Anyway S&W will inform the current owner who a revolver was originally sold to?

[Averageshot]

Hello all!

New to actually having an account here, and newish to really going down the rabbit hole on S&W revolvers.

A neighboring police department had some revolvers in the 1980s in 357 magnum and I recently bought one from an old timer. The department doesn't have records that go back that far.

The wear on the trigger guard matches with old time leather holsters as well as the barrel from frequent in and out wear. I absolutely believe it was some type of duty weapon but I would really like to authenticate it as belonging to the local PD!

Would S&W have records that do if I can provide a serial number? Just trying to authenticate the story and hopefully preserve a piece of history that is verified rather than just a fictitious tall tale that sounds good. Pics for your viewing pleasure! 10 cool points for identifying the exact model and year for all you experts out there.

 

[gunbarrel]

Letters – Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation

 

[murphydog]

Welcome! This appears to be a model 19, and with later parts (unpinned barrel and non recessed cylinder) it most likely is a -5 or 6. If so it could be from any time between 1982 and the early ‘90s.

The letter of authenticity linked above with give you its ship date, which is the official age per the factory. It may document it being shipped to a specific LE agency, or just a distributor from where the PD in question bought it.

If you are asking if the gun can be traced back to being issued to a specific officer, you have done one common search, with the agency. In general, the only other way such information is uncovered is from the person who was actually issued the gun, or a family member. At this point, especially in a large department, this is where the trail goes cold.

 

[Hawg Rider]

Welcome to the Forum! As others have mentioned, if you cannot get any information from the local PD then you may have a cold trail. A letter from S&W may or may not tell you if it went directly to the local PD...it could have gone through a dealer or distributor first. Looking at the bottom of the wood stocks on that Model 19, it does appear to perhaps have a LE rack number (27) and maybe even the badge no. (6227) of the officer to whom it was issued. This is speculation, of course. You may have to do some more digging. Sorry we can't be of more help. Good luck!

 

[gwpercle]

A Factory letter should contain the information of to whom the original revolver was shipped to .
I would request this informartion be included in the letter .

My model 64 38 spcl was factory marked B.R.P.D.
It was part of a shipment to the Baton Rouge Police Department !
Letters can be helpful !
Gary