I've been told that the highway patrols and state police of Texas, Idaho, Arkansas, Colorado and the British Columbia Provincial Police all adopted the .38/44 Heavy Duty revolver. Can anyone tell me what other agencies used it?

Many thanks.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol used 5" Heavy Duties from 1948 until 1952 . . . not marked, but we can identify them by serial number.

Russ

Only for four years! I wonder why they retired them so soon?

They replaced them with special order 5" Combat Masterpiece revolvers. 365 of them.

I believe they used the .38/44 Heavy Duty before the war too. Back into the '30s, if I recall correctly. But Russ would know a lot more about that than I do!

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Just speculation but weight could have played a role . . . they carried the 5" CM that Jack refers to for 24 years.

Actually Jack, before the war they carried ones made by a company that begins with "C" . . . but we don't talk about that!

Russ

I've seen a 4" 38/44 marked Pueblo Police Department. I assume this is the city of Pueblo Colorado.

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Always Stay Strong!

Issued handguns were Colt 1911A1s in .38 Super. In 1937 legislation changed the Agency's name to the Arkansas State Police, increased their strength to 50 Officers and ordered 50 38-44 Heavy duties in a 5 inch barrel version with a lanyard ring, and Arkansas State Police marked on the backstrap.

ASP continued use of the Heavy Duties untill around 1968. Later versions had a 4 inch barrel and no lanyard ring.

Some of these revolvers later saw use with the Arkansas Highway Police, enforcement division of the Highway Department.

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LEX ET ORDO

Well, after all, it was the official police duty weapon!

I once saw a nickeled 4" HD with San Antonio PD stamped on the back strap. Probably should have bought it but that's a whole other thread (smile).

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

Sandusky PD, Ohio carried .38-44 Heavy Duties.

The Austin PD used .38-44s (pre-Model 20s) in the 1950s-60s. There are threads about these iconic revolvers in the forum archinves.

I have it in mind that the Seattle PD used some HDs in the 1930s, but I'm not sure if they were standard sidearms or special orders. I know Seattle ordered a few McGivern ODs, which can be thought of as five-inch HDs with adjustable sights. One Seattle gun store ordered several postwar HDs (pre-20s) for the Washington State Patrol.

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David Wilson

The Washington State Patrol used HDs also - some of them rather unusual 6.5" versions. The ID was placed on the backstrap of the gun's grip - and then ground off (mostly) when they were taken out of service. Their technique was a bit leaky and they often left enough of the lettering to give away the gun's original ownership.

Jerry

Attached Images

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Oklahoma Highway Patrol carried 5 inch blue 38/44 revolvers.

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SWCA 1932 SWHF 135

I was going to post that Washington Sate Patrol issued 6 1/2" Heavy Duties before changing to 6" Model 28s but j38 beat me to it. I can add that Boeing Aircraft Company issued their guards Heavy Duties before switching to Model 15 Combat Masterpieces. Boeing Heavy Duties are stamped BAC.

During the 1970s and into the 1980s many Seattle officers carried a variety of individually purchased 4" to 6" revolvers so some of them could have been Heavy Duties. However, the most common revolver was a 4" Model 10.

That's one that I have never owned but sure have wanted . They went way beyond my affordable range long ago . They're worth every cent , but I will keep looking ---- someday , someday . The " hunt " is so worth the time it takes .

I have a 6.5" 38/44 HD that is stamped "WASHINGTON STATE PATROL" and shipped January 1957 according to Mr. Jinks.
The stamp is on the back-strap as mentioned in a previous post, and this one is crisp, not ground. I got it from a friend of the original trooper who I am pretty sure took his service revolver home with him when he retired.

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

The Alabama Highway Patrol was chartered in 1935 and immediately ordered 75 .38/44 HD's thru Teague Hardware in Montgomery, the state capitol. They were in service along with other S&W and Colt revolvers until 1980, then traded for Model 66's I believe. Troopers assigned to the DCG (Disaster Control Group, forerunner of the SWAT team) were issued backstrap-marked (DCG 123, etc..) satin nickel 4" Colt Border Patrol .357's (stripped Trooper III) in 1971. It didn't take long before daily holster wear made them look really, really bad even tho' they were only months old.

I've had one of the original 38/44's for over 11-12 years now, pretty cool....

DC

The Texas DPS used this old timer before adopting the m 28 in the early 60's. There were also a few Colt revolvers however most highway patrolmen wanted a S&W. When I started as LEO, my old range master had a saying " if you want a revolver use a S&W and if you want a self loader get a 1911''. I believe that was sage advice.

Durham NC PD got some in the 30s.

I'm certain I couldn't afford one of those 5" Outdoorsman, but I'd go to some length just to get a good look at one. I bet they have "KOOL" dripping all over them. (smile)

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

You are correct on Pueblo, CO. A friend of mine was with the Pueblo PD in the 1950s and he told me they carried the .38/44 while he was there. I don't recall that he mentioned the barrel length.

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Keep Shootin' and check 6

The adjustable sight model "outdoorsman" if I remember its name correctly, maybe not. Was and probably still is approved for carry by LAPD, my first partner had one. He said they used to pull the roundnose bullets add some powder, to give it a little bump. I'm sure such a thing never really happened. Bob

Can't argue with the S&W but today he'd probably say "...get a Glock."