Charles Greenblatt Co.

[JudgeColt]

The Charles Greenblatt Company was such a big distributor that even a Colt guy has a couple! I have Chiefs Special 6XX that shipped to Greenblatt on November 9, 1951, and .357 Magnum 3.5-inch S-156XXX that shipped to Greenblatt on July 19, 1955.

Monga's post seems to imply that Smith and Greenblatt could not get the NYPD to accept the 5-shot Chiefs Special in the 1940s, thereby losing out to the 6-shot Colt Detective Special. Of course, that cannot be since the Chiefs Special was not introduced until 1950.

 

[Randy]

This pre 27 shipped to Charles Greenblatt. The card was in the box when I bought this one and a factory letter confirmed it.




Randy

 

[29-1]

pre-Greenblatt?

Fascinating thread and thanks to Monga for his insight on the Greenblatt company. Here's a Terrier that shipped in Nov 1950 directly to the NYPD so this may have been right before Greenblatt became the LEO distributor for S&W?
Chuck

 

[wheelgun28]

The way I understand it is the NYPD had/ has an armory and would sell guns directly to officers. However you weren't forced to buy from them you could go outside and buy approved guns.

It seems to have worked slightly differently in different eras. Sometimes outside purchases had to be inspected and approved by the department.

It seems that at times certain guns weren't in stock by the department is when outside purchases were made. I guess everyone wants the new thing?

Heres a Jay Pee NYPD duty holster



I have more Jay-Pee stuff too, hand cuff case, ammo dump duty belt etc.

I think Jay-Pee was/is in Queens NY.

Jay-Pee is still around located in Flushing.
http://www.jaypeepoliceproducts.com/

 

[chief38]

I knew Louis Greenblatt very well (in the early & mid 80's) since he had a HUGE retail/wholesale showroom and warehouse on Motor Parkway in Commack, Long Island, down the street where my office was at the time. I bought MANY guns from him personally as well as ammo, holsters, and accessories. I also spent many a lunch hour drooling all over his gun counters and actually did some Custom Picture Framing for him. About 6 years or so later for reasons unbeknownst to me, he lost his FFL and moved down the street to a very small store front where he was only allowed to sell Police, Fire, and such Uniforms and accessories. I never found out what happened, but it was a sad ending to a huge business that he and his brother had built up. I can still remember his gruffy voice telling me "hey kid, you should buy this gun - I'm giving you a great deal". The guns were great, the prices......... ehhh.

 

[29-1]

Another Greenblatt LEO gun

Here's an example of a Greenblatt ordered S&W that was headed to the Louisiana State Police. Evidently the company represented LE Agencies outside of NY. I've posted this gun before, but since there was a Greenblatt connection here it is again. It is one of the favorite Model 29s in my collection.
Enjoy
Chuck

S199638, is a Model 29 shipped Jan 5, 1960 to Charles Greenblatt in NYC who was one of S&Ws largest distributors at the time. Greenblatt was also a distributor for the Louisiana State Police who received this Model 29 and then resold it to a LA State Trooper. Notice the time payment plan. I don't know if $5.00 per pay period was every week, two weeks or a month. But, $5.00 was serious money in 1960 as I recall.
Actually this thread is as much about the presentation case as it is the revolver. This is a good example of what collectors refer to as the "transition case." The case was a combination of the earlier black box liner and tools and the later mahogany wood case. This one is probably one of the earlier examples due to its style latch found most often on the 1956/57 black boxes. For reference, the triangular latch was more common on the 1958-59 black boxes. Exactly when the transition from black box to wooden box occurred is anyone's guess, but I think it was somewhere around 1960. I do not believe this style case was in production long though, because I have revolvers shipped in early 1961 that are in the later clam shell style case.

__________________
Rangers Lead The Wa

 

[29-1]

Back to top. Any more examples of Greenblatt shipped LEO guns?

