Colombian Model 10?

[cooperduper]

Re-posted from pre-45. I was in Medellin the last two weeks on a mission trip. While there I obtained this pic of a Policia Nationale officer's sidearm.

[cooperduper]

Re-posted from pre-45. I was in Medellin the last two weeks on a mission trip. While there I obtained this pic of a Policia Nationale officer's sidearm.

[Texas Star]

That climate sure gets to guns, doesn't it?

Interesting to see that the ammo is very Plain Jane standard stuff.

I read somewhere that many Columbian cops are receiving Beretta M-92's, paid for by the US Govt. See any of those?

Is this gun missing the hammer spur?

T-Star

[charlie sherrill]

All the drug dealers have the newer stuff. Is the ammo as old as the gun? I saw a bunch of these in Mexico a few years ago. Neat pic.

[cooperduper]

Texas Star - The spur is there. My pic is just not the greatest for background and composition. I did see what were either Beretta or perhaps Taurus autos. They were few and far-between, though. Also saw some small, unidentifiable autos I assume were 380s or such. They didn't stick out of the holsters enough to ID. Also saw some break-action scatterguns and a couple AKs. This officer was the only one I actually got to know and ask about his weapon. A very nice young man, indeed!

Charlie - I didn't get a real close look at the ammo, but I did notice it was all he appeared to have on him...

[Texas Star]

Thanks. Is the uniform an olive color? I guess it shows stains less than khaki in the heat and humidity.

Did you learn about gun laws there? Can civilians carry guns? What's allowed?

So many Latino countries have restrictive laws. Argentina is perhaps the best.

Can you tell us a little about Columbia? The country today, the food, how the people in general seem to regard Norteamericanos?

Do you speak fluent Spanish? Did many there speak any English?

Probably ought to post that in The Lounge, though.

I'll look for it there, in case you can oblige.

Thanks.



T-Star

[dewidmt]

I was TDY to a couple of radar sites with the USAF back in the mid 90's. At Arraracuara, a small village in the middle of Colombia, the provincial police officer was carrying a plain-jane Model 10 also.
In Peru, the officers of the Peruvian Infantry Battalion we were working with had various self purchased autos. The two I handled were a beat up Browning HP and a Jericho "Baby Eagle" that had been shot so much the rifling was worn smooth!

I have a Model 10-5 that was "Supposed to" have gone to the National Police Force of Iran back in '69 - at least that is when it was built by S&W. It never made it and I still have it.

One version or another of the Model 10 or earlier M&P will likely be around simply forever. So will the 'plain Jane' round nose .38 Specials for likely the same reasons - Cheap and easy to learn how to use. I spent 11 months in Panama and the National Police Force down there were nearly all carrying Model 10s and this type of ammo. I recently saw some photos taken down there and they seemed to be still carrying Model 10s and at least a couple of them were using belt loops to carry their ammo. Which is just what they were doing 40 years ago.

A few of their Officers Lts. and Capts. were carrying US built Military Surplus 1911A1s but even those officers were carrying their spare ammo in belt loops!

[greenberry]

Now that is an old work gun!

[Jack Flash]

No personal or professional experience, but my guess is that a Model 10 is probably about as good as any other sidearm.

Going up against drug gangs or guerrillas (probably impossible to tell any difference most of the time) you better have some real firepower, meaning a modern military rifle or maybe the modern shotgun equivalent of a riot gun.

Thanks for a fascinating thread, CooperDuper! I will keep checking back to see if you graciously answer Texas Star's questions.

[cooperduper]

Some of the answers in the Lounge...