Detroit PD gun picture thread?!!!!
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Frank46
US Veteran
Thanks for sharing all the Detroit police guns. Here in Louisiana in close to 17 years of looking I have only seen 4. BRPD= Baton Rouge Police Department. All had been what looked like nickle plating. Rust galore, cylinders were so loose it wasn't funny. Frank
Here's a DPD department issue 1928 Detective Special that was bought upon retirement by an Inspector Harrington of either Armed Robbery or Homicide Detectives back in the late 1940s or 50s.
I bought it from his widow back in the 90s.
The gun was shipped in 1928 or 1929. I wish it could talk.
I bought it from his widow back in the 90s.
The gun was shipped in 1928 or 1929. I wish it could talk.
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MaximumLawman
Member
Interesting. Many years ago I heard that the guy who was largely responsible for DPD going with Glocks when they decided to go with a new gun retired shortly after the contract was awarded and got a job with Glock. Hmmm.........I wonder if there was any Motor City "cause and effect" going on there? I would guess that those 94's were sold sometime between 1974 and 1993. Or are lurking in the "collections" of various (former) police executives. Call my Mr. Cynical.
Aerojoe
Member
the 94's were gone long before the switch to glock. Detroit went with glock because back then glock was pretty much giving their guns away to get into the l.e. market. Now they are the king of the l.e. market. Smith is trying to steal some market share back buy giving their guns away now and its working.
Rumor has it that MSP is going to the glock they want their backup compatible with their duty guns.
My father a DPD sgt was just at the range and was told Detroit is getting some s&w 442's. Not sure if they will be issued backups or issued od guns just a rumor.
Rumor has it that MSP is going to the glock they want their backup compatible with their duty guns.
My father a DPD sgt was just at the range and was told Detroit is getting some s&w 442's. Not sure if they will be issued backups or issued od guns just a rumor.
MaximumLawman
Member
Must be paying for these rumored guns with grant money or magic beans. My money's on the latter.
SuperMan
Member
Was wondering if anyone could tell me what the exact firearms policy was back before the Glocks... What were the gun and caliber restrictions... Were backup guns allowed?
Thanks...Bob
Thanks...Bob
Aerojoe
Member
pretty sure it had to be colt or smith larger than .380 there was a .380 exception when the DPOA had a commemorative ppk made. But if you could qualify with it you could carry it. There are still a few guys that are still grandfathered in not many but a few. I know the .44 and .41 and .357 mag were popular my father carried a S&W 25-2 .45 from the mid 70's until they gave him a free glock.
Aerojoe
Member
I am wondering if they may not be used MSP backup guns when MSP goes to glocks the state did just take over Detroit after all
Aerojoe
Member
Detroit is not going back to glocks MSP is going to glocks Detroit might be getting some smith j frames. I said maybe they are the used J frames MSP carries now since the state is running Detroit now.
Aerojoe
Member
Smith & Wesson M&P .38 DPD 9016
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Aerojoe
Member
Colt Police Positive .38 DPD 2707 real nice shape it is missing a few spots of nickel on barrel it was filthy when I got it and cleaned up pretty nice for a 93 year old gun. I believe it fires 38s&w short??
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Aerojoe
Member
one of the more common DPD guns Colt official Police MKIII DPD 18137
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I'm loving this thread. My dad retired as a DPD Detective Lieutenant the same month I graduated from the DPD academy. I was drafted into the army 2 years later and never went back. I was issued a 5" Colt OP, but another officer I shared an apartment with got the 5" S&W. I always kind of envied him as I liked the grip of the S&W better. My dad loaned me his Chief's Spl 2" for off-duty carry. Inspector Harry Reeves was still in charge of the pistol instruction back then (1961). That man could do things with a gun that just absolutely amazed me.
My dad carried a Colt DS, but then got a department Colt Cobra. When he retired he tried to buy the Cobra, but they wouldn't sell it to him. Said there weren't enough to satisfy demand. They did let him buy a Colt DS. Dad used to leave it under the seat of his car and it disappeared when his car was stolen one time. I wish he still had it at the time of his death. Instead I inherited a Colt pocket .25ACP. That gun has a terrible trigger pull and the sights are nearly non-existant, but back when I was shooting regularly and well, I could cut a one-hole, 5-shot group with that little gun off a sandbag at 50'. Couldn't hit the broad side of a barn from the inside with it offhand, though.
