Just for fun...

[Art Doc]

It's 1958 and you just hired on as a deputy for a sheriff's office in a semi rural county. Some towns of middling size and a lot of farmland. No walking a beat, you ride in a car...that you wish had air conditioning.

You must provide your own sidearm. Policy states it must be a DA revolver with a blued finish holding 6 rounds. Other than that you are free to choose what you prefer in model and caliber.

It's the S&W Forum so we'll assume you would choose a Springfield product.

Which one?

I'll go first.

Since I don't have to carry it much weight isn't a real factor. I'd be real tempted to go with a 3.5" M27 (or a 4" M28 if on a budget). Or maybe a 4" 44 Target (if I could find one). A larger caliber bullet might make sense before good JHP ammo was available. Hard to go wrong with a good M15. But again, no high performance 38 ammo in 1958.

Not as easy as it sounded.

What would you select? Reasoning?

 

[RV4driver]

"It's the S&W Forum so we'll assume you would choose a Springfield product."

???

 

[SAFireman]

No high performance 38 special ammo?

What about the 38-44 loads? I would take a Heavy Duty 4" or 3rd Model 44 1926.....Both affordable and will do the trick nicely

 

[tom32]

+1 on the 44. A 4" or 5" HE 4th Model.

 

[g8rb8]

1. Knowing what I know now:
If a used revolver was allowed as nice as possible used Registered Magnum, about any barrel 5" or shorter, with box and all documents (including registration). Would save all papers and receipts.

If only a new purchase was allowed then a .44 Hand Ejector 4th Model Military 6-1/2", assuming some non-model marked models would still be sitting in the showcase in 1958.

2. Not knowing what I know now:
A K-frame, either M&P 4" (or model 10) or a .38 Combat Masterpiece (or model 15) or a .357 Combat Masterpiece (model 19). Availability would have been a significant factor. In 1958 it seems likely there could have been both "pre-model" versions and model-number marked versions sitting in the same showcase (?).

 

[usm1rifle]

"It's the S&W Forum so we'll assume you would choose a Springfield product."

???

Springfield MA was the site of all S&W production in 1958.

If I were a cop in 1958, I could barely afford a 28, but that would be what I would bet my life on.

 

[bruner1981]

Hands down I would be getting a 357 Magnum. As far as what model, in order from most to least likely if money is an issue, it goes 4" 28, 6" 28, 5" 27, 3.5" 27. If money isn't an issue, then the 5" 27 jumps to the top. As it is though, I already carry a 4" 28 every day, concealed most of the time, and open carry for work.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

[delta-419]

Model 1917

There were a bunch of S&W model 1917s available, some like new. The 45acp is a first class fight stopper and moon clips are faster to reload, my 2 cents.

 

[ralph7]

It's 1958 and you just hired on as a deputy for a sheriff's office in a semi rural county. Some towns of middling size and a lot of farmland. No walking a beat, you ride in a car...that you wish had air conditioning.

You must provide your own sidearm. Policy states it must be a DA revolver with a blued finish holding 6 rounds. Other than that you are free to choose what you prefer in model and caliber.

It's the S&W Forum so we'll assume you would choose a Springfield product.

Which one?

I'll go first.

Since I don't have to carry it much weight isn't a real factor. I'd be real tempted to go with a 3.5" M27 (or a 4" M28 if on a budget). Or maybe a 4" 44 Target (if I could find one). A larger caliber bullet might make sense before good JHP ammo was available. Hard to go wrong with a good M15. But again, no high performance 38 ammo in 1958.

Not as easy as it sounded.

What would select? Reasoning?

Bill Jordan was thinking about this, too.

 

[1blindref]

For a semi rural landscape, I'd choose a 5" Model 27 with a red ramp front sight, white outline rear sight, and relieved target stocks.

