Revolvers of the NYPD

Can anyone advise which revolvers have, historically, been issued or approved for purchase (NYPD members used to have to purchase their own from their supply shop) by Members of Service of the NYPD? I believe it has been a mix of S&W, Colt, and Ruger, but I have not been able to find a definitive listing.
Thanks,
Gonzo

I guess it depends on the time period.

S&W M10, 36, 60, 64 and 640s were all used, 60, 640 and 64 were special made for NYPD

Colt police positive specials, metropolitans, Detective spl, perhaps others were used.

At one time Ruger GPNY, NY101, speed six, service six, were all used. Some of these were special made for NYPD.

Rumors of a Dan Wesson 11 with fixed barrel had been used

I might have missed a few here but I hope this helps.

This should be found in old threads here on the forum. I am not a good user of the search function.

I thought they also used the M13?

Maximumbob54 said:

I thought they also used the M13?

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As far as I know NYPD never had a 357.

Now I think the NYSP, New York State Police were 357 guys. They had 28s, they ordered the famous 520. I think they had a whole bunch of different ones along they way.

wheelgun28 said:

As far as I know NYPD never had a 357.

Now I think the NYSP, New York State Police were 357 guys. They had 28s, they ordered the famous 520. I think they had a whole bunch of different ones along they way.

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Three or four years ago ne local gunshop had what looked just like a heavy barrel SW Mod.10, however it was in 357 fixed sights heavy barrel, blue it had NYSP engraved on frame...I undestand that they were made for NYSP but never issued....I would like to hear from anyone that really knows.l Just interested if the facts are facts or just another strange gun story....

In the 1950s, there was a retired NYPD cop in town. He told us that they could carry anything made by S&W or Colt in 38 Special. Of course this was before the days of Ruger, and when the only S&W 357s were the N frame.

george minze said:

Three or four years ago ne local gunshop had what looked just like a heavy barrel SW Mod.10, however it was in 357 fixed sights heavy barrel, blue it had NYSP engraved on frame...I undestand that they were made for NYSP but never issued....I would like to hear from anyone that really knows.l Just interested if the facts are facts or just another strange gun story....

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George-

You probably saw a M-10-6, but made for NYSP in 357. This gun became the M-13 for the commercial market. The gun rejected by NYSP was the Model 520, a sort of fixed-sight version of the M-28. The two I saw had a nicer blue job than a typical M-28, though. I read that the M-520 was rejected for being too big and heavy for some officers. Don't recall what they adopted instead.

In three-inch bbl., the M-13 was FBI issue for about a decade, from around 1983 or so. The stainless version is the M-65, originally made as an offshoot of the M64, for Oklahoma State Police.

I've read that NYPD considered the Dan Wesson, but decided that it wasn't idiot- proof enough for the average cop. Most aren't really into guns.

Ruger did sell some guns to NYPD, and they have been described here. I don't know how many sold to officers. I think most preferred S&W's. Nationwide, only Ruger has challenged S&W in cop revolvers since Colt withdrew from the market. Both makes are strong, simple, and reliable under most conditions.

In later days, NYPD insisted on DA-only guns, and those sold to their rmembes were so altered and/or so manufactured. That appeals to collectors, I guess, but makes them less desirable for the general shooter.

The last I heard, NYPD allows SIG, S&W, and Glock 9mm autos. DA- only on non Glocks. The only revolvers allowed are grandfathered in and are being phased out as members retire.

Issue ammo for remaining .38's (both snubs and four-inch) is the Speer 135 grain Gold Dot Short Barrel. A Speer spokesman told me a few years ago that it has performed very well. However, he could not provide specific cases of use.

I am almost certain that NYPD never authorized any.357 guns.

Texas Star said:

George-

The gun rejected by NYSP was the Model 520, a sort of fixed-sight version of the M-28. The two I saw had a nicer blue job than a typical M-28, though. I read that the M-520 was rejected for being too big and heavy for some officers. Don't recall what they adopted instead.

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My understanding from reading (so its may not be 100% correct) is that the while the 520 order was being made the 586 came out. They like the slightly smaller frame then dropped the 520 order and switched to 581s.

Thanks for the info...When I saw the one in a gun-shop I tried to buy it. there was so much interest in it the GS owner decided not to sell it..It sure looked like what I was issued in the 60's in St. Louis Metro. Those were K frrames in 38Sp. I had no idea that the 357 was made with fixed sights. In those days there were quite a few officer owned Combat Mag. owned by officers....loaded with 158 grain lead nose 38sp. regulation???...Well when the inspecters were around....Sort of funny they would make a so called un-anounced inspection during roll call. We would get a heads up from the Call Boy, or Turn Key and you could hear all the Super Vels being thrown over the lockers and the speed loaders coming out with regulation 158 grain. After inspectors left lockers would be moved and super vel recovered.....We took good care of those call boys...and desk officers.....In those days we had a PD rank called "Turn Keys" paid a little less than Prob's they drove the paddy wagon and took care of prisoners in the District "Hold Over" Good guys usually older than the average young officer. That position was finally dropped as most Dist. Hold Overs were dicontinued in the 70's..