I have a small collection of S&Ws - a pre M-18 .22LR; a pre M-15 .39Spl; a M-66 .357 and a M 29-2 .44Mag - all 4". I also have a Classic M24 6.5" .44Spl, but that one doesn't count
Keep the pictures of DPD guns coming. Brings back memories.
Ron
My dad carried a Colt DS, but then got a department Colt Cobra. When he retired he tried to buy the Cobra, but they wouldn't sell it to him. Said there weren't enough to satisfy demand. They did let him buy a Colt DS. Dad used to leave it under the seat of his car and it disappeared when his car was stolen one time. I wish he still had it at the time of his death. Instead I inherited a Colt pocket .25ACP. That gun has a terrible trigger pull and the sights are nearly non-existant, but back when I was shooting regularly and well, I could cut a one-hole, 5-shot group with that little gun off a sandbag at 50'. Couldn't hit the broad side of a barn from the inside with it offhand, though.
I have a small collection of S&Ws - a pre M-18 .22LR; a pre M-15 .39Spl; a M-66 .357 and a M 29-2 .44Mag - all 4". I also have a Classic M24 6.5" .44Spl, but that one doesn't count
Keep the pictures of DPD guns coming. Brings back memories.
Ron
Aerojoe
Member
Colt official Police wood grips DPD 12147 c1963
Colt official Police pearl grips DPD 6885 c1948
If any body wanted to see what a DPD call box looked like thats it in the back ground fresh from the pole no fancy paint or gold lettering ( I add both when I restore them)
Colt official Police pearl grips DPD 6885 c1948
If any body wanted to see what a DPD call box looked like thats it in the back ground fresh from the pole no fancy paint or gold lettering ( I add both when I restore them)
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Now that call box cover REALLY brings back memories. In the days before cell phones and portable radios, unless you were in a patrol car, that call box was your link to dispatch.
If you arrested someone, you walked him to a call box and called for a car to take you in to the precinct station.
In response to the earlier question re: what caliber you could carry. During the short time I was on the force (1961 - 1963) you had to carry a revolver of .38Spl or larger. You were issued a Colt or S&W .38Spl and had to buy anything else. One of the guys who graduated in my class showed up the first day with a .357 Python. If you carried anything other than a .38Spl, you had to carry at least 6 .38Spl rounds as "Buddy loads" for your partner. I carried a .44-40 Colt New Service that I got in a trade with my uncle. It was badly polished and re-nickeled but shot really well and was previously owned by the Sheriff of Jackson County, MI.
If you arrested someone, you walked him to a call box and called for a car to take you in to the precinct station.
In response to the earlier question re: what caliber you could carry. During the short time I was on the force (1961 - 1963) you had to carry a revolver of .38Spl or larger. You were issued a Colt or S&W .38Spl and had to buy anything else. One of the guys who graduated in my class showed up the first day with a .357 Python. If you carried anything other than a .38Spl, you had to carry at least 6 .38Spl rounds as "Buddy loads" for your partner. I carried a .44-40 Colt New Service that I got in a trade with my uncle. It was badly polished and re-nickeled but shot really well and was previously owned by the Sheriff of Jackson County, MI.
Aerojoe
Member
My fathers od model 36 refinished after 38years DPD badge laser engraved
Backstrap Laser engraved Detroit's Finest
Backstrap Laser engraved Detroit's Finest
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whitecoyote
Member
Very nice!
Who engraved the badge?
Who engraved the badge?
Aerojoe
Member
Well to make a long story short the gun started at D&D in troy will never go there again if it was the last gun shop on earth. When I finally got it back (in pieces and some missing) and my money back from the credit card company I took it to Customized Creationz in Romeo Mi.
Todd did a great job it is not a show quality job (not what I was looking for) it is a good carry gun. This was my fathers off duty gun for 38 years and will be again tomorrow. I didn't want him to feel bad if he dropped it or scratched it. It has been through hell and back it once bounced about 50 feet across the pavement at a walmart and has been used and abused. It has also stopped a few criminals including a bank robber in the early 90's so it has history.
The badge is truly engraved and might even be deeper than the original S&W logo's. It has alot more detail but it is really hard to get a good picture. The grips are also replacements but are old wood grips not the new plywood ones. Todd does have the badge on file now so it can be duplicated for $50-60 depending if they want their badge number added to it.
Yes I am plugging Customized Creationz work it is amazing what he can do and he helped me clean up the mess this gun got in from the first shop.
