Which Police Depts Issued the .41 Mag?

[TexasRaider]

I'm doing some research on the .41 Magnum and I'm wondering just how many Law Enforcement agencies purchased Model 57's or 58's from S&W after the .41 Mag came out in 1964. I know San Francisco, San Antonio and Amarillo did, but I would like to find out who else might've.

Anyone out there work for, with or around an agency back then that carried these beasts?

 

[OFT II]

I can't help you with your question but can add a bit of trivia. I remember that shortly after Amarillo issued the model 58 to their officers one of their finest gutted the transmission of his patrol car with his revolver while parked on Polk Street. Must have been very embarrassing.

 

[Xfuzz]

San Antonio, Texas
San Francisco, CA.
One Kentucky department ..I forget.
Those are the ones I know of offhand.

 

[Richard Simmons]

Ran across an old thread on another forum where a member states that the Mobile County Sheriffs office issued it (Alabama).

 

[PPCSHOOTER]

I STILL CARRY A 4" NICKLE 57 OUTSIDE DUTIES, AND A 3"657 FOR INSIDE DUTIES. NOT ISSUED, BUT STILL ALLOWED FOR MYSELF AND I BELIEVE 1 OTHER PERSON ON MY DEPT. JP

 

[rusty37874]

I know for sure that the Marysville, IL. PD did, I have one that letters as having been shipped to them.

 

[TexasRaider]

I can't help you with your question but can add a bit of trivia. I remember that shortly after Amarillo issued the model 58 to their officers one of their finest gutted the transmission of his patrol car with his revolver while parked on Polk Street. Must have been very embarrassing.

I really wanna ask who, but I won't! I know some APD guys, lived there many, many years, as well as my Dad worked for them for about 5 years before going to DPS in 1970....

 

[MTKTM]

San Antonio, Texas
San Francisco, CA.
One Kentucky department ..I forget.
Those are the ones I know of offhand.

So when Harry Callahan armed his bad self with a 44 Magnum/Model 29, his gun was only a little more powerful than his brethren in the SFPD!

 

[TDC]

Many PDs and SOs didn't issue 41s or 44s but permitted them as duty guns if the user could qualify them. Two on my department, including me, carried Mod. 57s. Three carried Mod. 29s. Several others had them as off-duty guns.

The Mod 58s were not very popular anywhere at the time for often discussed reasons. I could buy new 58s for a little over $100 and install a bull barrel, Bomar Rib, smoothed trigger, new grips and an action job.

Those modifications made an outstanding big bore N frame for just a few bucks.... IMHO, those were the ULTIMATE duty revolvers in their day....

 

[Old Corp]

Always find it a bit comical that SFPD issued the M58 at one time. Shows how much that place has changed. Wouldn't be surprised if they issued rainbow-print leather gear now.

 

[federali]

Also

Amarillo TX.

 

[ken158]

Roanoke County Virginia Sheriff issued the model 58 -

 

[WCCPHD]

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol issued Model 58's in nickel at one time. They did not issue them to all troopers. Those who did not have the .41 carried a Model 10 heavy barrel if I remember correctly. A sergeant in my area had a Model 58 and when they replaced them he bought it. He then sold it to a deputy sheriff who carried it as the sheriff's dept did not issue guns at that time.

Later the Highway Patrol issued the Colt Highway Patrolman and the Model 19 S&W, all in nickel until they standardized with the issuance of Model 66's around 1980.

 

[Richard Simmons]

Roanoke County Virginia Sheriff issued the model 58 -

I had no idea the home team issued the M58? Most excellent. My gun club has several members that are retired from Roanoke City, County and Salem departments. Who knows, perhaps someone has an old duty rig they might want to let go of.

 

[ken158]

I had no idea the home team issued the M58? Most excellent. My gun club has several members that are retired from Roanoke City, County and Salem departments. Who knows, perhaps someone has an old duty rig they might want to let go of.

As far as "rigs" go - when we dumped the model 58 for model 66, all of the leather was traded for new. When the 58 was issued, most of us did a "wet" reshaping of the K frame Jordan holser and the double 38 cal ammo carriers. Model 10 preceded the model 58.

 

[Richard Simmons]

As far as "rigs" go - when we dumped the model 58 for model 66, all of the leather was traded for new. When the 58 was issued, most of us did a "wet" reshaping of the K frame Jordan holser and the double 38 cal ammo carriers. Model 10 preceded the model 58.

Thanks for the info Ken.

 

[cndrdk]

Amarillo PD. Previously carried the .38 but after an officer was killed in a shootout (1964) they switched to the . 41 mag Mod 58. Pistols and equipment were purchased by officers through the department.

 

[Pig Hunter]

Black Hawk county Iowa Sheriffs Dept. Mod 57

 

[jdh]

Oklahoma Highway patrol did for a time.

 

[Black Knight]

While not issued I know of one former Albemarle County (VA) Deputy Sheriff in the late 1970s or early 1980s (before the County Police was formed) who carried a 4" model 57. He carried it until one night when he shot at a fleeing felon who was running up a hillside. It was said that the muzzle flash lit up half the hillside and that the next day the Sheriff told the Deputy to get a 357 or 38. I also know of one retired FBI Special Agent who carried a 4" 57 in the early 1970s. I was in Junior High at the time and he gave a presentation in one of my classes then.