Letter says…….LAPD. 15-3 1973

[LPD256]

This all started with a member introducing me to the Uncle Scotty YouTube videos. Scott Reitz was a big part of LAPD SWAT. In one of the videos he talked about his guns. One was a 67 and the other was a 68. Both had John Hurst made grips. Hurst was an LAPD Detective that made grips along with Fuzzy Farrant and Guy Hogue for officers. I thought it would be a fun project to find some Hurst grips and a carried LAPD gun and put them together so I posted a WTB post on the Forum. CALREB, a forum member contacted me and kindly gave me a lot of info. Larry Braun, retired Hollywood Homicide, Asst SWAT armorer, knew both Scott Reitz and John Hurst. He is retired LAPD 21556. He told me his deceased brother Sgt. WG Braun 14693 had a 15 he would consider selling. After a lot of conversation, I became the caretaker of the 15-3. And equipped it with Hurst Grips. The first photo is Sgt. Braun. RIP to him. Thank you to Larry for trusting me with his brother's gun and a lot of LAPD history.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Thank you for posting this information. It is always a great privilege to read about LE guns and officers, but I have always felt a special connection with LAPD as one of my mom and dad's best friends ended up in the LAPD after serving in the military. The friend in question was Durwood DeMier, who retired from the LAPD, having served from 1963 to 1991. He thus served during a great period for the LAPD, his first Chief being William H. Parker, and his last being Daryl F. Gates. May he rest in peace.

 

[LPD256]

Thank you for posting this information. It is always a great privilege to read about LE guns and officers, but I have always felt a special connection with LAPD as one of my mom and dad's best friends ended up in the LAPD after serving in the military. The friend in question was Durwood DeMier, who retired from the LAPD, having served from 1963 to 1991. He thus served during a great period for the LAPD, his first Chief being William H. Parker, and his last being Daryl F. Gates. May he rest in peace.

One of my Dad's friends was CHP. I served during the Adam 12 era as well as CHiPs. During the time frame when Sgt. Braun carried this gun. I rode a police motorcycle during that time for a couple of years. This gun is in great condition. It has a very smooth action and is double action only. The 15-3 replaced 6 inch Model 14's, several of which were cut down from 6 inch to 4 inch guns.

 

[j38]

Fascinating little slice of '70's history. Thanks for the great post and pics!

Jerry

 

[sigp220.45]

Very very cool!

When did the DAO requirement start?

 

[sheppard]

Thanks very much for posting. I'm a fan of the model 15, acquired 4.

Any chance of a picture of the letter from S&W without the revolver on it. Looks like there is a lot of good info in it.

 

[LPD256]

Very very cool!

When did the DAO requirement start?

Sorry, I don't know the answer to your question. Something that was fun to learn is that officers could carry personally owned guns but they had to use .38 special ammo and not .357 magnum if they carried a 19 or a Python or whatever. Sgt Braun carried a Python at one point. Of course this was stopped after a couple people got shot with .357. Personally, I carried a 19-3 with .357 ammo myself. Luckily I never shot anyone with it.

 

[Old_Cop]

My 15-2 is marked Erie PD PA.

 

[LPD256]

Thanks very much for posting. I'm a fan of the model 15, acquired 4.

Any chance of a picture of the letter from S&W without the revolver on it. Looks like there is a lot of good info in it.

Here you go. Hope this helps.

 

[LPD256]

My 15-2 is marked Erie PD PA.

I have a couple of agency marked guns and a couple that aren't marked. This gun is not marked at all. It had the Hogue grips on it when I received it. They were actually quite comfortable but not quite as cool as the Hurst grips.

 

[Absalom]

I have a couple of agency marked guns and a couple that aren't marked. This gun is not marked at all.

From the general era and area, the LA Sheriff's Model 15 had an L.A.S.D. marking and the Highway Patrol's Model 67 was stamped C.H.P., but I believe the L.A.P.D.'s Models 14 and 15 never got any department marking.

 

[sheppard]

LPD256: Thanks for posting the letter.

 

[TheHobbyist]

In my experience, Absalom is correct. I have owned these variants, for what it is worth and my experience aligns with his postulation. Hope this helps and is of interest. Best, TH.

 

[local_dirt]

What a fine piece of hardware and history. Congrats.

 

[J. W.]

Awesome stuff! Thanks for sharing.

Amongst other duties I'm a firearms instructor and armorer for my department and usually volunteer to work retiree quals when they come around twice a year. I've always enjoyed spending a little time with the old timers and hearing their stories. Lots of guys at my department carried personal 4" N-Frames in big bore calibers up through the mid 80's when we standardized on the Model 67.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[LPD256]

Awesome stuff! Thanks for sharing.

Amongst other duties I'm a firearms instructor and armorer for my department and usually volunteer to work retiree quals when they come around twice a year. I've always enjoyed spending a little time with the old timers and hearing their stories. Lots of guys at my department carried personal 4" N-Frames in big bore calibers up through the mid 80's when we standardized on the Model 67.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If you go to YouTube and search for Uncle Scotty you'll find some very interesting and fun videos to watch. Jh

 

[kscharlie]

Thanks for the post Jim. Sorry it took me so long to see it, but I was sort of "out of commission" for a few months. Glad you were able to put the gun, grips and letter together. Adds a lot of joy and pleasure to the hobby.

 

[Doug M.]

I have been aware of Scott for several years. I'd heard good things about him and read some of his stuff. He is also friend of friends. Finding out he is on Youtube was a treat. IMHO, he has a lot to teach about being a professional cop and hunter of bad guys.

 

[LPD256]

Thanks for the post Jim. Sorry it took me so long to see it, but I was sort of "out of commission" for a few months. Glad you were able to put the gun, grips and letter together. Adds a lot of joy and pleasure to the hobby.

Hope you are OK. I had a triple bypass the week before the Symposium so missed it but I'm really good now.

 

[larry21556]

I found it interesting that this M15 was delivered as DA only. I was under the impression that the Armory had altered them. Hope you enjoy it.
Larry