New to me 68-2 with LAPD Roll mark

damngato

damngato

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Excited to have traded into this LAPD roll marked 68-2. Came with an original box with mismatched serial number. Haven't seen one for sale for a while so jumped on it pretty quickly

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Smith-and-Wesson-68-2-2.jpg


Smith-and-Wesson-68-2-3.jpg


Smith-and-Wesson-68-2-4.jpg


Smith-and-Wesson-68-2.jpg
 
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Saw a used one for sale in a gun store many years ago, Trying to remember the weird thing about them, IIRC they didnt just use a standard Model 66 barrel and cylinder bored for .38 ,
Is it correct that they used the shorter model 67 cylinder and made the forcing cone longer than a Model 66 barrel ?
If so it's the closest thing to a stainless version of a Model 14 with ejector rod shroud and you can't just fit a .357 cylinder without making the forcing cone shorter.
Maybe I'm remembering wrong it's been many years.
 
damngato said:
Sure, here you go

Smith-and-Wesson-68-2.jpg
Click to expand...

Thanks!
I can definitely see the 6 stamped behind the larger (and different font) of the 8.
Very cool!
It also looks like the "S" in the serial number was over-stamped, but I can't make out what the previous stamping was...

EDIT: Upon closer examination it appears that the S wasn't actually OVER-stamped, but more like it may have been DOUBLE-stamped.
I also noticed that the 0 between the S and the 9 looks like a smaller or different font. Whoever stamped that one wasn't having their best day. ;)
 
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Yep, definitely chambered in 38 Special, that cylinder is not long enough for 357 Magnum. Very interesting, not really sure what the thinking was behind the Model 68 other than it was a six inch barrel, stainless steel revolver and S&W did not have a standard production revolver in such a configuration.
 
stansdds said:
Yep, definitely chambered in 38 Special, that cylinder is not long enough for 357 Magnum. Very interesting, not really sure what the thinking was behind the Model 68 other than it was a six inch barrel, stainless steel revolver and S&W did not have a standard production revolver in such a configuration.
Click to expand...

There was an aversion for issuing “Magnum” revolvers or ammunition. LAPD never went to the .357 but other agencies (CHP) were also stuck with .38 Special model 66s, in essence.
 
murphydog said:
Cool gun. I’ve seen a few with a badge and number engraved on the sideplate, and those that were carried on duty were altered to DAO. I believe the LAPD veterans here referred to this as “denutting”. Enjoy!
Click to expand...

"Neutered" was the proper term.

A few smaller Police Departments had the same policy because their Chiefs were former LAPD Captains or Lieutenants.
 
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I remember those model 68s. I worked for a large PD back in those days. As murphydog indicated, there was an aversion by the top brass to anything labeled "Magnum". We were issued .38 revolvers, could qualify with and carry personally owned .357s, but were only allowed department issued .38 Special ammunition. We lobbied for .41 Magnums, knowing management would never approve such a big, scary, MAGNUM thing, but would perhaps compromise and allow us .357s. It worked;)
 
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