I bought my 40c used at my local gun shop. Got a good deal and I am very happy. I was assured it was not a police trade in. I would not have cared, as I looked it over and was satisfied it was not excessively worn. However, I would like to know if I was miss led. Is there any way to tell.
Identifying Police trade in
- Thread starter Mark40
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Ofc.JL
Member
Other then S&W, or markings on the Pistol and/or the box, none that I know of. And even if it was issued, there have been a lot of PD surplussed guns that have hardly been used, if at all. They might have been back stock guns for replacement, or issued to someone that didn't carry it. Hard to know. But a clean PD surplus gun that is really nice is still a great shooter, so I would say not to worry about it. And S&W even stands behind the surplus guns as well, so there you go.
NCW Ray
Member
About the only thing that may be different on a used LE pistol as compared to a non-LE pistol is more holster wear and dings on the grips. I'd feel more comfortable buying a used LE pistol than a used non-LE pistol because most police departments have policies restricting internal modifications. You never know how much "kitchen table gunsmithing" has been done on a non-LE pistol.
Hard to tell if your dealer lied to you w/o calling S&W. All of my service guns were only shot about 100 rounds a year, 50 rounds @ qualification twice a year. My uniform gun got knocked around a bit from being out in the weather or banging against the cruiser door getting in and out several times a day.
I've heard of some Departments that actually stamp the Dept Name into their Firearms, and I wouldn't mind getting one like that.
But like NCW Ray wrote... A pretty good indicator might be a near Pristine inside, but heavy Holster wear on the outside.
(carried a lot, but shot very little)
And yeah... a call to S&W CS with the serial # can get you when it rolled off the production line, as well as if it were a PD buy or not.
But like NCW Ray wrote... A pretty good indicator might be a near Pristine inside, but heavy Holster wear on the outside.
(carried a lot, but shot very little)
And yeah... a call to S&W CS with the serial # can get you when it rolled off the production line, as well as if it were a PD buy or not.
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N4KVE
Member
I have a HK USP 45 that was a LE gun. A whole bunch were turned in w/o the original box, & the replacement box was marked LE trade. While the outside of the gun has some holster wear, the inside of the gun is almost new. A great gun that I don't care if I scratch it. That being said, our local Sheriff's dept carries Glock 22's. The name of the dept is marked on the slide. They are supplied to the officers, & they can keep them when they retire. But they can not sell them, & should the retired deputy not want his gun, he must turn it back to the PD, & not sell it, because of the marked slide. GARY
Thanks all. I think I will call S&W. I really don't mind if it is a trade in. I figure if it was in service, it is functionally reliable. It certainly has been for me. The holster wear doesn't bother me. I haven't bought a "new" gun in thirty years. I would still have purchased the gun. But I hate being lied to.
handlebar
Member
I bought a trade in by a forum member and it was in fantastic shape. Here is a picture and the LCS stamp for Lake County Sheriff in Ohio
Super Trucker
Member
I bought a 4003 a few years back that was an Atlanta police gun (it looked like new when I got it), the frame cracked on the 3rd range trip and S&W said no warranty because it was a police gun and they never warranty those. I had an expensive paper weight.
Did something change with the M&P's?
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this is what my police trade in says on it
I also picked up an M&P 45 from buds. Mine is SPD084.
As to the OP, I have no issues with buying an LE trade-in. Cheaper and sometimes come with night sights. They usually have more wear from the holster they were in than actually shooting them. An M&P pistol is a tool anyways, not a big deal if it has some wear and scratches IMO.
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Ofc.JL
Member
Super Trucker; That S&W refused to warranty your 4003 probably has more to do with the fact that S&W is out of 3rd Gen parts, AND that 4003's tend to crack anyway. Dirty little secret about S&W's alloy double stack Gen 3 guns is they indeed break with not a lot of rounds run thru them. The frame will continue to work fine, depending on where the crack is, but it's only a matter of time before it fails completely. Frame replacement is an expensive fix, so S&W used the "Police gun" line to get out of it. Sad. That they so far have warranted M&P Police surplus guns is a good, although surprising thing. If I was guessing, it probably has more to do with PR work for M&P's then anything else. That, and M&P's are easy and cheap to fix due to cost to make being way down, and that it is the current flagship pistol for S&W. Best of luck.
gwpercle
Member
My model 64 is stamped B. R. P. D. Baton Rouge Police Department !
I even know the officer who carried it, we grew up together.
I even know the officer who carried it, we grew up together.
Well there have been a few Palm Beach Glock 22 sold on GB. Be Safe,
rrockefe
Member
I had the same experience Super Trucker had except with a 3913. My gunsmith found another one that we could exchange frames with and I have a complete gun now plus a spare parts gun also. But I had to buy the extra one! I guess I'm slightly biased from the experience and would shy away from trade-ins unless Smith changes their policy on this.
sooner*redneck
Member
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Iv been highly considering the m&p 9 police trade in on buds with night sights for $409! I want to be interested in the m&p 40, i just am not a 40 fan! The price tag of $329 i see often on the 40s makes me want to buy it regardless. I Work at a sheriffs office, and i know most trade ins dont get shot much at all. At least the several agencies in this area do not.