I'd choose a 357 magnum for the speed and punch of the bullet.
I'd choose a Model 27 for the checkered top strap, because life's to short to carry an ugly gun

 

[PALADIN85020]

Well, I think I'll have what Bill Jordan is having. He seems to be a pretty knowledgeable fella. My Model 19 will be nickel plated so that when it rains out there in the country and I have to get out of my vehicle, it won't rust so easy. It will be a 4-incher so when I carry it on my gun belt it won't dig into the seat of my cruiser. And you can betcha I'll stoke it with .357s, none of them sissy .38 specials. It'll sure pack a helluva lot easier than them Model 27s and 28s, too.

Now that I've talked myself into this, I might even get two of 'em. I'll have to save up for that, but it's always good to have a spare - ya know that one is none and two is one.

John

 

[chud333]

Due to weight, accuracy, stopping power etc....

My choice would be a Combat Magnum (pre-19)
with 4" barrel.

3.5" 27 would be nice and a .38/44 would as well
but i don't want to personally carry a N-frame all day.


Chuck

 

[Russell Cottle]

I was in that situation, albeit 15yrs later. My salary at the time was $413.00/mo before taxes. I bought a blue '19'.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

At that time, considering the pittance a deputy sheriff or police officer made, it would have to be either the S&W .38 M&P or the Colt Official Police .38 Special.

 

[Art Doc]

No walking a beat so weight not a factor. No real advantage to K frame over N frame when riding in a car all day.

Parameters of the game included blued finish.

 

[mg357]

S&W Model 10 Since it was the premier service revolver of Police officers and one of my Favorite S&W Revolvers

 

[poordevil]

I would want a 6" BBL .357 Mag or 6 1/2" .44 Special

 

[jebstuart]

Ditto on the 1917 (shortened to 4").
A .45 ACP can settle any argument on the spot at any realistic handgun range. If the range extends, a moon clipped .45 ACP will help me fight my way back to my 00 Buck fed, Model 12.

 

[JohnRippert]

4in Combat Magnum. Being a runt, 5'9" and 160 (should be 140), I find the K-frame to handle better than the N-frame.

 

[Jack Flash]

Not that I would know but an M1917 would be tough to beat, especially at the prices an excellent surplus example would cost in '58.

With the money you save, buy a surplus Colt M1911A1 to keep tucked where it is handy, with a couple of extra loaded mags of course.

"Knowing what I know today"
Buy a boat load of each and retire a rich man.

 

[Xfuzz]

No walking a beat so weight not a factor. No real advantage to K frame over N frame when riding in a car all day.

Parameters of the game included blued finish.

I understand your point.
But, you never know when your gonna catch a call
that can leave you on your feet for hours.
I will go with a model 19.

 

[Skeetr57]

I see only one reply from a peace officer, and that was from a later period. My father was a county police officer from 1937 to 1961 in a department with about 30 sworn officers. I knew most of them and took notice of the firearms carried by them. There were no magnums, no .38-44's, one 1911 .45 ACP., and at least one .32-20 (my father's). Comfort while on duty was the main consideration when choosing a handgun, along with availability. Shootings involving Officers were extremely rare and in 24 years my father was never involved in one. He was frequently involved in chases with bootleggers where he had to shoot down car tires, and was sometimes called on to dispatch a sick or injured horse, mule or cow. A .38 Special would do all of the things required and cost less than the heavier calibers. A 4 or 5" barrel revolver can be comfortably worn in a belt holster while seated in a car, but not a 6" or longer barrel. While the officers didn't walk a beat, there was still enough time on foot to make the lighter M&P or Police Positive Specials attractive, especially if you got in a foot chase with a miscreant.
The conditions I have described were those prevalent in upstate SC in the period under discussion, and I expect that they were common for most areas of the south.

 

[Alk8944]

Lots of day dreams here, but instead of what would your ideal revolver be let's consider what would be most likely considering you probably have to purchase all of your own equipment to go along with the revolver. Remember you will probably be starting the job for not more that $250-275/month in 1958!

I think what would most likely be chosen would be a 4-6" M&P, Army Special or Official Police, used, because you could buy it for $20-25. Maybe a Victory that would be more like $12-15.

