Were you law enforcement in the 70’s-80’s? What did you carry?

[usmcsgt]

Sgt. I knew made several inspections by some one that didn't know difference in revolvers until a Capt. caught it in an " unannounced" inspection. Sgt was not happy as he loved the 58 and shot it quite a bit, reloads of course.

I never could find a Model 58 in stock anywhere back then. I think Dallas or Houston Police Department was issuing them cone point and they were very popular for a while.

 

[Greyman50]

The detective that carried the Python carried a Winchester Mdl. 70 in 458 Mag as his " barricade gun" LOL. He actually got to use it once. Can't go into details…..

 

[S-W4EVER]

I carried my issued M28-2 (6" bbl) from 1979-89, when the department went to auto pistols.

 

[WCCPHD]

When I started in 1979 we were issued the S&W Model 66-1 with a 2.5 inch barrel in an issued Roy Baker Pancake holster. We then went to the Model 66-2 in 4 inch, followed by a Model 13, 3 inch. In 1987 we switched to the Beretta 92F. The Beretta was too big for plain clothes but we had a Department Secretary that required all the agencies under his purview carry the Beretta. (He was a US Army JAG Officer).

 

[VaTom]

Started my career in 1976. Mid sized municipal PD. Department issued nickel Model 10 4". Off duty was private purchase. I bought a Model 64 2" Model 64 2"

 

[Jonzim]

Did a 4 year stint as a part time patrolman in IL. Worked about 24hrs a week and carried a S&W Model 66 with two speed loaders.

 

[haroldj]

S&W 19 no dash

 

[dogkinkead]

Last uniform carry was a four inch "Highway Patrol" with two speed loaders. Ammo was Remington 357 mag 124 or 125 gr. JHP, can't remember the actual weight. For plain clothes (work release coordinator) a Ruger Speed Six 2 &3/4

 

[us69mc]

Started '73 as Deputy Sheriff, carried Trooper Mk3, switched to Smith 10-6 HB, off duty was 15-2 2 inch and Model 60. Carried 10 many years and still due. Tried M39, 1911, Dep finally switched to Autos, personal choice. Browning HP for a while then to Glock 19.

 

[lppd4]

I started in 1982 with a Moe 66 for duty and a 60 for off duty. Bought the pair for $357. Switched to a .44 magnum for a bit then landed on a custom 1911 in .45 ACP for the large majority of my 40 year career.

 

[Hawg Rider]

A big "Thank You" to all of you LEOs for your service! I was not an LEO, but my wife's grandfather was a California police officer and later Chief of Detectives from the 50s into the 70s. This Model 15-2 snubby was his EDC when he was a Chief...it dates to 1962/1964. I've shown this one before because it dates to the period of the USAF Model 56, and probably should have been one (s/n K509199). The frame is 1962 but the 2" bbl. was not released as a Model 15-2 until 1964. Enjoy!

 

[Law-dog]

Worked 1969-1976 as an MP-1911-45 acp. 1976- 1979 small town PD, model 19 nickel plated and model 65 stainless. 1979-1983 active duty Air Force Office of Special Investigations, start with SW model 36 in 3 inch 38, and converted to custom 1911-45 commander size. Later as a state park ranger carried the Glock 19.

 

[JeffD607]

When I started at a local PD in 1982 the issue weapon, believe it or not, was a 1929 vintage .38 caliber Colt with a lanyard in the bottom of the grip. That PD was a little behind the times with a Mayor that was tighter than bark to a tree. Needless to say, I carried my personally owned Model 19 until the bluing started to wear off at the muzzle. I then bought a Model 66 and carried that until I left in 1987 for the State Police. I then carried either a Model 681 or a Glock 17 for the remainder of my career.

 

[jack zeller]

So cleaning up the gun locker today and got my S&W Model 57 (no dash) 41 MAG out to clean up. I purchased it as a blue steel new in the box with target hammer and wide target trigger when I was on Embassy duty in West Germany in 1975. The wiesbaden Air Force Base had a gun store back in those days and of course we always hit the gun store when we had to pickup supplies. I really wanted a model 29 (thanks Dirty Harry), but they we just impossible to get then.

When I got out of the USMC in 1978 I was hired by a small Midwest police department- they furnished everything but your underwear, boots and gun. The gun requirements were it had to be 38 special or larger, Colt, Smith & Wesson, or Ruger and you had to be able to qualify with it. If you carried a 38/357 Mag the department supplied you with a 1000 rounds of 38 WC reloads per year. So the training Sgt found me a well worn N Frame holster and I was off carrying my 41 mag.

