Nickel plated cop guns?

[Glashaus]

I have a nickel 5" M10-5 that is marked TWC 6047, The TWC is "The Wackenhut Corporation" dates to 1970-71

 

[Coaltminer]

Nickel Cop Guns

Detroit 5" Smith and Colt revolvers.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

You might have seen this one before, but it fits here.

February '56 Chiefs Special, Pennsylvania Railroad Police.

 

[Muley Gil]

Roanoke City PD (Virginia) carried nickel Model 10s. My first issue in 1976 was a 5" then they were replaced with 4" nickel around 1978.

I have a M38 nickel side plate that is engraved with the Roanoke Police emblem. Don't know what happened to the rest of the revolver.

 

[rubiranch]

My Department started issuing revolvers in the early 1950's. The revolver of choice was the Model 15. Officers were still allowed to carry their own revolvers but they had to be blued with a four inch barrel and wood stocks - though some veteran Officers maintained stag handles. Nickel plate was not allowed. When we began to issue the Model 66 in the late 70's the "silver magnums" were favored by some because the bright finish was thought to be more intimidating.

My brother was a deputy back in the early 80s and was issued a blue ***.

He replaced that with one of his nickle .357s. Needless to say someone complained that it looked too "showy" for a lonely deputy. He was told that he could carry a SS instead.

So he went home and polished one of his SS and made it shine like a polished nickle.

Needless to say he was called in by the Sheriff and told to knock it off.

 

[Munsterf18]

Texas DPS

The Texas Dept of Public Safety (Highway Patrol) issued nickel Heavy Duties just after WWII. I have one of those.

 

[Aggie1906]

Nickel police revolvers

I have a 10-5 in Nickel that I bought a few years back. The dealer salesman I bought it from recalled that when it was traded in on a plastic automatic the seller said it was from a relative who had been a Texas cop.
It has the 5" thin barrel, I date it to 1992. It came with a black basket weave holster and two speed loaders with matching pouches, adding credibility to the source.
It is in nice condition, so I figure it was likely owned by a desk officer, not a road patrolman.
It's pretty and I sure do like it. Lack of a 40" duty belt may be all that prevents me from wearing it around my property! Ha!

 

[hittman77]

Remember "buy the gun and not the story"? Well, I bought both.

This old girl is from the mid-30's. Story is she was carried by a city cop in a small Midwestern town in the 40's and 50's. This was NOT a "department purchased" gun and has no markings on it that are after-market.

You see it as I got it, real pearl grips and all. Yes, there is a factory stamped "N" under the grips.

 

[Retired W4]

When San Anton PD got rid of there nickel revolvers and S&W got the contract to referb them prior to sale they were absolutely beautiful. An old partner of mine has one. I'm still trying to talk him into letting me buy it.

 

[Jaymo]

I have an old nickel Detroit Colt Army Special that someone cut down to about 3". The barrel has been recrowned, and a new sight made/installed.
They also put deep dish MOP stocks on it. The hammer has been bobbed and the top of the hammer checkered.

Normally, I wouldn't have bought it, even though I'm a Colt fan.
But, it was priced so CHEAP that I couldn't pass it by.
The DPD markings have been ground off the backstrap, but the rack(?) number on the bottom of the butt has not, and it is the exact same font used by DPD.
It's a pretty nice shooter and a great carry piece.
I just hate to carry it with those nice MOP stocks that are worth more than the gun.

I've thought about replacing the hammer and barrel, to bring it back to it's correct, as issued, condition.
Haven't decided yet, since I'd also like to convert it to .32-20.

 

[sigp220.45]

I bought this M&P several years ago from R M Vivas, who had a direct hookup with the NYPD. He sold lots of former NYPD guns, which had originally been privately purchased by individual coppers.

This one was used by an officer named Fitzgerald, who served from 1947 to 1968. His shield number is stamped on the butt.

RMV said nickel guns were allowed at the time, but had to be purchased blue and redinished locally. Later the policy was changed to blue only, but nickel guns were grandfathered in.

 

[lkabug]

Washington, D C, MPDC model 10-5 nickel.

 

[Muley Gil]

Washington, D C, MPDC model 10-5 nickel.

That looks like stainless. You say it is marked as a Model 10-5?

Regardless, I like round butt K frames. I have one like that in blue, pencil barrel and all.

 

[CH4]

All have been posted before.

Yes, the FHP piece is a 5" 27-2...

Art Doc, here's the sibling to your FHP 27-2, 1582.

 

[rct269]

Apologies if this has already been mentioned, but back in the day a bit further, the Indianapolis P.D. had at least 15 nickel guns----.357 Magnums they were-----all the same: 5", Magnas, Humpback hammers, and a string of consecutive registration numbers from 4860 to 4874.

AND-----they were 15 of only 28 Registered Magnums with Humpback hammers----and nickel finish----ever.

Oh---and they were sighted in at 25 yards with .38 Special Wadcutters. Maybe that will make some sense to those of you who are familiar with the thought processes of governmental bureaucracies----such as they are, may have been, or will come to be----maybe---or not.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[sw44spl]

I know Charlotte NC issued nickel model 10 heavy barrel at one time.

 

[Old Corp]

Easy to forget that before SS work guns became so common that nickel was about all there was to fend off the elements.

Heard stories of my old department regularly sending the issued various Colts back to Colt for re-bluing. (Troopers, MK III's, Det. Specials).
To save money they soon switched to the department armorer doing it after obtaining bluing tanks, etc.
Nickel was never considered, but don't know why.

Do recall when I was in college mid 70's and working a semester for credits with our state's Division of Marine Fisheries - all of the Marine Patrol Officers then were issued nickeled S&W M15 4" guns.
Saltwater environment everyday, and that was considered the best choice then. I'm sure they still required very regular maintenance.

 

[snw19_357]

Art Doc, here's the sibling to your FHP 27-2, 1582.

and another sibling, FHP-681

 

[GB]

South Dakota HP(1970s - 19-3 )

 

[Bubba2014]

When I joined the Lexington PD in September 1975, I was issued a new nickeled S&W HB model 10. We carried these until 1989 when we switched to the S&W 5906 9mm pistols. It's really hard to beat a good Model 10.