S&W Model 68 CHP

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Jimmy, as a former LE officer, surely you know that "the Brass" always does everything logically. Truly I believe they thought that 357's were "too" powerful and harder to shoot well. I am sure that some of our more knowledgeable Ca. LE vets will chime in with the reason in as much as they were there.
 
Because bureaucrats are idiots and believe that everyone else just has to be dumber than they are. They have to protect you from yourself, protect you from other people, and protect other people from you.
If only people had some protection from the bureaucrats.
 
Joe Kent said:
Jimmy, as a former LE officer, surely you know that "the Brass" always does everything logically. Truly I believe they thought that 357's were "too" powerful and harder to shoot well. I am sure that some of our more knowledgeable Ca. LE vets will chime in with the reason in as much as they were there.
Click to expand...

I may not be a former LE officer, but I am an old guy who has watched government bureaucracy all my life.

Any LE agency is just another government bureaucracy, and as such, decisions are often made by individuals in positions of responsibility but not in positions that require expertise in all things that relate to their job.

So prefacing the following by saying that I do NOT know specifically why that decision was made, I can offer some possible reasons that might have popped into the head of the guy who made the decision.

1. Cost - Bulk buys of .38Spcl ammo are bound to cost a little less than bulk buys of .357, so the guy thought he was being cost conscious with little thought of the performance of the ammunition.

2. Liberal mindset - The guy might have felt that .38 was more humane and that fewer perps would die as a result.

3. Liability - He might have thought that using a less powerful ammunition in service weapons would make it easier to defend justified shootings in court.

4. Totally clueless - He might even have considered that CHIP officers might have to shoot while moving, and that the .38 might be more controllable with only the other hand on the handbar of the bike.

5. Anything at all - You never know what goes on in the mind of a bureaucrat. We should have all learned that by now. :mad:
 
The C.H.P. used both model 67 and 68 revolvers, I have examples of both. I guess the 68's are rated +P and the 67 isn't? 67 has a 4" barrel, 68 has a 6". Both are stainless.
 
Model 68?

I met my girlfriend's father for the first time this summer in Sacramento. He showed me his old duty revolvers. One was a heavy used Pre model 14 6" and one of those model 68's in presentation case. He started with CHP in 1950.and the pre 14 was what they carried then. The 68 was given to him when he retired along with another pre 14 that was used by his partner in their duties chasing overweight truckers trying to beat the law on the back roads of northern Cal. Both the pre 14's looked like they had been dragged behind their patrol cars then polished. Both worked and the bores were very clean. First model 68 I had ever seen.

Ischia
 
Guys, the Model 68 is basically a Model 66 6in. barrelled only in 38 Special in stead of 357. You probably have seen one without paying attention to it because you were not looking for a 6in. 66 at the time. I know for a fact that I have and foolishly passed on buying it. That will not happen again.
 
Back in the 1970s most Highway Patrol Officers carried .357 Magnum revolvers. When Jerry "Governor Moonbeam" Brown became governor, he brought his crew of effete hippies into Sacramento. They thought that the .357 Magnum revolvers would hurt too much if the CHP officers had to shoot someone, so the officers were restricted to .38 Specials and the Model 68 was born. When Governor Moonbeam left office 8 years later, the Model 68 was quickly retired.
 
Here's some pictures

SW68.jpg


SW68Take2.jpg
 
The LAPD also used the 68, with slightly different markings. The 68 wasn't issued though. It was a special order through the LAPD Revolver Club, with officers allowed to carry after "neutering" (DAO conversion) and being put on your gun card in the Armory. The 68 pictured has my old patrolman's badge and initials engraved on the sideplate. If you look closely, you can see where "68" is stamped over "66" on the frame. I also had a Patridge front sight installed at the factory for bullseye shooting.
Bob


8a.jpg

6a.jpg

7a.jpg
 
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joe kent,or other guys,
if one of these was in mint shape,no box or papers,but mint gun with original grips,what would be a fair price to buy one at.they are so rare,its hard to do or find a current price value
thanks for advice guys
 
jag312 said:
Back in the 1970s most Highway Patrol Officers carried .357 Magnum revolvers. When Jerry "Governor Moonbeam" Brown became governor, he brought his crew of effete hippies into Sacramento. They thought that the .357 Magnum revolvers would hurt too much if the CHP officers had to shoot someone, so the officers were restricted to .38 Specials and the Model 68 was born. When Governor Moonbeam left office 8 years later, the Model 68 was quickly retired.
Click to expand...