There are OVER 11,000 members of the NYPD so when it came to buy, it got everyones attention.

R.M. Vivas has compiled a thorough list, from someone who dealt with NYPD and their firearms. He correctly lists the Dan Wesson revolver. At one time, I was friendly with one of the few (or perhaps only) officers who carried a Dan Wesson on duty.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

I knew two retired NYPD detectives. When they were uniforms, they both carried S&W Model 10 revolvers. When they became gold shield detectives, one started carrying a S&W Chiefs Special, and the other carried a Colt Detective Special.

I'm just curious...Old Timers prerogative I guess...What is the issued NYCPD semi auto now and if it is a Glock what weight is required for the trigger pull...Just really curious....I was in FLETC with some NYC coppers some from Metro, some from Transit, and some from Housing...At that time they mentioned they were being integrated. Port Authorit was still separate due to multi state jurisdiction..Just curious..

george minze said:

What is the issued NYCPD semi auto now

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"New NYPD officers are allowed to select one of three 9mm service pistols: the SIG Sauer P226 DAO, Smith & Wesson Model 5946 DAO, and Glock 19. All are modified to a 12-pound (53 N) NY-2 trigger pull. Officers who were issued revolvers prior to the transition to semi-automatic pistols on January 1, 1994, are "grandfathered" and if so can choose to continue to carry a revolver as a duty weapon."

From
New York City Police Department - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

cowart said:

"New NYPD officers are allowed to select one of three 9mm service pistols: the SIG Sauer P226 DAO, Smith & Wesson Model 5946 DAO, and Glock 19. All are modified to a 12-pound (53 N) NY-2 trigger pull. Officers who were issued revolvers prior to the transition to semi-automatic pistols on January 1, 1994, are "grandfathered" and if so can choose to continue to carry a revolver as a duty weapon."

From
New York City Police Department - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Thanks for the info...I didn't know the old times could still choose to carry a revolver.....BTW I accessed the info you sent..Very interesting Can all officers transfer from one unit to another with the exception of Port authority...ie: Transit or Housing to metro or vice verse....

RM Vivas said:

As I understand it back in the day things were different.

NYPD was, ostensibly, three subdepartments: Housing Police, Transit Police ("Mole Patrol") and, for lack of a better word, surface police.

When you took your exam and your list got called up everyone went for training and at completion were assigned to one of the three departments.

There was no lateral transfer. If you wanted to switch from Mole Patrol to 'surface' you had to take the exam again, get on the list and then there was no guarantee that you wouldn't, by bad luck and odds' get dropped back into Transit.

This process of doing the process over to switch was called 'rolling over'. You would roll over from Transit to Housing or whatever.

This sticks in my mind because when my list got called up it was summertime and we processed n some building that had no A/C. We were all in business attire (tie & jackets). One of the first questions that we were asked once we all had taken a sea was "Is anyone here trying to roll over?". Guy in front of me raised his hand. They checked his ID & shield. At that point we were allowed to take off our coats and he had a 2 inch Smith in a shoulder rig under his.

Back around, I think, 1993-1995 the three departments merged into one. I may be off on that date.

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Thanks for the info...I was taking fugitive training at FLETC about that time we had coppers from all three sections of NYPD..Some said they were happy some not so happy...The Housing guys seemed to feel more comfortable with the housing thing. Transit liked the fugitive assignments they were going to...I was somewhat surprised that the starting pay was so low considering the departments status....There were Sgt.s in the class they seemed to have recently received a raise but not compared to some California cops in the class.. NYPD was way underpaid ....

Here's a bit of trivia for you:
Jim

This Colt New Police Revolver was personally ordered for the NYPD by Theodore Roosevelt, President of the Board of Commissioners 1895-97. We all know of "TR" as the colorful Rough Rider in the Span Am War, Assistant Secretary of the Navy who one day ordered the entire US Pacific Fleet to destroy the Spanish Fleet in the Phillipines (on the day the Secretary of the Navy was out of the Office), the Governor of NY, and the Vice President who later became the President of the United States. That would have been enough for several generations worth of achievements for a single family to brag on. However, Roosevelt never shied from personal achievements and even his early years were far from mundane. After the loss of his wife, he spent several years out West as a rancher and even local Sheriff of his community. He eventually moved back East and began a career in public service during the 1880's. By the Mid-1890's Roosevelt had made a name for himself as a reformer on the New York Civil Service Board. He had fought hard to hire public servants based on their qualifications rather than their political connections. American History Teachers will often say Teddy is "the most fun" of all the US Presidents to teach as there is rarely a dull moment in his life!

If memory serves me correctly these Colts were in the "Formidable" 32 S&W Long caliber!
I don't know how to make this picture bigger.

italiansport said:

I don't know how to make this picture bigger.

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Here you go

New member to the page. Anybody know someone trying to sell an ex-NYPD revolver? Thinking about getting one. Looking for something that was carried 60s-90s

ISSUED VS ALLOWED TO CARRY?

No love for the S&W 581-681?