Anyone out there have a Utica Police Dept. M&P 38? I just picked up one with "U.P.D." on backstrap which was shipped 5-2-35 along with 79 others. Mine is #651471. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Ron

Something interesting struck me since posting my initial thread on the Utica....the 38/44 HD was the new "in thing" for Police Departments during the 1930's, but Utica chose to stay with the M&P rather than going for the 38/44. I wonder why? Finances? Hoping for some interesting input. Thanks, Ron

Ron, I don't own a Utica gun and have no personal knowledge of them, but I know some have been reported in forum threads over the years. The "Search" menu up there in the forum banner has a couple of options to choose from. Use the Google box at the top of the list in preference to the search function built into the forum software and look for "Utica P.D."

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David Wilson

Regarding the HD .38/44 vs. the M&P, not too many PDs used the HD .38/44 at that time. I think there were only about 11,000 HDs total made during the pre-WWII period, and they were somewhat more costly than the M&P. About $80 difference in today's dollars. Even more so (probably about $200) for the .38/44 Outdoorsman. That was a major consideration during the great depression. And I think most cops felt that a M&P (or a Colt OP) was plenty good enough.

Pretty much what DWalt said. It's easy to overstate the importance of the 38/44 because as the "ancestor" of the .357 Magnums it holds such a special place for S&W historians and collectors.
But looking at the actual numbers in comparison to the production numbers for the M&P in .38 Spl., it really was more a novelty than an "in thing" for most police departments.
Of course Colt at that time still had the upper hand over S&W in the law enforcement market, and they actually bragged with the fact that the Official Police could handle the .38/44 ammo which the standard M&P couldn't.

David, Thank you for the info about the "Search" mode. I checked it and found out a little about the Utica and am hoping some of the forum members will be able to provide additional info. Thanks again for your help, Ron

I had a 19 that I bought from a buddy that had been a Utica PD gun. It was in good shape and had the best trigger pull that I had ever felt.

He had shot magnum loads in it and had a gunsmith tighten it up occasionally. Finally the smith told him that he wouldn’t do it any more. My friend replaced it with a L frame gun and sold the 19 to me. I later sold it and bought a 28. I probably should have kept the 19 and still got the 28.