S&W.45 Colt on Duty

Buford57

Buford57

Member
Bronze Supporter
Joined
Feb 9, 2006
Messages
3,539
Reaction score
6,220
An old colleague recently took a trip to Mackinac Island, MI. He reports that the Chief of Police there carries a 4" S&W .45 with a 12 round belt slide for reloads. I'm working on getting a picture. For those who don't know, cars are banned on the island and there is a general turn of the last century feel about the place. Coop says the chief is very proud of his sidearm, so apparently the choice is not all about optics.

I seem to recall a thread with someone asking about any departments that issued the 25-5 as a duty weapon, but can't find it, so started a new one.
 
Register to hide this ad
Buford57 said:
An old colleague recently took a trip to Mackinac Island, MI. He reports that the Chief of Police there carries a 4" S&W .45 with a 12 round belt slide for reloads. I'm working on getting a picture. For those who don't know, cars are banned on the island and there is a general turn of the last century feel about the place. Coop says the chief is very proud of his sidearm, so apparently the choice is not all about optics.

I seem to recall a thread with someone asking about any departments that issued the 25-5 as a duty weapon, but can't find it, so started a new one.
Click to expand...
My wife and I spent a day on the island as part of a 2 month “across the country” trip. Bicycled around the place. As you said, it’s like going back in time.
Even groceries that are brought to the stores in town come by ferry and then are taken to the stores by horse drawn wagons!
For anyone going to the island, you might as well keep going to the UP and the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Stunning scenery. Michigan is a beautiful state.
 
Beemerguy53 said:
With a population under 600, I expect the Chief knows every soul on the island... :)
Click to expand...

He probably does know most of the residents, but not the million visitors they receive every year. They also have a large number of summertime workers. Thefts are an issue, but DUI's and carjackings aren't really a problem! ;)
 
Several officers at my PD carried the M25-5, both 4" and 6".

I bought a new 4" blue one in 1980, round butted it, and carried it for a few years. I sold it to my LT, who carried it, off and on, for a number of years. I bought it back from him in 2008. He passed the following year.

It won't be sold again!
 
Last edited:
When I first went to work for my city, we had a Police Sergeant that carried a 25-5. He refused to give it up when they switched to semi-autos until the Chief finally ordered him to switch to the department issued Beretta 92fs. He still kept the 25-5 in his Patrol Car.
I bought my 4" 25-5 from a retired Captain in the Sheriff's Dept. He said it was his duty gun for many years.
 
Last edited:
the only negative issue with the .45 Colt was extractions. The thin rim would sometimes slip under the extractor. I often wondered if the cylinder was cut for full moon clips (providing full moon clips were availble) if this problem could be overcome ?
 
This is off-topic as far as .45 Colt goes, but way back in the Middle Ages, when I was working after school and weekends as a stringer photographer for a local newspaper, one day I came into contact with some sort of bigwig with the Indiana State Police who wore (that particular day) a 4-inch, nickel Model 57. Gun, stocks, his high-ride holster and his belt all looked brand new to me, so I assume the rig only came out for special occasions. I was a little surprised to see it and asked one of his apparent underlings about it. I was told he was “a gun nut.” :)

That was way back when, when the Indiana State Police ALWAYS looked sharp. I don’t recall the gentleman’s name or his rank/position. I’m sure he is long gone by now.
 
Just came back from our annual week's vacation on Mackinac Island...lovely place...

The only ICE vehicles on the island appear to be the ambulance and fire engine. I don't recall ever seeing the local police but, this year for some reason, there was a MI State Police presence and they were carrying semi-autos.
 
MetalMan said:
Just came back from our annual week's vacation on Mackinac Island...lovely place...

The only ICE vehicles on the island appear to be the ambulance and fire engine. I don't recall ever seeing the local police but, this year for some reason, there was a MI State Police presence and they were carrying semi-autos.
Click to expand...
The MSP was probably there because of all the tourists.

Here's some interesting info about the Mackinac Island Police Department.

attachment.php


attachment.php
 

Attachments

  • IMG_9479.jpg
    IMG_9479.jpg
    94.5 KB · Views: 503
  • IMG_9478.jpg
    IMG_9478.jpg
    53.5 KB · Views: 502
Sounds like a great place to be a cop !
We carried our own revolvers when I started 1978. A 4 or 6 inch barrel for patrol. Any revolver allowed as long as it chambered the issue .38 Remington 125gr plus P. 12 round belt loops. I showed up for inspection at Academy Graduation with speed loaders and was gigged for not having my bullet heads polished. I carried a 65 to start, a 66 six inch when walking a foot post and for awhile an Coltguard Python. About 4 years later they issued model 65s.
 
The wild end of Mackinac Island has a pretty good population of wolves, maybe that explains the 45 Colt revolver.

A friend from church, in his college days backpacked the length of the island. At night, you could look out from a campfire and see the red reflection of several sets of eyes!

Ivan
 
Ivan the Butcher said:
The wild end of Mackinac Island has a pretty good population of wolves, maybe that explains the 45 Colt revolver.

A friend from church, in his college days backpacked the length of the island. At night, you could look out from a campfire and see the red reflection of several sets of eyes!

Ivan
Click to expand...

Sounds like the makings for a Stephen King movie/book. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
M&P 2.0 45 for duty/trigger pull
2
Replies
27
Views
1K
Jim2527
J
RM Vivas
Archival Observations: The S&W Loudenboomen in .30 Carbine (Target)
Replies
12
Views
796
duman444
D
Old Corp
Beretta M96 .40 S&W
Replies
7
Views
782
BE Mike
BE Mike
RM Vivas
Finally got an NYPD Policewomans M36-1 3" HB
Replies
7
Views
1K
RM Vivas
RM Vivas
RM Vivas
NYPD - Bloomingdale Trophy - S&W .32HE #520705
Replies
3
Views
990
Truckman
Truckman

Latest posts

Back
Top