Meaning of "BPD"?

[big50_1]

Seriously looking at a 64 inscribed with "BPD". Seller thinks it was a Burbank PD (LA) gun. Any way I can tell? Any website with PD serial numbers, etc.? Here's pic:

I have a "CHP" inscribed 67 with the same Packmayr grips so I'm guessing that Packmayr grips could have been the (were the?) standard for CA PD guns?

 

[big50_1]

Seriously looking at a 64 inscribed with "BPD". Seller thinks it was a Burbank PD (LA) gun. Any way I can tell? Any website with PD serial numbers, etc.? Here's pic:

I have a "CHP" inscribed 67 with the same Packmayr grips so I'm guessing that Packmayr grips could have been the (were the?) standard for CA PD guns?

 

[Duke426]

Based on the age of the gun it could be from just about any department, Baltimore, Buffalo, Burbank...?

It hasn't always been so restrictive on bringing firearms into California.

Perhaps the only way to know for sure would be to request a letter from Mr Jinks at S&W --- and even then it is no sure thing it will letter to the department, but it could give you a start in the right direction.

 

[s&wchad]

I don't know what the significance of BPD is on that gun, but it looks like it has a fish-hook hammer from the 1950's. I've never seen one on a gun that late (post 1970). Someone jeweled the trigger and hammer too. Caution!


FWIW, BPD usually means bipolar disorder.

 

[Beachcomber]

I have a 3" Model 64 which is numbered BPD-85 on the left side of the revolver over the trigger. I purchased it from a Massachusetts police officer. This officer said that he had purchased it from a FFL who told him that this revolver had come from BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT (Massachusetts) when they went to semi-automatics.

 

[big50_1]

Thanks for the info. I kinda' saw the fish-hook hammer but only saw it as different, not mismatched to the era of the gun. Shoulda' picked up on that but was considering this only from an Internet picture so didn't have it in hand. Will pass on this, thanks.

 

[Andy Taylor]

The NY-1 M64's are marked with the serial number in that location, in addition to the normal location on the grip frame. My NY-1 M64's (2") SN begins with BPD, followed by 4 numbers. It appears as though something has been removed/obscured in the photo following the BPD marking, as people often do to SN when they post gun photos on the internet. These revolvers were DAO and had spurless hammers. Someone could have converted it to standard DA/SA using parts on hand, accounting for the old style hammer, on a later gun.

I would guess it is a modified NY-1. I bought my NY-1 new in CA quite a number of years ago.

 

[pahoghunter]

I just saw model 36 and the serial began BTT? I'm not sure what that means? Maybe a date code?

 

[Andy Taylor]

Originally posted by pahoghunter:
I just saw model 36 and the serial began BTT? I'm not sure what that means? Maybe a date code?

Not really a date code, but S&W did use a three letter followed by four number SN for a number of years. It can be used to get a rough estimate of date of manufacture.

 

[S. Kelly]

Beachcomber, nice grab on that 3 inch. If you ever look to sell, contact me, I collect BPD revolvers.

 

[wheelgun1958]

My BPD model 15.

 

[Beachcomber]

Originally posted by S. Kelly:
Beachcomber, nice grab on that 3 inch. If you ever look to sell, contact me, I collect BPD revolvers.

I'll definitely keep you in mind S. Kelly.

I owe you one for letting me buy your 640... which I still have.

-Rick

 

[S. Kelly]

BEACHCOMBER, do you still have that Model 64?

 

[aeronca]

I have a model 28 bpd

 

[Nframe357]

I had a 3" model 65 from 1986 that was a BPD marked weapon, I was also told it was a Boston PD weapon but a member here who is with Boston PD set me straight on that. The model 64 may well be Boston but he told me they never issued any 357's. So where is the mystery BPD? I no longer have that model 65 but I'd still like to know.