CHP sixguns

[robbt]

Hi Guys , does anyone know the time frame on when the Cal. Highway Patrol switcthed fro 6 inch revolvers to 4 inch ??

 

[Reloader Fred]

I don't know the exact time frame, but I did buy my K-38 that I made into a PPC gun from a CHP officer in 1977. He had bought it from the department, so it would have been sometime prior to that. I also bought one of the 4" stainless .38's they were issued prior to the Model 4006. I now also have one of the old CHP 4006's.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[roaddog28]

I don't know the exact date. But CHP in California was carrying the model 28-2 4 inch in 1970. I know this because of the Newhaul massacre that happen that year. I would say around early to mid sixties is when California CHP switched from 6 inch to 4 inch.
Howard

 

[stantheman86]

I have seen early-mid 80's production 6" stainless Ruger Security Sixes chambered for .38 Special with the "CHP" stamp. These guns are very rare and I don't know if they were ever issued, but they are out there and at some point CHP intended to issue a 6" revolver into the 1980's. I have never handled one, but the features of these Sec. Sixes show post 1982 prduction, if not later just going by the scalloped recoil shield, which Ruger did not start until late '82-83. Not my gun but pulled from an old ended GB auction.

 

[kennethg]

A friend told me that the CHP first started issuing weapons in 1968. The class before my friend were issued 6” Colt's in 38SPL. My friend was issued an S&W model 14 as were other classes after that.

Based on the above post, it looks like the CHP also issued some Rugers.

Patrolman could also buy and carry their own 6” revolvers. To my friends knowledge, the CHP never issued a 357 magnum revolver. The CHP never wanted patrolmen to use 357 ammo even if their revolver was a 357. It was not a good idea to have 357mag ammo during an inspection. That did not stop patrolman from using 357 ammo while on patrol.

The CHP also issued S&W 2” model 60’s in the early 1980’s to patrolman working auto theft and other investigation jobs.

When the CHP started issuing the S&W model 68, they also gave the patrolman the choice of an S&W model 67. That would be the first time the CHP issued a 4” revolver.

This could have been in the late 1970’s as S&W started making the model 68 in 1977 for the CHP.

 

[roaddog28]

A friend told me that the CHP first started issuing weapons in 1968. The class before my friend were issued 6” Colt's in 38SPL. My friend was issued an S&W model 14 as were other classes after that.

Based on the above post, it looks like the CHP also issued some Rugers.

Patrolman could also buy and carry their own 6” revolvers. To my friends knowledge, the CHP never issued a 357 magnum revolver. The CHP never wanted patrolmen to use 357 ammo even if their revolver was a 357. It was not a good idea to have 357mag ammo during an inspection. That did not stop patrolman from using 357 ammo while on patrol.

The CHP also issued S&W 2” model 60’s in the early 1980’s to patrolman working auto theft and other investigation jobs.

When the CHP started issuing the S&W model 68, they also gave the patrolman the choice of an S&W model 67. That would be the first time the CHP issued a 4” revolver.

This could have been in the late 1970’s as S&W started making the model 68 in 1977 for the CHP.

According to the events surrounding the 1970 Newhall Massacra the officers killed were all carrying model 28 4 inch revolvers loaded with actual 357 magnum rounds. One of the issues after the shooting was that officers trained and qualified with 38 specials but carried 357 magnums for duty. Because the officers were not experienced enough and did not fire a lot of 357 magnums round in there revolvers the CHP decided to issue only 38 specials to officers for duty after the shooting. Plus CHP did not issue or let officers have speedloaders. One of the findings from the shooting indicated that if the officer would of had a speedloader instead of having to load one round at a time this might have made a difference in saving his life. He was one of the officers killed. The tragic event happened on my birthday in 1970. I was twenty years old. I also lived very close to Newhall. It was a sad day. Here is a link on the whole shooting.
Howard
Newhall massacre - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[skycop2150]

No, one of the officers, I believe Frago, was carrying a Colt Python. Since he was the first shot and died instantly, Twinning retrieved Frago's Python and it was found with his body after he committed suicide later on the 6th. See details at several web sites, like CHP museum.

 

[robbt]

hi Guys , in many pictures in the book Combat Shooting for police , showing a active CHP patrolman with a model 28 with 6 inch barrel, a really neat book

 

[CA Escapee]

I seem to recall seeing re-stamped, used 6" Model 68's in .38 Special, in gun shops in Reseda, CA back in the early '90's. The S&W Standard Catalog says they were made from '77-'88.

They were re-stamped from CHP to OHB. Folklore has it California didn't want it known that the state had re-sold them.

