SFPD Badge Grip Plate (Skull Knocker)EVEN NEWER PICS ADDED

[Vtgw938]

I'm thinking this set of K frame targets with the attached brass SFPD grip plate may have come on a retirement gun? These haven't seen duty use by the looks of them. Anyone connected to the SFPD that can provide any info on them?

 

[Xfuzz]

Pretty common among my old department and many
other cities across Texas....most around the 1960's thru
the 80's.
Various designs used.

 

[lawandorder]

Might check with Irvine & Jachens in Daly City. Looks like one of their badges. They might have some more info on it.

 

[moosedog]

Had them in Detroit too. The purpose of the grip plate was to keep the bottom edges of the wooden grips from being constantly damaged while being exposed, like getting in and out of the car or even a chair. Never intended to crush skulls as you would end up with a bent frame on your firearm if you tried that, plus the business end of the gun would be pointed at you as your crushing skulls. Urban legend.

 

[Claymore33]

In 1970-80 Officer Owens of New Orleans PD motorcycle patrol had Mod 27 with Skull & Crossbones plate on butt. That is first thing the bad guys saw when they walked up behind him.There were a few crooks who ended up with that skull & crossbones im printed on their head.

 

[handejector]

Kinda weird that the badge will be upside down when the gun is holstered.

 

[max503]

I could see one embossed with Pee-Wee Herman.

Just Kidding.

Sort of....

 

[Vtgw938]

Had them in Detroit too. The purpose of the grip plate was to keep the bottom edges of the wooden grips from being constantly damaged while being exposed, like getting in and out of the car or even a chair. Never intended to crush skulls as you would end up with a bent frame on your firearm if you tried that, plus the business end of the gun would be pointed at you as your crushing skulls. Urban legend.

Took the plate off and these grips have spent time on a gun and has been used.I don't think it would take much of a bump to split the wood at the screw holes. Probably less likely 45 years ago when the wood was fresh.

 

[handejector]

Does the plate still fit if you reverse it?

 

[Vtgw938]

Does the plate still fit if you reverse it?

Not perfectly right now. The wood is cracked at two screw holes so I think I will drill & plug the screw holes, strip and refinish the stocks and re-mount the plate with stocks mounted on a 19-3. At that time I can reverse the plate and fit it & the stocks. Wondering if the installer had a reason to mount them that way.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Pretty common among my old department and many
other cities across Texas....most around the 1960's thru
the 80's.
Various designs used.

Common in the smaller Departments in California 1960s thru the 1980s.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

I'm thinking this set of K frame targets with the attached brass SFPD grip plate may have come on a retirement gun? These haven't seen duty use by the looks of them.

I agree on it being a Presentation / Retirement Revolver.

 

[philbrook3]

My dad was a police officer, chief of police from 1966 to 1982. He had two sets of grips the plates one was stainless steel with the Massachusetts state logo, when he became Chief he a a second made with brass place and town police badge. Both sets were mounted to cherry grips. He used these for parades, special events, and funerals. I still have the plates but do not know what he did with the grips. Both of his mounted with four screws.

 

[JohnRippert]

That'll leave a mark.

 

[Vtgw938]

I did a complete acetone strip, repair and refinish on the stocks, using lacquer as was used originally. The butt plate was fitted to the stocks and gently attached with the correct orientation.

 

[John Adams]

When I grew up in Boston, the Cops were terrifying . Most were combat veterans.They were huge guys who wore black leather coats and their Model 10s had buttplates with the Irish shamrock. Every Cop, regardless of ethnicity had a shamrock. None of us ever had to be told twice "Get outta here!"by them.

 

[Vtgw938]

I went to school in Boston in the 70's and remember the black leather coated Boston Police, especially the TPF I believe they were called. I watched a mounted TPF officer corner one of my drunken friends as the pizza owner locked the door so he couldn't "escape". I got the officer to let me remove him but I can tell you he never acted like an idiot with the BPD after that. It was quite impressive.

 

[Jim Watson]

I remember seeing revolver buttplates on working guns back before the department went automatic.

 

[RM Vivas]

Kinda weird that the badge will be upside down when the gun is holstered.

I was wondering if anyone was going to note that. I'd have thought it'd be oriented 180 degrees the other way.

Best,
RMVivas

 

[RM Vivas]

I was in Houston in the very lat 1990's and saw cops who were carrying GLOCKS that had cast silver and engraved magazine floorplates. Guys couldn't pimp the Drastic Plastic but they still managed to add a personal touch!

Best,
RM Vivas