Is this an FBI 1076?

[Ringneck]

So I was at the gunshow in Louisville yesterday. I want to buy some Model 59 metal floor plate magazines, that's my only plan. This one guy has two magazines out of about a thousand marked "Model 59". When I ask he says "well, I THINK they're Model 59. I don't know. Find a Model 59 here and I'll let you borrow one test fit".

The price was right so I set off wandering. No 59 series guns in 9mm to be seen. I walk up on one SW auto, and almost walk away but I just happen to spot it's a 10mm on the barrel. It's a 1076 and the guy wants $550. I wanted a 10mm awhile back, and I know that's a decent deal, but I really didn't plan on spending more than $20 or $30 at the show.

I talk him down to $500 and drop the hammer on the sale. Doing some research online both here and other pages I'm wondering if it might be an FBI gun. It doesn't have the SN prefixes I've seen but it has other features people list for those guns. Before I spend the money for a letter from SW I want to know should I even bother?
1) SW 1076 SN#TVK66XX
2) No magazine safety.
3 ) Slide marked: CAUTION CAPABLE OF FIRING WITH MAGAZINE REMOVED
4) 9 round mag marked 10MM with SW logo underneath on one side and "10mm (SW logo underneath) and AccuGuide tm PATENT PENDING on the other.
EDIT(5): There is checkering under the trigger guard. It has two non checkered horizontal lines at the top, then the rest is checkered until the last several lines at the bottom by the mag well.

Did this local boy make good?

 

[Gunhacker]

It sounds like it... what do the serrations on the front of the grip frame look like? Are they just straight vertical lines or are they crossed hatch (checkered)... if cross hatched that is another trait of a FBI 1076.

And as usual... pics, we want to see pics!!

 

[Ringneck]

I edited it to include the info on the checkering (it is). Also I have tried to attach files like it says below but it keeps failing. I'll try again later on that.

 

[TexasSTEP]

Good price on a good gun, either way it turns out.

-TS

 

[dimedog]

Law enforcement issued for sure. FBI, only sure way is to get the letter. I own 4 FBI issues with letters. One of them is a very early Test and evaluation gun. While the 3 others do have checkering on the front strap, and the caution on the slide, the Test and evaluation has serrated front strap, no caution on slide, but does not have a magazine safety. Only 100% way to verify is with a letter from Mr. Jinks.
That being said, congrats on a great find and an even better price. Enjoy!

 

[mbliss57]

What Dimedog said.... I have owned 2 FBI issued but you couldn't tell on the one w/o a letter. The other was very early and did not really need a letter although I got one anyway for providence sake.
Technically I have had 3 but one was found to be stolen FBI agents pistol from 10 years earlier. If the seller had not used a pawn shop no one would have known. But pawn shops give every s/n they bring in to local LE. Luckily for me the seller reimbursed me at 50%. What I have always wondered is how many times it exchanged hands before it was found to be a stolen gun. The FBI agent was from NY. I am sure he was happy to get his stolen pistol returned. I am also sure I will never send or receive a gun from a pawn shop.

 

[Ringneck]

Thanks for the info guys! I will go ahead and spring for the letter.

 

[Aegis]

You should also call S&W they should be able to tell you who they sold it to. They can also tell you if the recall on the decocker was performed. I have called them and found out when a law enforcement agency took delivery of a 4506-1.

 

[Dave from Pa]

A factory letter is the only way to tell.That being said there are a number of threads about the FBI 1076's if You do a forum search.The FBI pistols l own all have a mag disconnect,nite sights but a defining factor on some guns is a small U on the underside of the trigger guard that designated a used gun released through S&W.Many police departments issued the 1076 with the FBI features.500.00 is a fair price.

 

[dmc8163]

There is a documented TVK66** FBI 1076. Does your pistol have a black trigger and/or black hammer? Well worth the cost of a letter. Great price for a LE 1076 regardless. Congrats. Let me know. Dave