Degree Research Project - NYPD Trophy Guns

[RM Vivas]

I've been going back to school to work on a history degree.

For most of us who are serious firearms collectors we are already amateur historians; I'm just trying to make my contributions a little more polished by learning from the pros!

I'm trying to put together a definitive monograph on New York City Police Department Trophy Guns.

I know some of the folks here have a Trophy Gun or two in their collection.

Known Trophy Guns:
Mayor's Trophy
Police Commissioners Trophy
Chief Inspectors Trophy
Hiram C. Bloomingdale Trophy
Harold M. Gall Trophy
Harry Hershfield Trophy
George Kelrick Trophy
Frank J. Keeler Trophy
Edwin R. Masback (sometimes spelled Masbeck) Trophy
SPRING 3100 Trophy
Citizens Trophy

I'm asking that if you have one, you send me the best images you have on it as well as any data you may have such as factory letters, newspaper clippings. etc.

If you're a dinosaur who actually received a Trophy Gun when you graduated from NYPD PA (looking at you Wellfleet MA!), I'd like to ask you a bunch of questions.

I'd be using it in my finished thesis project and would credit it as appropriate or anonymously if you prefer. Ultimately, if I ever finish my book, it'd be a chapter in that.

Any help would be appreciated.

Best,
RM Vivas
[email protected]

 

[RM Vivas]

So I'm getting deeper into the whole Trophy Gun issue over at NYPD and it's actually quite fascinating.

I had always figured that Trophy Guns would be rather scarce and they are certainly not common, but I did not realize how many are out there.

First awarded in 1917 and discontinued in 1973, I have been able to account form about 500(!!) so far and I suspect the final figure will be around 600-800.

I have found some interesting things thus far.

The Bloomingdale Trophy was not always a one-gun-per-class award. In the early days it was not unusual for 3 or 5 to go to one class and in one memorable instance, --12-- Bloomingdale Trophy guns were awarded in one class.

Not surprisingly, since it was the best and brightest who usually recieved a Trophy Gun, a large number of these fellows (and women!) went on to become Bosses.

Obviously everyone knows Ray Kelly took his Bloomingdlae Trophy Detective Special all the way up from PAtrolman to Police Commissioner.

Lots of Inspectors and Chiefs had Trophy Guns. Talk about best & brightest, one fellow made it from Patrolman to Captain in 13 years, picking up a law degree along the way. Eventually he stepped on his own joint and got jammed up for moonlighting as a lawyer for some of his men.

On just Bloomingdale Trophy guns alone, I've counted about 100.

Interestingly the first black cop to win a Trophy Gun won TWO! He received a Masback Trophy AND a Bloomingdale Trophy.

Before him, in 1941, the FIRST double winner also claimed a Masback and Bloomingdale. When Probationary Patrolman Carl Johnson was being awarded the guns at the graduation ceremony, the Police Commissioner quipped "His pals are probably going to call him Two Gun Johnson."