Factory ammo was very expensive on a cops salary so most of us were carry our own reloads on duty- I settled on a Lee cast lead 240 grain SWC (Elmer Keith recommendation) with a gas check and pushing about 900 fps. Speed loaders on my belt had 210 grain jacket hollow points loaded hot to punch through vehicles was the idea.

So after about a month of wearing short sleeve shirts and the Model 57's checkered target hammer rubbing the skin off the underside of my arm- it became a bobbed double action only Model 57. A few months later I had the gun Magnported and not only did it help with recoil but helped my night shooting scores go up.

Summers in the Midwest getting in and out of air conditioning was tough on blued guns in leather holsters, so I sent it off and had it and it coated with a new metal product that was being used on oil drilling bits- sorry can't remember what they called it. No more surface rust- yea.

I carried the gun during my tenure as a city cop and later as a Sheriff's patrol deputy all the way until I made detective- it was too heavy to wear in a shoulder holster for a 10 hour shift in plain clothes.

So for all you old timers who were cops back then what were you carrying? In the Midwest in the 1970's and 1980's and the agencies I worked for it was most S@W and Colt, and folks were very vocal about what they carried. Lots of Colt Python guys and lots of S&W Model 19, 27 and 28 guys, I also loved the 3 inch round butt Model 13 heavy barrel when I was a Detective.

Cheers,

Jeff

Model 28-2 six inch for years, then a Python.

 

[Darryl Z]

I came on with my local sheriff's office as a reserve officer in 1989. At that time regular officers were issued a 4" model 64, but they were beginning to switch to Glock 17's. Reserve officers had to purchase their own sidearm, and it had to be a S/W, Colt or Ruger revolver. I bought a 4" model 65. Issue ammo was 158 gr lead hollow points, that you had to carry in two speedloaders on your belt. You could carry whatever you wanted in your weapon. I used CCI Lawman 125 grain JHP. I carried a 2" S/W model 640 .38 as a backup in an inside the waistband holster clipped to the armhole of my vest. Around 1991 the dept issued reserve officers a Glock 17. I stayed for 20 years, leaving in 2009

 

[50 target]

Life didn't put me in full time law enforcement like I intended. Passed all the tests with GA. HP but could not pass the height/weight requirement at 6'4" and 155 pounds. I think they didn't want me to get my aarse beat by an old woman. LOL.
That was when I was 21.fast forward to mid 70's and I started as a Reserve with our county SO. Started with a 1911 and later to a model 19 Smith. Later carried a LW Commander, Sig 220. I furnished everything I needed, gun, duty gear, ammo, uniform and anything else I needed. No standardization until the early 90's when it all went to semiautomatic. Qualification now covers handgun, rifle, shotgun, and all items used to make a subject compliant. At 79 I work the Range and mostly try to stay out of the way. Big shift in personnel to mostly young military. Some .make the transition. Some don't. Enjoyed every minute of it.Only had to draw a weapon twice. My hat is off to all full time LEO since you've had to work 2-3 extra jobs to provide for your family. Take care and stay safe.

 

[Riposte1]

I was LE in the 70's, 80's, 90's, and 2000's up until 2021 - I almost always carried a 1911 in .45 (plus a few different BUGs) with the exception of a couple of years when I toted a badge in Memphis in the late 70s - they made me carry a .38 (but you could use a gun chambered for .357 and you could carry hand-loads with either 125 or 158 gr. bullets).

Riposte

 

[SAPDretired]

Started cadet class in 1985 and was issued a model 65, 4" loaded with 158 grain .357 JHPs loaded to something between 1400 and 1500 FPS.

 

[moosedog]

Started in Detroit PD carrying my personally owned 29-2 6.5 inch with Remington 240gr midrange loads while waiting for my police lettered 4 inch 29-2. Always carried my S&W 49 an ankle holster as a backup.
Went to Clinton Township and had to carry a S&W 4 inch 19-4 in nickel with TH,TT, and rubber Pachmyer grips. Later we were issued
Glock 19s in 1991, then Glock 23s. Still always had the 49 as back up while in uniform. Always had my personal Remington 870 Police Shotgun in the car.

 

[Malkovich]

Started in 1981, the classic cop gun, a bull barrel Model 10. Still have it, and the Model 60 I bought as a backup.

Thinking of parting with what sounds to be the same battery of duty/off duty revolvers