This was a widespread "fad" or "mania" back in the late 70s, early 80s. Mostly prompted by fears of civil lawsuits with plaintiff's lawyer screaming "MAGNUM."

My Dept fell under these stupid rules for several years, in spite of warnings of lawsuits by Officers (or their survivors) should they get injured or killed AFTER they shot the suspect with the "inadequate ammunition" the Department required.

Fortunately there were no incidents during this time period, and the restriction of 38 Spl +P, went away. About the same time, approved duty weapons opened up to semi autos.
 
twomoons said:
joe kent,or other guys,
if one of these was in mint shape,no box or papers,but mint gun with original grips,what would be a fair price to buy one at.they are so rare,its hard to do or find a current price value
thanks for advice guys
Click to expand...

It depends. The most expensive would be the CHP stamped gun, which would have been issued as a duty sidearm and would usually come from a retired officer. Next would be the ones overstamped "OHB", which changed the C to an O and the P to a B, indicating it was sold as surplus. There is also the LAPD issue gun and commemorative. I would guess a range from $600-750 but without a lot of sales to come to this figure.
 
A bit off topic, and I am enjoying this one.

But, I remember the days of "NO magnums-.38 Spl only". And the days of the press and other idiots horrified by "Dum-Dum" bullets and hollowpoints.

Now, it appears a lot of departments are carrying .40 calibers WITH hollowpoints or even allowing "carry what you wish within reason".

Now it seems as if tasers and "beating-up-the-badguy" is all the rage amongst the press and their like-minded worriers.

Winchester should re-introduce the Black Talon...I bet no one would care.
 
murphydog said:
It depends. The most expensive would be the CHP stamped gun, which would have been issued as a duty sidearm and would usually come from a retired officer. Next would be the ones overstamped "OHB", which changed the C to an O and the P to a B, indicating it was sold as surplus. There is also the LAPD issue gun and commemorative. I would guess a range from $600-750 but without a lot of sales to come to this figure.
Click to expand...

There was a M-68 on a table at the Big Reno Show for 2 yrs or so. It was a 90% gun at best...one of the cHP guns...did have original grips...and it went begging for $700 asking price until a yr or so ago. WHERE it went, if it was sold I have no idea. To me it was a $500 gun at most.

I would like to have one of the LAPD or a CHP gun...as long as the CHP gun didn't have the stamping neutered out. But only if it had the box and was in 95% or better condition.

Other than the stamping....it's a 6" M-67 or a M-66 with a .38 cylinder...whatever one wishes to call it. NOT all that unique in my opinion.
 
Winchester should re-introduce the Black Talon...
Click to expand...

I believe they did, it's called the "Ranger."

As for 38 special ammo for the CHP, remember Californian was and is the worlds leader in P.C. ideas. Does anyone believe that .357 magnum is a P.C. term?
 
Frank;

I would tend to agree on this one being somewhat of a specialty collector gun. I put them in that order of value because an unused CHP stamped model 68 would be least common, and the (unused) commemorative most common. I've seen well-used 68s in the $400-450 range within the past few years.
 
twomoons said:
joe kent,or other guys,
if one of these was in mint shape,no box or papers,but mint gun with original grips,what would be a fair price to buy one at.they are so rare,its hard to do or find a current price value
thanks for advice guys
Click to expand...

There is one for sale on gun broker right now. But the guy is running a reserve auction, so there is no telling what his real asking price is.
Looks to be in pretty good shape for a former cop gun.
 
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