DRAGNET Chiefs reunited

[two-bit cowboy]

To avoid resurrecting a four-month-old dinosaur I'm starting a
new thread.

Jack Webb was Sergeant Joe Friday, and Ben Alexander was his
partner, Officer Frank Smith, on the DRAGNET TV show from 1951
through 1959.

Back in December, thanks to fzandome, I bought Ben Alexander's
Chiefs Special. Thanks to two other S&W Collectors Association
members, shortly thereafter I made a deal to buy Jack Webb's,
too. After I saved up my nickels for a few months it arrived
yesterday.

Here they are. (Ben's shown wearing a new set of period-correct
laminated dymondwood stocks thanks to another S&WCA member.)
The last photo shows LAPD Officer Joe Blackford's bird's-eye
maple stocks that were on Ben's Chiefs Special when I received
it. Thanks to forum member SG-688 for letting me know who
made them in my first thread.

Thanks for letting me share these two with you. Great fun.

[Wiregrassguy]

Wow, Bob! Are you going to display them in Tulsa?

[two-bit cowboy]

Yes, Guy. Them plus the letters, photos and other bits 'n' pieces.

Looking forward to meeting you.

[s&wchad]

That's something you don't see everyday... Fabulous pair!

I think Jack would approve!

[Rusty parrot]

Bob,
Congratulations on a great accomplishment and completely agree with Guy,
WOW!!
Enjoy and if they make it to Tulsa I for one am looking forward to getting to see them.
Best,
Jake

[OutWest50]

I still watch some of those old re-runs on occasion. Fun shows from a bygone era! Thanks for posting those revolvers!

[mchom]

Congratulations on pursuing this endeavor and then success!!!
Can’t wait to see in Tulsa !

[Wyo]

Well, now, that is just cool! Don't ya just love it when you're finally able to put together something like that? I do hope you'll bring them to show in Riverton - I'd love to see them.

[RKmesa]

Very Cool Bob!!! Congrats! Looking forward to seeing them and you in Tulsa this summer.

[BE Mike]

Cool! How did you verify the authenticity of the provenance? Not to be a downer, but probably few folks under 65 would have any idea what Dragnet was?

[kscharlie]

Color me green and call me envious... Great acquisition Bob!!! See you in Tulsa.

[two-bit cowboy]

Originally Posted by Wyo

I do hope you'll bring them to show in Riverton - I'd love to see them.

They and I will be there. This is the surprise I mentioned last month. Guess it's not a surprise, now, huh?

[two-bit cowboy]

Originally Posted by BE Mike

Cool! How did you verify the authenticity of the provenance?

You can't be a downer no matter how hard you try.

Letters and one phone call. Both Chiefs traveled short paths. I'm
the third owner of Ben's and the fourth owner of Jack's (not
counting their widows who both passed them on relatively quick).

[S&W ucla]

"Just the facts" WOW! That's a great pair Looking forward to seeing them in Tulsa. Did Harry Morgan get one? Can't think of Jack Webb without the Copper clapper caper on Carson

YouTube

[Truckman]

That is something to behold, Bob...Congrats!!......Ben

[BKLooney]

That is an outstanding pair to have acquired, congrats!!!

[gmborkovic]

Hey Bob, nice buy. Im the rude guy, what did they cost?

[Drm50]

I saw Jack Webbs m36, sell at Garners Auction in Carrolton, Ohio over 20yr ago. They also had a Browning Hi-Power that was presentation piece to Webb. There was a third gun I think was a m12 Winchester that was Webbs.

[Hondo44]

Bob, that’s an awesome pair, congrats!

Did any of his other partners have Chiefs like harry Morgan, Ben Romero, or chief of detectives raymond burr, etc.?

[gerhard1]

I thought Webb carried a 2" Model 10.

[demkofour]

Bob, I know you’ve been working on this acquisition for some time now- fantastic to see it come to fruition! Congratulations and can hardly wait to see them and you in Tulsa!
Absolutely outstanding!

[jimmyj]

I never knew Officer Frank Smith (Ben Alexander) carried a "Chiefs Special" on the Dragnet Series. I always saw Him carrying a S&W or Colt 6" revolver with stag grips in a cross draw holster.

[JH1951]

Congratulations, Bob! Very nice 'pairing'. You have taken "wrangling of stray Chiefs" to a whole new level! Well, well done.

[Baxter6551]

I know nothing about it ….. but I think the revolvers they carried on the show were props and these were presentation guns to the actors - their personal revolvers not the ones used on the show ? Could that be correct ?

[usm1rifle]

Bob,

Those are the stuff dreams are made of...

See you in Tulsa!

Al

[Hondo44]

Identifying firearms used in movies and TV series is always complicated. The firearm props person does all the loading and unloading of blanks for the many 'takes' usually associated with filming a scene.

So to keep things moving ("time is money" is never more true than in movie making!), several firearms are rotated between the actors and the prop man so that a loaded gun is always ready for the next take.