Todd did a great job it is not a show quality job (not what I was looking for) it is a good carry gun. This was my fathers off duty gun for 38 years and will be again tomorrow. I didn't want him to feel bad if he dropped it or scratched it. It has been through hell and back it once bounced about 50 feet across the pavement at a walmart and has been used and abused. It has also stopped a few criminals including a bank robber in the early 90's so it has history.
The badge is truly engraved and might even be deeper than the original S&W logo's. It has alot more detail but it is really hard to get a good picture. The grips are also replacements but are old wood grips not the new plywood ones. Todd does have the badge on file now so it can be duplicated for $50-60 depending if they want their badge number added to it.
Yes I am plugging Customized Creationz work it is amazing what he can do and he helped me clean up the mess this gun got in from the first shop.
I've had Todd do work, he's a good guy to deal with.
Not to nitpick, but he forgot an apostrophe on the backstrap. It should read Detroit's Finest. He may be able to squeeze it in there if you brought it back to him.
Not to nitpick, but he forgot an apostrophe on the backstrap. It should read Detroit's Finest. He may be able to squeeze it in there if you brought it back to him.
Aerojoe
Member
haha you are as bad as my girlfriend she said the same thing. I noticed it before it was engraved but didn't ask to change it. I think it broke up the wording because of the block script I wanted used to match the early engraved DPD backstrap's. I used all capital letters it might have looked better Detroit's Finest and not DETROITS FINEST but I am not going to change it now.
Tommytom092971
Member
Tommytom092971
Member
I really like the work on that model 36 Joe.
I am going to take my model 49 over to him, it's been through the ringer but served me well for over 30 years.
I am going to take my model 49 over to him, it's been through the ringer but served me well for over 30 years.
Aerojoe
Member
It turned out nice it is not a show gun I would have liked him to clean it up a little bit more but it will get abused again so no big deal.
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Looking to buy a MKIII stamped Detroit Police Colt I know I am on the S&W site but would also like to get a S&W stamped Detroit Police from the 1970's I jointed in 1973 and my class had half gotten Colts and Smiths I carried the Colt which was issued too me first then around the late 70 they recalled all of them and I had to turn my in a get a Smith both were 38sp 5 inch barrel...please let me know if any one has either for sale my email is [email protected] and yes I still live in Detroit...but retired from the force DPD
DPD Commando
When I purchased this I was told it was a former DPD gun but was not certain. Having now viewed the thread, most notably the correlation between date and issue number, I now suspect it really was.
By chance does anybody know how many Commandos the DPD received? This one looks like it saw a lot of use.
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When I purchased this I was told it was a former DPD gun but was not certain. Having now viewed the thread, most notably the correlation between date and issue number, I now suspect it really was.
By chance does anybody know how many Commandos the DPD received? This one looks like it saw a lot of use.
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Aerojoe
Member
Is that the commando that was on gunbroker?? I do not think that is a Detroit Police gun.
It is not stamped correctly for being a Detroit Police gun. Detroit Police guns are marked clearly Detroit Police on the back strap some early ones were engraved DPD on the side plate but I believe that ended in the early 1900's.
Not sure what you mean by correlation by date and issue number? They were inventory numbers not issue number. But one has nothing to do with the other I have seen newer by serial number guns have a lower inventory number then older guns. They have also changed multiple times and started over multiple times.
In the 40's (commandos 1942-43) Detroit was issuing Np Colt offical Police and NP Detective Spl.
The only 100% way to tell is get a letter from Colt. It is possible that Detroit bought some commandos for undercover work but I was told by a few guys that worked firearms section for Detroit undercover guns were not department marked and property of the Michigan state Police.
It is not stamped correctly for being a Detroit Police gun. Detroit Police guns are marked clearly Detroit Police on the back strap some early ones were engraved DPD on the side plate but I believe that ended in the early 1900's.
Not sure what you mean by correlation by date and issue number? They were inventory numbers not issue number. But one has nothing to do with the other I have seen newer by serial number guns have a lower inventory number then older guns. They have also changed multiple times and started over multiple times.
In the 40's (commandos 1942-43) Detroit was issuing Np Colt offical Police and NP Detective Spl.
The only 100% way to tell is get a letter from Colt. It is possible that Detroit bought some commandos for undercover work but I was told by a few guys that worked firearms section for Detroit undercover guns were not department marked and property of the Michigan state Police.
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