SERENDIPITY
Through diligence, perseverance, and a suicidal abandonment of sound fiscal practices, I have managed to put together a collection of just about one of every handgun NYPD ever used.
As most collectors will tell you, there is a progression to collecting. First, we get the representative example. The one with replaced grips, %75 blue and maybe some light freckling. Thats our "placeholder" gun; that is the gun that lets us say "Yea, I have one of those but I'm looking for a better one.". Then we move up to the nicer condition gun. Then we get the near mint gun. Then we get the near mint-in-box with paperwork ("box & docs") gun. Finally, at the rarified levels, we have the engraved gun with box & docs and at the very top of the gun food-chain-pyramid, the engraved gun that is historically significant with box & docs.
I'm not there yet (goals!) but I do try to upgrade. This is a story about how my attempt to upgrade led me up the pyramid a bit.
At night I peruse the auction websites looking for lost and orphaned NYPD problem solving equipment. My serial number database that I spent years assembling really shines when I'm doing this. The time and effort that went into assembling and maintaining it were worth it, as it allows me to do what no one else really can: hunt down NYPD guns with the ability to instantly verify a pedigree.
Now, in my collection I have a nice Baby Chief. It's an ok gun, good piece but it could be upgraded.
One night I'm scanning the auction sites under the search parameters "SMITH FLAT LATCH". This little beauty pops up:
Nicely composed photo of a very nice Baby Chief. I run the serial number, and it pops as an early 1950's sale to Probationary Patrolman Joseph LAMBERTON. OK. Nice gun but the starting bid is a bit higher than I would like so I take a pass.
I'm communicating with the seller, and he mentions that the gun came in with a 3-inch M36-1 HB. My ears perk up. An NYPD Baby Chief that came in --with-- an M36-1? What are the chances that the M36-1 is also NYPD? Pretty good I figure. So, I ask about the 3-inch.
Seller states that its pretty worn and sends me and image of the gun and the serial number.
I run the number in my records and, not surprisingly, get a hit:
So, it is an NYPD M36-1 and it went to an actual Policewoman. I have three M36-1's in my collection: NYPD Surgeon, Transit Cop and Policewoman. Do I really need another M36-1 or should I send the details to someone who is looking for a documented Policewoman gun (Two-Bit Chief
)?. Conditions not great but...
I figure I'll do a little due diligence on PW SALZANO and that's when things get interesting. The first thing that pops up is this:
PW SALZANO and her partner, PW BURRASCANO, were the first female patrol partners in NYPD in 1972!
(Tell me there isn't a Cagney & Lacey vibe here...)
Apparently, this was a big deal and I seem to recall a little bit about this when I was a kid. I remember the Patrolman's wives picketing at Police HQ that they didn't want their husbands partnered with women.
This was a big enough deal that quite a number of television stations, newspapers and magazines covered it. The result is that there is quite a bit of information about on these two and a marvelous number of photos.
PW SALZANO (note the PW shield and not the Patrolman's shield) sitting in the 77 Pct. In Brooklyn.
PW BURRASCANO leaning on a desk. Almost certainly the holstered gun in the foreground is PW SALZANO's M36-1; the holster is the type authorized for 2-inch and 3-inch M36's. Seller states gun came in with a ratty old holster that he tossed out.
PW SALZANO retired as DET2 in 1994 and passed away in October 2023.
Oh, and how does that Baby Chief that went to Patrolman LAMBERTON play into this? Read the obit; Joseph Lamberton was PW SALZANO's father! I could have gotten a Father/Daughter pair!
Oh, and I got her cuffs too!
So, not a bad catch for just screwing around on the internet during work hours! 😊
Best,
RM Vivas
Digication ePortfolio :: The Life and Times of Lucille Burrascano :: Life Is Real
NYPD M36-1 HB 3" #458815 - Historically Significant?
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