I never was as fond or as familiar with them as revolvers. I probley have over two dozzen good DA revolvers to sort through to take with me on my outings. I do a lot of boondocking-trail rideing on our ATV. The gun that go`s with me the most is this old 1953 M&P. It`s as simple as it gets. Light to pack, I dont worry about scratching up my pythons or 27, and it`s this same gun that stays loaded in arms reach in the bed room. The exspendsive safe queens are locked in the safe. I wouldnt be surprised if some study was done and it was found that this gun held the most popular spot for a old time police revolver.

Nice gun!. Years ago, I got my dad a 1971 M-10 like new in the box. He always wanted one (he simply refered to it as "THE .38 Special" or "The old policeman's revolver" as it's what he remembers fondly hanging on the belts of policemen growing up in Jackson, Mississippi and seeing in movies and tv. Everytime I refer to it as "your model 10" he looks at me like "my what?" and then elaborate "your Smith & Wesson .38" LOL!!
I got him a swivel holster on E bay for carry when he goes hiking in the woods. (Looking for a belt slide to hang it on now )

 

[stantheman86]

I'm sure the 10 and 64 "PD trade ins" on GunBroker have sparked many questions

I would bet my next paycheck any newer Model 10 (10-11, 10-14) or 64 (64-5 through -8) being sold as a PD trade in was most likely a security trade in. I would say the last Model 10 to be "issued" by any LE Agency would be 10-10's since these were made in the 1990's, when revolvers were still commonly used by police.

The trend is that PD's don't normally "issue" duty guns anymore, instead the Officers buy their own from an approved list and are reimbursed most or all of the cost. It saves having to worry about an armorer, inspections, maintenance, etc. The LEO is responsible for his-her own weapon.

Even a lot of security companies require their guards to buy their own guns, so you see a lot of Armscor and Taurus revolvers because at $2-300 it's $200 less than a Glock.

I have heard of a lot of 10-10's being used by foreign police such as Japan and Thailand. There have recently been a large lot of 66-7's traded in by an Australian PD.

I am pretty certain no 10-14's are being issued or even carried by any LEO's in the US........if a LEO is carrying a Model 10, he's probably older and the 10 would be an older model, and no younger Officer would carry a new production Model 10 nor would he probably even be allowed to. These days, if I see a LEO with something other than a Glock I'm surprised.........I saw a Deputy Sheriff with what looked like a 5906 and I was pleasantly surprised hahahaha

 

[M3Stuart]

I saw a model 10 hanging off the hip of a LEO on the street in Lima, Peru not long ago.

 

[MajorD]

NYS dept of corrections took over the old glock 17's that were replaced by glocks in 45 gap caliber in the NY state police. as I understand it the 17's are used by memebers of the emergency reponse unit but the joe average prisoner transport guys still get model 10's.
When going through chicago ariport I noted about half the officers I saw on duty were carrying wheelguns.
In most PD's union rules often state that when the organization transitions to a new gun offiers trained with and carrying previous issue guns are allowed to continue to carry them if they choose.
I seriously doubt any organization in the U.S. is still issuing a revovler as standrad issue.
back in 2001 when I was working at ground zero as part of a military response unit the vast majority of officers I saw were still carrying wheel guns (doesn't seem like that could have been over 10 years ago now!)

 

[Doug.38PR]

I am pretty certain no 10-14's are being issued or even carried by any LEO's in the US........if a LEO is carrying a Model 10, he's probably older and the 10 would be an older model, and no younger Officer would carry a new production Model 10 nor would he probably even be allowed to. These days, if I see a LEO with something other than a Glock I'm surprised.........I saw a Deputy Sheriff with what looked like a 5906 and I was pleasantly surprised hahahaha

Actually, about 4 or 5 years ago I saw a young policeman carrying a S&W K frame revolver with target grips (didn't ask the exact model, it was a quick insurance inspection checkpoint) in Sterlington, Louisiana. Last year I saw a young sheriff deputy in Union Parish, Louisiana carrying a S&W K frame with magna grips while escorting some prisoners out of the courthouse.

Friend of mine on the Quachita Parish Sheriff's department told me that you could carry a revolver if you wanted to as long as you qualified with it. But most police opted for an automatic.

About seven years ago I was speaking with a young deputy in Harris County, Texas who told me the Sheriff's department (unlike the Houston Police) still allowed their officers to buy and carry whatever they wanted, revolver or auto (although his choice was a Colt 1911A1 .45 Gov't)

 

[proguide]

I don't know of any. In my Department, I carry a Glock 21, 870 pump and a Colt M4 ( select fire ) while on duty. Lots of lead and a very cramped patrol car.

 

[CCantu357]

I know our parish sheriff's department seems to let the veteran officers carry the Model 64. From what I was told they went back to revolvers for a short time when their shipment of semi autos had numerous factory recalls. They issue Glocks now, but the ones who still carry the .38 say they can shoot much more accurately with it.