Florida Highway Patrol & the model 66

J

JustinL

US Veteran
Silver Supporter
Joined
Jul 31, 2010
Messages
244
Reaction score
145
Location
Central Florida
The FHP's use of Colt revolvers is well known. Their use of the model 27 is also relatively well known, at least on the forum anyway.

What has not received a lot of attention is the model 66.

It is because of this that I finally decided to send for an Archive Letter for mine; it is attached below. I was under the impression that there was one large shipment but it appears they were shipped piecemeal.

teFNxH.jpg
 
I've kept track of the range of rack numbers of different revolvers issued by the FHP. It appears they purchased at least 352 of them (model 66).

32 - 56: Smith & Wesson 28 in nickel with 5" barrels (25) shipped May 11, 1959

213 - 609: Colt Trooper in nickel with 5" barrels. Known serial numbers suggest manufacture 1963-67

796: Colt Trooper Mk III in nickel with 5" barrels.

862 - 1214: Smith & Wesson 66 with 4" barrel. Known serial numbers suggest manufacture 1971-4

1258 - 1674: Smith & Wesson 27-2 in nickel with 5" barrels (500) shipped March 13, 1975 to Department of Public Safety; Tallahassee, FL

18xx - 2159: Colt Python in nickel with 4" barrel. Serial number suggests 1978 manufacture
 
Last edited:
Justin,

Your list is just about as I remember, with the sole exception being that I never saw a Nickel FHP Colt Python. The last revolvers bought by FHP were Colt Ultimate Stainless Pythons. FHP pretty much emptied out their armory to buy these, trading in all the older revolvers that weren't already issued out, and a great many automatic weapons, such as
M1 Thompsons, Ingram M6's, and M1 and M2 Carbines. Believe it or not, a few years later the Ultimate Pythons were traded in for Beretta 92F 9mm pistols. Those were then traded in for .40 caliber Beretta 96G's, which were eventually traded in for Glock .45 GAP's, which I believe is still current FHP issue. When I first got into LE in 1972, most of the troopers I knew were carrying 5" nickel old model Troopers, with a smattering of the uber-rare 5" nickel S&W Model 19's. I only knew one trooper that retired with his M19. His family still has it, and no, its not for sale. I checked. By the way, I also have an FHP M66, Rack number FHP 1138
 
Last edited:
" with a smattering of the uber-rare 5" nickel S&W Model 19's. I only knew one trooper that retired with his M19. His family still has it, and no, its not for sale. I checked."

5 inch nickel Model 19's? Did you mean to say 5 inch nickel Model 28's?
 
BUFF said:
" with a smattering of the uber-rare 5" nickel S&W Model 19's. I only knew one trooper that retired with his M19. His family still has it, and no, its not for sale. I checked."

5 inch nickel Model 19's? Did you mean to say 5 inch nickel Model 28's?
Click to expand...

Nope. I meant to say 5 inch nickel M19's. They actually had some that were a special order for them. I have seen and handled them, and I assure you, I definitely know the difference between a M19 and a M28.
 
Last edited:
I was a part time employee at a gun shop in the early (?) 1970s when we received a number of used FHP Colt .38 nickeled revolvers (official police ?) with 5" barrel that FHP had sold/traded off.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Harry Callihan
Highway Patrolman
Replies
11
Views
888
Richardford
R
T
Highway Patrolman
Replies
18
Views
2K
haroldj
H
C
Highway Patrolman Question
Replies
3
Views
389
Hawg Rider
H
K
Mod 10 Straham Custom For GA Highway Patrol
2
Replies
22
Views
1K
steelslaver
steelslaver
S
Model 66
Replies
6
Views
391
Baxter6551
Baxter6551

Latest posts

Back
Top