Okay, so unfortunately I took a sick day a short while back and I watched an episode of Diagnosis Murder and for some inexplicable reason I am now hooked on this show......Dick Van Dyke's kid, in real life and in the show, Steve Sloan is a police officer and he carries a stainless revolver and I'm having a hard time figuring out what it is. I've narrowed it down to two good possibilities, 1) S&W Model 60 (3 inch with full shroud on ejector rod and adjustable sights) or a Model 686 (also 3 inch). By some off chance, does anyone know what it is he carries??? I'd greatly appreciate it!!

Only picture I could find

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This is my go-to page for these things, but they don't list Diagnosis Murder..."

Internet Movie Firearms Database....

Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games

Based simply on "the man is 6'1", that looks too big to be a J-frame, to me.

[Img]https://static.iledebeaute****/files/images/imgsng/part_2/56190/src/scr_002.jpeg[/img]

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Left hand cross-draw with thumb-break and retention adjustment screw, looks like a zero-cant, worn at 3:00 position for left-hand cross-draw. I can see all sorts of problems with accessibility, but the script writers and directors will take care of all of that scene by scene.

You won't see any "real" LEO with a crossdraw holster.

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H Richard
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I don't think I ever saw the show When was it made? That could narrow down the gun.

Did he use the old cavalry reverse draw? Not that I think any real cops do.

Isn't that show a really old re-run? The M-60-4 didn't even appear until 1990, as I recall, so it'd probably take one gun off of your list.

When did the M-686 appear in barrels shorter than four inches? The M-66 snub gives you a wider time frame.

Me too! They even have a page for Barry Van Dyke, but not in that show. I've gotten a few good looks at it, but it's driving me nuts that I can't figure it out, though I think one of my 2 guesses could very well be it.

That was my thought too after a few good looks at it. The Model 60 was an early guess but I figured I'd include it.

The episode I watched was 1997, I thought it was way older too.

The episode I watched was 1997, I thought it was way older too.

Also, it's definitely not a Model 66, the shroud runs the full length of the barrel. Maybe a model 629 when it had a full length shroud, but I think I'm reaching there. I don't think a lot of police use 44 mags either, though it is Hollywood.

I wouldn't think so!

Didn't the mighty Walker, Texas ranger carry a 44 in a crossdraw before he went to the Taurus 99?

I picked an episode at random on YouTube and scanned through it until he drew it somewhat clearly. It's from Season 4, Murder in the family, 40:23 into the show.

That doesn't look real. What's with the top strap?

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Being a 5 shot that would clearly be a Model 60. That's what I was thinking but in the episode I just watched (can't remember the name) that had Angie Dickenson, and Matt Milner in it it looked too big to be a J-frame so I figured 686,but that's definitely a Model 60 with an odd top strap on it. Thank you for the info, I could barely get a clear shot even with DVR pausing it was always blurry.

I'd say that just about solves it, thank you.

The first picture posted by a member has the same top strap on it I noticed. Maybe some kind of aftermarket sight? I know that the Model 60 with 3 inch barrel and full shrouded ejector rod had adjustable sights too.

Almost looks like a Rossi .44 Special or somesuch. If I recall, they were 5 shooters and the top strap definately looks it.

Bingo, a Rossi Model 720.

Maybe it is a 696, the sight and rib look right.

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dd884
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Well I'll be! I just saw one at my LGS too! Didn't even register about this topic

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I was unaware of this!! Thank you! Did they have a 357 five shot or a 44 mag five shot?

That's a dead ringer!! I thought it looked too small to be a Model 60! Good call!!

That too would be a good guess, except that the 696 is a 6 shot. Otherwise that would sound good and I believe it's a 9 mm, which would be a good police round for that time period. I swear though sometimes it looks like a 6 shot even though it's a little blurry as the show came out before HD television, but it does look like a 6 shot sometimes almost like they swap them out once in a while which is typical with Hollywood.

"That too would be a good guess, except that the 696 is a 6 shot."

The 696 is a 5-shot 44 special. At least mine is. Yours might be different.

But I think the 696 came out in the early aughts. 03, 04, somewhere around there. Too late for the show.

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