Particularly in westerns you'll notice the actor(s) will be shooting a 4 5/8" barreled single action but in the next scene the same actor will be shooting a 5 1/2" single action; especially in the old 'B' westerns. You might see a single action used in one scene than a double action in the next scene.

Some movie directors are more particular about these inconsistencies than others. When the gun used is an unusual model, more effort is used to keep the same type of guns in rotation. As I recall there were three different long barrel S&W N frame revolvers used by Clint Eastwood in his Dirty Harry movie roles and not all were 44 Magnums.

It's much easier these days to fool the public with so many cop shows using 'black' semi-auto handguns or shoulder arms that all look alike at a glance.

Side note: We've probably all seen the big shootout at the end of the movie "Open Range" with Costner and Duval. I was amazed to learn that the gunfight required over 40,000 rounds to film.

[Patrick L]

I'm only familiar with the Dragnet episodes from the late 60s. In fact I watch it every morning right after Highway Patrol. I need to find some of those older episodes.

So Jack Webb was a genuine "gun guy?"

[DWalt]

Am I correct in assuming these two were presentation pieces to Webb and Alexander by someone? I do know Friday used at least a Colt DS in earlier episodes, and later an M&P snubby. I don't remember Smith carrying anything other than a 6" M&P in the series.

I sort of remember that Alexander owned a car dealership in LA after his run in the series ended.

[AlHunt]

You know, I was thinking about this a couple days ago, wondering how it was going.

The only TV gun that would top this for me would be Lucas McCain's Winchester.

Congratulations on completing the deal. You win the forum today, for sure.

Here's the original thread:
A new 5-screw Chiefs Special for Christmas. Are you a fan of "Dragnet"?

[Patrick L]

IIRC, wasn't McCain rifle an El Tigre copy?

[mikepriwer]

Gary Cooper's personal carry-gun was a 2" .38 M&P. It sold in the last Rock Island auction (12/8/2023) for a hammer price of $10,000. The estimated price range was $5000 - $7500 .

Mike Priwer

[AlHunt]

Originally Posted by Patrick L

IIRC, wasn't McCain rifle an El Tigre copy?

There was a stunt gun (the El Tigre) and a couple of gen-u-ine '92 Winchesters. I'd be happy with any one of them.

[kev74]

It doesn't look like they shot them much.

Beautiful revolvers!

[two-bit cowboy]

Originally Posted by gmborkovic

Hey Bob, nice buy. Im the rude guy, what did they cost?

Yes, that's rude.

You'll never know.

[two-bit cowboy]

Originally Posted by jimmyj

I never knew Officer Frank Smith (Ben Alexander) carried a "Chiefs Special" on the Dragnet Series.

Jimmy, nobody said Officer Smith ever carried a Chiefs Special.

As Jim (Hondo44 suggested) these were presentation trophies.

[two-bit cowboy]

Originally Posted by Patrick L

So Jack Webb was a genuine "gun guy?"

Yes, most certainly.

[two-bit cowboy]

Originally Posted by Hondo44

Did any of his other partners have Chiefs like harry Morgan, Ben Romero, or chief of detectives raymond burr, etc.?

I have an invoice for a S&W 9mm auto (some call it a pre-model 39)
S&W presented to Jack Webb. Serial number 714.

It's pictured in Dr. Jinks' book, Images of America: Smith &
Wesson on page 46. The caption says it's Sgt. Joe Friday and
Officer Bill Gannon, but the second guy is really Officer Frank
Smith (Ben Alexander).

To my knowledge none of the other stars on the show ever got a
revolver or semi-automatic as a gift from S&W.

[.38SuperMan]

Originally Posted by gerhard1

I thought Webb carried a 2" Model 10.

I used to watch Dragnet with my dad and I still love watching them and listening to the old radio shows.

This is my understanding too. Watching episodes and looking at old production stills I believe it was an M&P or model 10. I’ve read in several references that this is what he carried.

I’ve also read that the revolver was owned by the LAPD and Webb used it during filming then turned it back in to the LAPD for safe keeping.

Unfortunately it’s been a while and I can’t provide references but I read that Smith and Wesson presented them with their own personal revolvers. I’d guess since these are engraved and they’re in perfect condition plus Jacks is a pinto that those are the ones that were presented by Smith.

Not related to the two guns but I understand Webb was honored upon his death with a full police funeral and the badge number 714 was retired.

Please correct me if I’m wrong.

[A10]

These would look really cool in the SCSW 5......hint, hint....

[Truckman]

Originally Posted by A10

These would look really cool in the SCSW 5......hint, hint....

There's a place for that excellent suggestion......Ben

[Hawg Rider]

Outstanding acquisitions! Now you need to add Joe Friday's S&W 2" Model 10 from the second "Dragnet" (1967) series with Bill Gannon (Harry Morgan). Gannon used a S&W 4" Model 15 (per IMFDB). I think in the past that Forum members determined that Broderick Crawford (Dan Matthews, "Highway Patrol (late 1950s)) also used a S&W 2" Model 10. Congratulations, enjoy!

