I was at the Jazz Fest in Sioux Falls SD. As is my nature, I try to notice what the police and security are carrying. I am usually pretty quick to spot a revolver. In the beer garden, I did notice an officer carrying a S&W revolver. I introduced myself and asked what he was carrying (Model 10, 15 or 19?). He stated that he was carrying a Model 10 and that he carries one all of the time. Of course, he said that the rookies with their bottom feeders laugh at him. I told him about my 3 k frame revolvers and what ammo I carried in them. He stokes his with the same ammo, 158 Grain LSWHP. Its good to know that there are still a few K frames on duty out there.

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otis

I carried model 10s quite often myself for both police and security. When I retired I was carrying a model 65, both are excellent weapon.

I'll bet he can call each and every shot out of that revolver. A lot of the newbies would empty three mags from the lastest tupper-wonder-wear and not hit a thing.

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The Last Standing Knight

I carried a Model 10 as my first service weapon as a part timer. The full timers were still issued Model 66's, this was in 1994. They were authorized to purchase S&W 45's autos with there own funds.

I tried! I did a stint as a SWAT medic on an interagency team and requested to be allowed to carry a revolver, either one of their retired model 10s or my model 19, or even a J frame. They wouldn't allow it, and after they quit laughing they issued me a 4013. Probably a good thing since some of our shooting drills called for several rounds fired and the reloading would have been a pain since I'm not swift with speedloaders. But the boom of the .357 would have impressed those "kids" with their subsonic .40s and 9mms.

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Jon

My very first gun I ever carried was a pre-model 10. I remember it had a very high front sight. At the time our Sheriff's dept only carried revolvers.
We had to purchase our own weapons and I was able to up grade to a model 19 that my wife now ownes. I still own my first set of Peerless handcuffs mfg in 1939. Different key than S&W cuffs. Was fun when my cuffs went to the lockup before me and they couldn't unlock the bad guy till I got there.

When I retired in 2001 I was carring a S&W .40 cal SW99 which is in my safe. What's funny is that all my old duty belts all shrunk over the years.

Oh well,

Bob







UOTE=otis24;135556400]I was at the Jazz Fest in Sioux Falls SD. As is my nature, I try to notice what the police and security are carrying. I am usually pretty quick to spot a revolver. In the beer garden, I did notice an officer carrying a S&W revolver. I introduced myself and asked what he was carrying (Model 10, 15 or 19?). He stated that he was carrying a Model 10 and that he carries one all of the time. Of course, he said that the rookies with their bottom feeders laugh at him. I told him about my 3 k frame revolvers and what ammo I carried in them. He stokes his with the same ammo, 158 Grain LSWHP. Its good to know that there are still a few K frames on duty out there.[/QUOTE]

I wouldn't be so sure about the old timer's proficency with his weapon. Most of the guys I know who still carry revolvers are not gun people at all. They still have the revolver because they didn't want to waste the time and money on upgrading to a semi auto. They usually look to sell it as soon as they retire too. This probably isn't always the case, but it's how I've come to think of the revolver guys.

I carried a Model 10 as a service weapon back in 1962. Does this count?

It goes both ways, and you can't tell for sure until you see them shoot. Iv'e seen great shooters pick revolvers over autos for various personal reasons, but Iv'e also seen many that chose to stay with their revolvers because they had trouble with autos, didn't like them or just couldn't qualify with them. Iv'e also seen a lot of guys carrying autos that should have been carrying revolvers, but their chiefs couldn't tell the difference.

Sadly this seems to be the case around here for the most part. The only people that I see routinely carrying revolvers on duty around here are normally either new hires or female deputies that mostly do civil work and either can't afford to or don't want to buy a personal sidearm.

I'm a civilian and my house gun is a RHKP trade-in Model 10 with a 4" barrel. I bought the gun in like new condition years ago, added a pau ferro Hogue Monogrip, and have shot more rounds through it than any other gun I own (saving of course a trusted .22 Ruger Gov't Target Model). It hits where I point it and has never given me any trouble. A very fine pistol!

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I prefer revolvers but would never consider going back to carrying one on duty.