Bill

 

[jimmyj]

CHP Sixguns

I don't know the exact date. But CHP in California was carrying the model 28-2 4 inch in 1970. I know this because of the Newhaul massacre that happen that year. I would say around early to mid sixties is when California CHP switched from 6 inch to 4 inch.
Howard

I thought (?) that the CHP Officers involved in the Newhall Incident was armed with 6" Colt Pythons loaded with .357 Magnum ammo plus 12 gauge Shotguns.
The issued at the time was that CHP qualified with .38 Special l Wad cutters but carried .357 Magnum ammo on duty.

 

[Texas Star]

What did they carry on CHIPS and when was it on TV? That's probably a clue.

I saw one in, Gun World with a six-inch Python, but probably in the 1960's.

The M-4006 is out of production. What does CHP use now?

 

[BigBill]

Newhall incident - Wikipedia

I never heard of the new hall incident.

 

[Absalom]

According to the events surrounding the 1970 Newhall Massacra the officers killed were all carrying model 28 4 inch revolvers loaded with actual 357 magnum rounds....

Two officers carried Colt Pythons, one a Model 19-2, and one a Colt Officers Model Match in .38 Special. All had 6" barrels.

I recommend this book for a thorough analysis of the incident and the dispelling of a lot of the "facts" that float around. It also tells you all there is to know about the history of CHP sidearms:

[ame="https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_i_1_8?k=newhall+shooting+a+tactical+analysis&sprefix=newhall+"]Amazon.com: newhall shooting a tactical analysis[/ame]

 

[jimmyj]

The "Newhall Incident" and years later the "Miami Shootout" seems to be somewhat similar in that two heavily armed BGs took on several LEOs

 

[Absalom]

The "Newhall Incident" and years later the "Miami Shootout" seems to be somewhat similar in that two heavily armed BGs took on several LEOs

Actually, I think it's unfortunate that Newhall has been somewhat overshadowed by Miami as the "big notorious shootout".

Obviously, Miami was a fascinating event, but it was also quite extraordinary in its circumstances. The dynamics of the "felony stop" itself, resulting in a bumper car derby that positioned vehicles every which way creating the opposite of a controlled situation, the presence of multiple agents, two bad guys armed with both long guns (including the Mini-14 which did most of the damage) and sidearms and military training, created a quite unique environment unlikely to repeat itself. The "lessons" to be learned, in my opinion, are frequently oversold.

Newhall was the opposite. A "regular" non-felony traffic stop, at night but in a well-lit location, the initial CHP unit positioned behind the suspects' vehicle, the officers approaching from behind, including one from the right side in what should be an overwatch position ... and yet everything went horribly wrong in a very short time.

The CHP officers weren't outgunned, they were surprised and outfought, and that can happen to anyone. In a very short time, four officers were dead and two perpetrators on the run barely scratched. Newhall was a situation officers encounter much more often than a Miami-style battle. Studying how this can go sideways is much more important that, for example the religious wars over bullet types and calibers spawned by Miami.

 

[Cal44]

I have a 1977 vintage 28-2 6" that I bought a couple years ago.

The guy I bought it from claimed he got it from a retired CHP officer.

That might be BS given that 1977 is late in the revolver era, and I think the CHP was issuing K frames.

The gun has ridden many miles in a holster given the bluing wear. But the action an barrel is very good. This is probably typical of a CHP officers gun.

It had Pachmayrs on it when I got it, but I figured it needed an upgrade in it's retirement -- so I put on Cocobolo Ahrends grips.

 

[jimmyj]

CHP Sixguns

What did they carry on CHIPS and when was it on TV? That's probably a clue.

I saw one in, Gun World with a six-inch Python, but probably in the 1960's.

The M-4006 is out of production. What does CHP use now?

CHIPs carried four inch barrel Colt Pythons

 

[Wyatt Burp]

I have the book "the Newhall Incident" and I thought it showed the killer's guns after the one guy killed himself. But I must have seen it online somewhere. But among them was the 6" blued Python taken from one of the first two CHPs to confront them. This book written by Chief john Anderson has sad graphic photos that are really hard to look at.

 

[Absalom]

What did they carry on CHIPS and when was it on TV? That's probably a clue.

I saw one in, Gun World with a six-inch Python, but probably in the 1960's.

The M-4006 is out of production. What does CHP use now?

For most of their history, there was no issue revolver, just specifications like 6" barrel (also 4" starting in the 1970s), Colt, S&W and later also Ruger, caliber .38/.357. Duty ammo was also not prescribed until fairly late in the revolver era, I think the 1970s/80s, when the FBI load in .38 Spl. became standard.

After a few decades with the 4006 they recently switched to the M&P 40 platform.

I'm familiar with this in some detail due to a friend who is a retired CA state LEO (not CHP), and since Sacramento loves standardization, whatever CHP got, they got, like it or not.

 

[lawandorder]

Don't know if Brandishing a firearm ( reason for stop) was felony in Cali at the time but stopping a vehicle whose occupants are known to be armed should not be treated as
a "regular" stop, even though there are no routine stops.
A very sad day in American Law Enforcement History ! One that gave rise to the modern Officer Survival movement.