Jim Cirillo and his Model 10

sw dan said:
here we go :):):)
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Are the coins a more recent development? I know from my military service challenge coins weren’t much of a thing when I first joined (80’s) but became very popular in the 90’s and continue to be so. If I recall my history correctly, the stakeout unit has been disbanded many years ago? We’re the coins something done when the unit was still active or later to commemorate the great service and history of the unit?
 
sw dan said:
here we go :):):)
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You’ve got to realize that with all their heroics, they were looked at as a necessary evil. Too much bad publicity and a perception of too many minorities shot. All this with armed robberies greatly diminished in the City. Jim and others never got the Gold Shield that they were promised. The Unit was disbanded in I believe 1971. It did exactly what it was intended to do and it’s members did exactly what they were assigned to do. The forty members were recruited mostly from the firearms instructors. Many refused, those that participated again did a masterful job with little reward. 🇺🇸👮🏻‍♂️👍🏻
 
There used to be a few members of SOU on this forum. This knowledge and experience is slowly fading away. I am glad it is posted for everyone to digest. I always like to go back and refresh my memory from time to time. I love history and there are a LOT of people on tis forum who need to share more of it with us :coffee:



C

Thread 'Jim Cirillo and Jelly Bryce questions'

I have read that Jim carried a Model 10 with 4" bull barrel as his primary on his right hip, a Model 10 with 4" pencil barrel on his left hip crossdraw, and a snub nosed Cobra in his pocket. Does anyone know what kind of holsters? Photos or descriptions?
It has also been written that Jelly Bryce designed a FBI concealment holster. Does anyone have a photo or description?

StakeOut

Post in thread 'Who would you rather have as backup?'

I'd take Jimmy Cirillo's SOU partner,Bill Allard

Naturally JC would be 2nd.

I had no personality conflict with either man and could stay comfortable in the confined spaces of stake out locations for long periods of time.

I enjoyed being backup to both.

Billy didn't get the book deals that JC enjoyed but he was IMO a much better shot and cold as steel.He was the best NYPD shooter I had witnessed,worked with and shot matches with and against.
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StakeOut

Post in thread 'Can we discuss NY reload and carrying 2 revolvers?'

haywood said:
I read those books,actually I read them twice. I like them a lot.
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I was tempted a few times to read them especially after I learned of Jimmy's death but I'd like to remember him and other people just as they were.

As great as JC was with his weapons the man that I'd want next to me when the lead was flying is not mentioned too often,Bill Allard,a Stake Out Unit member from beginning to end.

Bill liked his 1911 and used it with extreme accuracy.

When the unit was formed I was probably the youngest member.I'm 74 now.
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BigBoku

Post in thread 'Jim Cirillo's Service Revolver, the Model 10.'

Jim, was always a gentleman, I was lucky enough to spend many occassions with him as well as Bill Allard at Rodmans Neck, I still see Bill occasionally when he stops in to visit the Range, both are and were Gentleman and true "Cops"with a wealth of real world experience and knowledge.

Here is a quote from one of Bills encounters that was written about.

" Bill emptied his Ithaca 12-gauge shotgun into a pair of heavily armed gunmen, only to find both of them still up and running after a total of five solid 00 buckshot hits. Transitioning to his S&W Model 10 service revolver, he pumped...
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There is another but I have so many bookmarks it will take me time to go through them
 
duncan4521 said:
I trained with Jim on several occasions. He along with Jelly Brice, Bob Stasch and Ralph Friedman just to name a few were thr great gunfighters of the twentieth century.🇺🇸👮🏻‍♂️👍🏻
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Bill Allard was a great guy and a superb marksman. Accounted for more bad guys than anyone else in the history of the NYPD. I was a new shooter in the Guard when he won the civilian national championship at Perry. Loved his stories about working in NY.
Bob
 
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stakeout.jpg

Rare photo of the origin of the expression "FFFF Around And Find Out".

