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police use of model 15
- Thread starter sheppard
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Most American Agencies used the Model 10 or Model 15
I carried a 4” 15 as a USAF cop.
Alk8944
US Veteran
Nearly every police agency in north America used either the Model 15 or alternatively the model 10 at some time. The list of agencies that didn't would be far shorter.
UncleEd
Member
L.A. County Sheriff's Dept., concurrent
with LAPD, carried the Model 15.
Where officers purchased their own firearms
in the 1960s to mid 1980s, the basic
offerings of the day were Models 10, 15 and
19 along with the waning popularity of the
Colt Official Police or Colt. Trooper.
A lot had to do in purchase choice with what
the regulations were for caliber. Generally
big city administrators wanted
to limit carry to .38s, thus eliminating the
.357 as a choice.
In L.A. the powers that were got tired of
officers "secretly" carryng .357 ammo for
their 19s when the rules said only .38,
so the city made mandatory the Model 15.
If someone has S&W production numbers
for the 15 vs. 19 that might help
get a clearer picture of popularity.
with LAPD, carried the Model 15.
Where officers purchased their own firearms
in the 1960s to mid 1980s, the basic
offerings of the day were Models 10, 15 and
19 along with the waning popularity of the
Colt Official Police or Colt. Trooper.
A lot had to do in purchase choice with what
the regulations were for caliber. Generally
big city administrators wanted
to limit carry to .38s, thus eliminating the
.357 as a choice.
In L.A. the powers that were got tired of
officers "secretly" carryng .357 ammo for
their 19s when the rules said only .38,
so the city made mandatory the Model 15.
If someone has S&W production numbers
for the 15 vs. 19 that might help
get a clearer picture of popularity.
It was used down here for the Florida DOC, went threw the academy with one...
I have a 15-2 that is marked ERIE PD.
sigp220.45
US Veteran
I bought a 4” nickel Model 15 that had been issued by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
I also had a blued 4” marked Farmington NM PD.
I also had a blued 4” marked Farmington NM PD.
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Texas Star
US Veteran
Dallas had them, issued and personal. Replaced with M-64.
One officer killed six felons with a M-64 and lead Plus P HP ammo.
One officer killed six felons with a M-64 and lead Plus P HP ammo.
bloodandgutsmurphy
Member
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2016
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I have a Model 15 marked "RPD". My best guess is that it's from the Rochester Indiana or Rensselaer Indiana Police Dept
I can tell you that the Quincy, IL police dept used Mod 15's prior to transitioning to 686's, then to Glock 17's in the mid 80's, and upgrading a couple times since, to 40 Cal, then back to 9mm.
Art Doc
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Very popular model for police use. I have a nickel 15-3 that letters as shipped to the campus police at University of Louisiana.
safearm
US Veteran
I was issued a NIB Model 15 (no distinct department markings) when I returned from the academy in August 1978 as a Police Patrol Officer with the Lake Forest Illinois Police Department.
Although we were sworn officers (I was sworn in on June 13, 1978) and were legally authorized to carry firearms, the department policy was to not allow on-duty carry until after completion of the academy AND successfully passing the department's firearms qualification. One of my classmates at the academy passed everything the academy required, but it took him two weeks to pass the department's qualification. I remember he had a blister on his right index finger from all of the shooting and dry-firing he had to do to pass.
You had to carry the Model 15 until you passed probation (one year from date of hire), then you could carry any revolver approved by the department's armorer, as long as it would chamber the department issued ammo (W-W .38 Special +P 158 grain LHP-the "Chicago load"), and had a four inch barrel. The hot gun on the street at the time was the S&W Model 66, but you couldn't find them, at least at a price a rookie cop could afford, so my first personally owned duty gun was a stainless Ruger Security Six. Later, I carried a Colt Python that my wife bought me as a combination first wedding anniversary/birthday present (I still have that gun and wife!).
I was also a Security Specialist (Sky Cop) in the Air National Guard and while we mostly carried M-16s for weapon system security, supervisors and security controllers also carried Model 15s. I was fortunate enough to be selected for Undergraduate Navigator Training and when I came back, I had to again qualify on the Model 15 as a combat-ready aircrew. The last time I carried a Model 15 was when I deployed to Saudi Arabia in 1990 during Operation Desert Shield. As soon as I turned it into the armory, I was immediately issued a M-9, for which I had no holster. Our Life Support guys spent a lot of long hours sewing new holsters that would fit the M-9 onto our survival vests.
Although we were sworn officers (I was sworn in on June 13, 1978) and were legally authorized to carry firearms, the department policy was to not allow on-duty carry until after completion of the academy AND successfully passing the department's firearms qualification. One of my classmates at the academy passed everything the academy required, but it took him two weeks to pass the department's qualification. I remember he had a blister on his right index finger from all of the shooting and dry-firing he had to do to pass.
You had to carry the Model 15 until you passed probation (one year from date of hire), then you could carry any revolver approved by the department's armorer, as long as it would chamber the department issued ammo (W-W .38 Special +P 158 grain LHP-the "Chicago load"), and had a four inch barrel. The hot gun on the street at the time was the S&W Model 66, but you couldn't find them, at least at a price a rookie cop could afford, so my first personally owned duty gun was a stainless Ruger Security Six. Later, I carried a Colt Python that my wife bought me as a combination first wedding anniversary/birthday present (I still have that gun and wife!).
I was also a Security Specialist (Sky Cop) in the Air National Guard and while we mostly carried M-16s for weapon system security, supervisors and security controllers also carried Model 15s. I was fortunate enough to be selected for Undergraduate Navigator Training and when I came back, I had to again qualify on the Model 15 as a combat-ready aircrew. The last time I carried a Model 15 was when I deployed to Saudi Arabia in 1990 during Operation Desert Shield. As soon as I turned it into the armory, I was immediately issued a M-9, for which I had no holster. Our Life Support guys spent a lot of long hours sewing new holsters that would fit the M-9 onto our survival vests.
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I was issued a Model 67 when I was sworn in. Accurate and comfortable to carry. Area agencies issued the Model 10, 19, 66 and Rugers. Not many Colts left by the early 80's.
spdguns
Member
Oklahoma State University Police up until about 1989.
I have a 2" SB Mod 15 that came from the Cal DMV.