 

[rposton]

Was glad to see info about Greenblat Co. My pre-29 44magnum was shipped to them July 30, 1957 per Jinks letter. I assumed that was the end of story. How cool to find so much here. Now I want to know who gold plated several components (trigger, hammer, latch, crane)

 

[weatherby]

another of their special order ones

 

[Club Gun Fan]

Hi,
I too have a pre-model 36 Chiefs Special that was shipped to Charles Greenblatt Inc., in NYC, per Roy Jinks S&W Letter. My pre-model 36 was shipped to them in 1956. I did not know anything about them except what was in the letter and now what I am reading here on the forums. I have reason to believe mine was owned by LEO because of the markings on the back of grip frame. The markings are "M.D.C. 913". I am thinking MDC Police in Massachusetts which were aborbed by the MA State Police or Massachusetts Department of Corrections. I purchased this from a dealer in MA who said this came out of an estate. It is in great shape for its age and it shows some light carry wear in the grip area but still tight. (See photos). Would like to find out more so I will keep monitoring this thread. Thanks for the previous infomation posted here.

The MDC was the Metropolitan District Commission. The Department of Conservation and Recreation was formed in 2003 under Governor Mitt Romney, when the former the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) and the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) were merged to form the DCR.

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

Here is my Nickel Baby Chief shipped to Greenblatt.

 

[bdGreen]

Back to top. Any more examples of Greenblatt shipped LEO guns?

This thread is up for an annual renewal.

Not LEO, but...

I have this Model 29-2 with the sales receipt from Greenblatt. It looks like it was purchased by a mechanic. I believe the words 'St. Emanuel' are following his title.
The issuing 'office' is written Judge Paul Murphy.
Goldblatt address published as 120 Main Street, Hempstead, NY, 11550.
The purchase is listed as Heinz Kanitz. His address is written as 5 Weather Oak Hill, New Windsor, New York.

Anyway, if anyone knows this buyer or has any information to add to this wonderful firearm with the original sales receipt feel free to chime in.

Enjoy,
bdGreen

 

[amazingflapjack]

another of their special order ones

how about some pics of the Pinto?!

 

[Andrew2105]

Greenbelt letter 1966

Greenblatt? I've got to learn how to upload in a decent size sorry..

 

[gaucho1]

how about some pics of the Pinto?!

I will second that with a Please.....................

 

[DCWilson]

Bruce, beautiful gun.

I think the phrase defining Mr. Kanitz' occupation is "Mechanic -- self employed."

 

[weatherby]

I will second that with a Please.....................

Sorry an oldie I've posted often and one from the cell phone but at least it's new.
I also got the GREENBLATT in thanks to Kris

 

[USMC0802]

Just got my letter a couple of days ago. Combat Magnum shipped 8 April 1959 with TH, TT, and TG.

 

[Absalom]

Just got my letter a couple of days ago. Combat Magnum shipped 8 April 1959 with TH, TT, and TG.

Time to revive this thread, and an interesting coincidence related to the previous post, because the Model 36 whose letter I just received also shipped to Greenblatt on April 8, 1959, highly likely in the same shipment.

This gun was carried by an NYPD detective. While I have no documentary proof, I purchased it through a retired NYPD officer who now has an FFL from an active-duty Suffolk Co. LEO (I checked that out independently), so I have no reason to doubt the veracity of their claim.

It's also my second Centre Market Place gun. I've got a Colt PP that shipped to Audley at 8 Centre Market Place in 1915, and now the Mod. 36 that went to Greenblatt at 3 Centre Market Place in 1959.

Jeremiah's Vanishing New York: Guns of Centre Market

 

[ISCS Yoda]

What a great thread!!! I'll join in the renewal!

Monga - did you ever post the actual original street address? If it's above I must have missed it.

Back in the day I used to shoot at an underground range on Murray Street in lower Manhattan (there was not an abundance of ranges in NYC; I wonder it is still there). John Jovino had a shop nearby; I never got to go into it.

This was the range up until a few years ago; not sure now:

Downtown Rifle & Pistol Club
24 Murray St, New York, New York 10007
(212) 233-5420

I know the Jovino shop is in the Little Italy/Chinatown area but I seem to recall it near City Hall but I was very young and probably very mistaken.