If it were me I would have chosen the S&W, but there is nothing wrong with the Colts either.

 

[viceunit]

I love N-frame guns and I have several, but they are just a tad too big for me to consider one as an every day duty gun. My choice would be a 4" Combat Magnum, which I think is just as effective today as it would have been in 1958. A deputy in a rural area may have to put down some large animals - both 2 and 4 legged, the ability to shoot magnum rounds would be an advantage in something as easily carried as any K-frame 38. But, Bill Jordan already figured that out.

 

[policerevolvercollector]

At that time, considering the pittance a deputy sheriff or police officer made, it would have to be either the S&W .38 M&P or the Colt Official Police .38 Special.

^^^^^
For two reasons:

1) These were the standard issued guns nationwide at the time. What is good enough for the big city officers is good enough anywhere,right?

2) They were available. You could order either one directly from the W.S.Darley catalog.

Best,
Charles

 

[policerevolvercollector]

I see only one reply from a peace officer, and that was from a later period. My father was a county police officer from 1937 to 1961 in a department with about 30 sworn officers. I knew most of them and took notice of the firearms carried by them. There were no magnums, no .38-44's, one 1911 .45 ACP., and at least one .32-20 (my father's). Comfort while on duty was the main consideration when choosing a handgun, along with availability. Shootings involving Officers were extremely rare and in 24 years my father was never involved in one. He was frequently involved in chases with bootleggers where he had to shoot down car tires, and was sometimes called on to dispatch a sick or injured horse, mule or cow. A .38 Special would do all of the things required and cost less than the heavier calibers. A 4 or 5" barrel revolver can be comfortably worn in a belt holster while seated in a car, but not a 6" or longer barrel. While the officers didn't walk a beat, there was still enough time on foot to make the lighter M&P or Police Positive Specials attractive, especially if you got in a foot chase with a miscreant.
The conditions I have described were those prevalent in upstate SC in the period under discussion, and I expect that they were common for most areas of the south.

Back when your dad was "on the job", the S.C. Highway Dept (state troopers) carried the 4" blued Colt Official Police in .38 Special.

 

[merl67]

I would have to agree with lots of others a surplus 1917. I think given the salary of a deputy back in the day that would be the most economical way to go. I also think surplus ammo also would be cheaper too.

 

[Iggy]

When I went to work, my salary was $340.00 a month. I drooled over the Combat Magnum, but it was too costly. I bought a new .38 M&P for $65.00. Later, I went to a Model 58 and never looked back.
It was 40 years later that I finally fulfilled the dream of owning a Combat Magnum. Now I have 4 of them.

 

[Muley Gil]

"It's 1958 and you just hired on as a deputy for a sheriff's office in a semi rural county. Some towns of middling size and a lot of farmland."

Well, in 1976 I started my LE career in a area just like SP described. I was required to provide my own sidearm. When I started as an intern, I carried a 1911. The chief deputy allowed it, but didn't like it. Mighta had something to do with the hole in the top of his desk that another young deputy made, using a .45 Gov't Model.

(BTW, that young deputy is now the high sheriff of the county.)

Anyway, I went out and bought a reblued 1917 S&W. I carried it loaded with half moon clips (weren't no full moons then) and .45 Auto Rim handloads in my drop boxes.

Later that year, I bought a used M27-2 3 1/2" and a 6 1/2" .44 Special target barrel. I took 'em to a gunsmith in Selma, Alabama who made me a copy of a 1950 Target ala Skeeter Skelton.

"A 4 or 5" barrel revolver can be comfortably worn in a belt holster while seated in a car, but not a 6" or longer barrel."

Lots of officers carried 6" or 6 1/2" revolvers. I used a Safariland high rise Model 29 holster with my .44 Special. A number of lawdawgs used swivel holsters.

 

[shouldazagged]

Semi-rural county officer in 1958, with the abysmal pay rates, probably an M1917 or a good used .44 Special.

If I came into some money, a 4" Model 19.