Detroit PD model 12-2 snub

[HayesGreener]

I am looking at a Detroit PD marked snub, serial number D7133xx, marked Detroit PD and a separate number 195xx stamped on the backstrap. It has a pinned barrel, not a flat latch. Any info about this gun is appreciated. I did not see any D prefix SN's on any of the online search sites.

 

[Club Gun Fan]

I can't help with two number missing in the serial number.

 

[HayesGreener]

sn

Here is the full number: D713325

 

[murphydog]

A similar (or the same?) gun sold online in the past few months, didn't notice the serial number. The vast majority of marked guns are 5" nickel model 10s so seeing a 2" model 12 was unusual.

 

[HayesGreener]

Mdl 12

A similar (or the same?) gun sold online in the past few months, didn't notice the serial number. The vast majority of marked guns are 5" nickel model 10s so seeing a 2" model 12 was unusual.

This one has been in Florida for more than 20 years, no idea of how it ended up here.

 

[JP@AK]

It has a pinned barrel, not a flat latch.

Don can be more specific, but D713xxx will be from the mid- to late-1970s. By that time the flat latch had been discontinued for about 10 years.

I did not see any D prefix SN's on any of the online search sites.

The D prefix serial numbers were used on fixed sight K frames, starting in 1968. They hit D999999 sometime in 1977.

"Online search sites" are not a good way of uncovering the meaning of S&W serial numbers. You have come to the right place now.

 

[s&wchad]

This one has been in Florida for more than 20 years, no idea of how it ended up here.

No mystery there. Almost certainly a DPD detective or ranking officer who retired and turned snowbird!

A friend of mine inherited one from his uncle, who was a DPD detective and received it at retirement in the 1980's. It obviously wasn't his duty gun, because there's no turn line or wear. They probably kept a stash of these in the armoury for just such occasions. My friend didn't want to sell it, but he did let me take some photos.

 

[Art Doc]

Pretty sure it's a Model 12-2 issued by the Detroit PD.

 

[HayesGreener]

Thanks for the info, it is as I had thought. The gun has apparently been carried a lot and fired little. It is in need of some TLC and I don't think it has any real collector value so a refinishing is probably in order.

Best Regards,