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

[Guevera]

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.?

 

[Revoman]

Maybe Nevada?

 

[bigwheelzip]

Nashville, Newark?

 

[lowriderfxr]

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

 

[colt_saa]

Silly question, but did you ask the seller?

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

 

[murphydog]

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 .

 

[mlk18]

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.

 

[0849]

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.

 

[JFthunder]

Another 3953 NPD purchaser

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.

 

[Comrad]

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

 

[gwpercle]

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

 

[Will049]

NPD

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

 

[vipermd]

WHere did you but it?

 

[Absalom]

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.

 

[vegasgunhand]

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.

 

[opaul]

N.P.D

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.

 

[Tradewind36]

I'm voting Nawlins.

 

[hooksnatcher]

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.

 

[irishbob]

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).

 

[mikesp11]

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