[Doc44]

44 Magnum, S130714, was shipped to Kelly Lookabaugh, S&W Sales Represenative, in Los Angeles on February 29, 1956 for presentation to Jack Webb. It was engraved on the side plate JACK WEBB. It is on display at the Los Angeles Police Academy and is not available to a collector. I would guess the .38 Chief Special revolvers for Webb and Alexander were also shipped to Lookabaugh, but that is only an educated guess. All of the presentation revolvers were shipped via a Advertising (Cost of Sales) Account.

Bill

[Sistema1927]

What a great pair of revolvers.

Did they come to you with the names engraved? (Possibly done for presentation to Ben and Jack?)

[two-bit cowboy]

Originally Posted by .38SuperMan

Not related to the two guns but I understand Webb was honored upon his death with a full police funeral and the badge number 714 was retired.

Please correct me if I’m wrong.

You're exactly correct.

LAPD Chief Daryl Gates ordered L.A.'s flags be flown at half-staff, retired Sergeant badge 714 and directed full police honors at Webb's funeral.

Webb is still revered in among the blue. The L.A. Police Museum's annual fund raiser is still called the "Jack Webb Gala."

[two-bit cowboy]

Originally Posted by Doc44

I would guess the .38 Chief Special revolvers for Webb and Alexander were also shipped to Lookabaugh, but that is only an educated guess. All of the presentation revolvers were shipped via a Advertising (Cost of Sales) Account.

Bill

A different Lookabaugh, Bill. Must have been a family operation.

[two-bit cowboy]

Originally Posted by Sistema1927

What a great pair of revolvers.

Did they come to you with the names engraved? (Possibly done for presentation to Ben and Jack?)

Thank you.

Yes, engraved at S&W (see the invoice in my previous post).

[jem102]

What an excellent pair of S&W's with a fine bespoke lineage. You read a lot about all the gangster guns but not much on those that made a reputation working for law & order.
I grew up watching Dragnet with my grandfather, father and then on my own. Very few of my friends or their family's enjoyed the show but I thought it was great.


Congratulations on obtaining them! Now you need a box of cotton gloves and an additional can of Ren Wax.

[mh51]

Outstanding, Bob!!! When good friends and good contacts work together, some neat things can happen. They've got a good home!

[boykinlp]

Originally Posted by two-bit cowboy

To avoid resurrecting a four-month-old dinosaur I'm starting a new thread.

Jack Webb was Sergeant Joe Friday, and Ben Alexander was his
partner, Officer Frank Smith, on the DRAGNET TV show from 1951
through 1959.

Back in December, thanks to fzandome, I bought Ben Alexander's
Chiefs Special. Thanks to two other S&W Collectors Association
members, shortly thereafter I made a deal to buy Jack Webb's,
too. After I saved up my nickels for a few months it arrived
yesterday.

Here they are. (Ben's shown wearing a new set of period-correct
laminated dymondwood stocks thanks to another S&WCA member.)
The last photo shows LAPD Officer Joe Blackford's bird's-eye
maple stocks that were on Ben's Chiefs Special when I received
it. Thanks to forum member SG-688 for letting me know who
made them in my first thread.

Thanks for letting me share these two with you. Great fun.

Wow Bob, those are spectacular, and quite nice additions to your collection! Dragnet is one of my favorite TV shows. I know that I have seen them all multiple times. Jack Webb was perfect for the show, and having a piece that was presented to him by S&W, along with being able to pair it with Ben Alexander’s presented gun, is extraordinary. The only thing that would have made it more special would’ve been if they were consecutively serial numbered. Now all you need to do is acquire Richard Boone’s, Captain J.E. Hamilton, gun to complete the trifecta! Thanks for sharing them with us.
Larry

[two-bit cowboy]

Originally Posted by boykinlp

Wow Bob, those are spectacular, and quite nice additions to your collection! Dragnet is one of my favorite TV shows. I know that I have seen them all multiple times. Jack Webb was perfect for the show, and having a piece that was presented to him by S&W, along with being able to pair it with Ben Alexander’s presented gun, is extraordinary. The only thing that would have made it more special would’ve been if they were consecutively serial numbered. Now all you need to do is acquire Richard Boone’s, Captain J.E. Hamilton, gun to complete the trifecta! Thanks for sharing them with us.
Larry

Howdy Larry,

Thanks for your kind words.

Captain Hamilton's Chiefs Special went to Captain Hamilton, not
Richard Boone. Captain Hamilton was LAPD's technical adviser to
the show. I'm guessing Boone might have gotten one of the
plain Chiefs of the four on the invoice.

I checked with the Los Angeles Police Museum, but they don't
have Captain Hamilton's. That is where Sergeant badge 714 and
Sergeant Friday's I.D. card reside, though. Speaking of that, here's
a shot of Jack's Chiefs Special with your exact duplicate of his
badge inset -- thank you, again, for sending the photo.