Best,
RM Vivas

By the by, I got a chance to examine/handle those cut down Ithaca 37's and they are nice. ESU had them fitted with M1 carbine slings to the fore-end so that your hand wouldn't slide off in front of the muzzle when shooting. The ones I looked at had hi-viz orange inserts for the front sights and were -delightfully- compact and handy!
 
I never met Cirillo but have read one of his books and watched the videos he made. The Model 10 he used was pictures in the book as I recall. Don’t look like anything special. As I recall it had rubber grips, tape or something wrapped around those, and paint on the front sight ramp. But it worked like it was supposed to in the hands of a skilled pistolero. He left us a treasure trove of wisdom.
 
I came up in the early '80s so I'm old now, and I can still remember reading about Jim Cirillo. He was one of my heroes along with Bill Jordan and Skeeter Skelton. I wanted to be as good with a revolver as they were and although I'm sure I never reached their level I did okay. Still carrying a round gun these days except it's either a .38 or a .357 LCR depending on how my hands feel in the morning.
 
S-W4EVER said:
… I sometimes think about how he died when I’m driving, I’ve become even more cautious than ever (without impeding traffic). I’m glad I didn’t have to investigate that Fatal, it would be devastating. R.I.P.
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I did a few years as an Accident Investigator and occasionally it turns out to be a suicide.
 
duncan4521 said:
I trained with Jim on several occasions. He along with Jelly Brice, Bob Stasch and Ralph Friedman just to name a few were thr great gunfighters of the twentieth century.🇺🇸👮🏻‍♂️👍🏻
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And let me add yo your list the meanest cop in Chicago...Frank Pape. These were Gunfighter, not velcro-wearing, hair gel YouTubers.
 
I have wanted to add a heavy barrel model 10 to my collection for years. I live in CA and due to the Handgun Roster, they are almost impossible to find. In the meantime I am making due with a rough looking Taurus knockoff of the heavy barrel model 10. It looks like crap but shoots really well.
 
Dale53 said:
Texas Star;
Yes, Jim died in a car wreck. It is ironic after the many REAL gunfights he was in to die in a car wreck (I believe the responsible party went left of center and hit Jim head on).

He had retired from the NYPD and was a Federal Training Officer (I believe in Atlanta, GA at the time). I can testify that he was a REALLY good Training Officer.

FWIW
Dale53
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I had Jim Cirillo as an Instructor in "Training For Trainers" an advanced Firearms Instructor course at FLETC Glynco,, GA. Besides being a great Instructor, he was a great entertainer telling some really funny stories about his career with he NYPD. He never raised his voice or talked down to anyone. We all were experienced Instructors and he treated us as such. Man, was he ever a fantastic shot with a .38 revolver! By this time the 9MM had become standard with the DOJ, but Jim carried a Model 10 .38 still.
 
When I saw this retired Police Capts heavily finish worn 10-6 at the gunsmiths shop for sale I thought of Jim Cirillo and said I have to adopt it. After a bead blast the reblue came out a matte finish and it’s now a favorite shooter. I’ve read about Jim and wish I could have attended one of his training courses. I would have been proud to shoot a model 10 in his class.
 

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I got to shoot early IPSC matches in Athens Ga. in the early 80's and met Jim. He was then the primary firearms instructor at Glenco Federal Training. He was always willing to help a young cop as I always used my duty gun and rig. He was accused of being a games man and he responded, Yea I take every advantage and why they are dead and I'm not!
 
OIF2 said:
Bill Allard was a great guy and a superb marksman. Accounted for more bad guys than anyone else in the history of the NYPD. I was a new shooter in the Guard when he won the civilian national championship at Perry. Loved his stories about working in NY.
Bob
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There are a lot of Johnny come lately firearms instructors that claim extensive experience in competitive shooting with its structures and rules is going to “get you killed” in a fight. I think this pretty much puts a nail in that coffin!
 
I was slated to go to Glynco in 1988 but I ultimately declined because my newlywed wife didn't want me away from her. As it happened that was the right decision because the Federal LEO job I was going to do was eliminated as were the two I would have transfered into afterward. I don't regret not going but it sure would have been a feather in my cap.
 
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