gunlovingirl
Member
Does anyone know what weapons the Michigan State Police used, from the 1970s to 80s? Did they issue Smiths? Or was it up to the officer which gun he carried? Any help would be appreciated. 
Mich. State Police Weapons
- Thread starter gunlovingirl
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
smith revolver cop
Member
I spent some time in northern Indiana in the late '70s, up until '81, and had a few friends who were coppers in Michigan (though not MSP). I believe MSP issued Smith revolvers, along with a Model 36 as a backup to keep in their winter coat or tunic. Some Mich departments carried cross-draw, but I can't remember if MSP was one of them.
I'm sure the usual fountain of information on this forum will come up with more specific info!!!
I'm sure the usual fountain of information on this forum will come up with more specific info!!!
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
A very long time ago after when the first S&W model 39 came out I think I read either illinois or michigan highway patrol was about the first to issue them.
safearm
US Veteran
ISP was the first to adopt the M39.
Dennis The B
US Veteran
Not sure...
...of the issue revolver (I believe they were Model 19's/66's). However, all of them carried a J-frame in their pockets. Some were Model 36's, and some also carried Model 49's. Most all had specially-constructed trouser pockets, reinforced, to carry the back-up piece.
The duty holster was some cross-draw abomination with a heavy flap cover, making it nearly impossible to get to the duty revolver.
...of the issue revolver (I believe they were Model 19's/66's). However, all of them carried a J-frame in their pockets. Some were Model 36's, and some also carried Model 49's. Most all had specially-constructed trouser pockets, reinforced, to carry the back-up piece.
The duty holster was some cross-draw abomination with a heavy flap cover, making it nearly impossible to get to the duty revolver.
sigp220.45
US Veteran
I'm not 100 percent sure, but if I recall correctly MSP troopers carried 4 inch Model 66s, and were also issued distinctive two-tone Model 38 Bodyguards - blued guns with stainless or nickel cylinders.
Farmer17
Member
I thought Michigan state police issued those M-38 bodyguards with the stainless steel cylinders that were showing up at all the gunshows. I thought the stainless cylinder looked a little odd, but now I wish I would have bought one because they were so cheap.
ACP230
Member
They carried a Smith .357 revolver, I think it was an M66.
They were issued a smaller second gun. Starting in the early 1970s it was the M38 with the stainless cylinder. I was told, when I researched this some years ago, that standard M38 cylinders rusted in use and so the stainless cylinders were asked for.
The local post used to hold an open house with a weapons display. Rifles I remeber seeing were M1 carbines and scoped Remington 700s.
I am drawing a blank on the shotgun.
They were issued a smaller second gun. Starting in the early 1970s it was the M38 with the stainless cylinder. I was told, when I researched this some years ago, that standard M38 cylinders rusted in use and so the stainless cylinders were asked for.
The local post used to hold an open house with a weapons display. Rifles I remeber seeing were M1 carbines and scoped Remington 700s.
I am drawing a blank on the shotgun.
whitecoyote
Member
Here is a S&W model 10 with a 2.5" barrel that came from the M.S.P.
I understand that at some point they were also issued as backup guns Walther TPDs(?), a .22 Rimfire version of the venerable PPK/PPKs.
The only officer I ever asked about this, in a discussion of how they'd view CCW reciprocity, denied that they carried any backup guns. He also made several blatantly ignorant BS assertions about the law, so I dunno...
The only officer I ever asked about this, in a discussion of how they'd view CCW reciprocity, denied that they carried any backup guns. He also made several blatantly ignorant BS assertions about the law, so I dunno...
whitecoyote
Member
A M.S.P. S&W 649 that was carried as a backup.
Obviously, the grips were changed.
I don't know what year the 649 is from.
Obviously, the grips were changed.
I don't know what year the 649 is from.
OP
gunlovingirl
Member
Thanks for all the info guys! The reason I asked, I had an uncle that I loved and respected very much, who was a MSP trooper for many years. Four months before he was to retire from the force, he died from heart failure. I believe he was just 48 years old. I have lost contact with my cousins, and have always wondered what weapon he carried. I saw a model 67 on an auction site with the MSP emblem stamped on the side. But I believe this particular gun is from the 80s. I've seen some local police dept guns, such as Detroit, but so far haven't ran across any MSP Smiths. If anyone has one, I'd love to see a picture.
Whitecoyote...are either of those marked MSP? Just curious.
Whitecoyote...are either of those marked MSP? Just curious.
Last edited:
thomp45acp
Member
I have a Michigan State Police Smith model 10 thats marked and the guy who owned it was over the firearms division. They have carried a lot of different things over the years and one retired trooper advsied me they were issued one weapon and were allowed to carry another as long as it fit in the holster and they qual with it. They just went from the Sig 226 with out a tac rail to one with a tac rail. And they are a State Police not a Highway or State Patrol. Big difference. Just a little pet peeve of mine.
Kuglespritz
Member
I e-mailed a friend who is a retired MSP Trooper and worked in their firearms training unit. He says they issued:
S&W Model 10's with Heavy Barrels and Model 64's with Heavy barrel.
Some Trooper's who qualified as Distinguished Expert were issued Model 67's.
S&W Model 10's with Heavy Barrels and Model 64's with Heavy barrel.
Some Trooper's who qualified as Distinguished Expert were issued Model 67's.
Tracer_Bullet
Member
Here ya go gunlovingirl, S&W model 10-6 from 1969 with MSP markings on the backstrap (no other department markings on it):
ogilvyspecial
Member
Yesterday I picked up an old duty weapon from a retired MSP Trooper, it was the handgun that he was issued when he graduated from the Academy back in 1978, the one that he carried in his crossdraw holster (with flap) from '78 to 1989. He said that the type Holster they used did a pretty good job of protecting their Revolvers from the elements.
It's a Heavy Barrel, 4", Model 64, actually it's stamped 64-1. He told me that his Class (late '77) was lucky since they were the first, as far as he knew, to get new handguns in many years. Prior to that he said they re-issued older Model 10's and after a few "re-issue's" some of them looked pretty rough. The Model 64 I got had Pachmayr Presentation Grips on it, which looked to have been on the gun for many years and confirmed what I had heard before, the newer "Pach's" are nothing like the older version, even if it is the same model Grip.
During our conversation he mentioned that the only other Revolvers he was issued was the two-toned snubby and a 9mm Smith & Wesson (Revolver.) He added that the firing pin channel on his two tone Airweight "elongated" after years of use and he ended up with fail to fire's because of this.
My neighbor is also a retired MSP Trooper that served during the same time as the Trooper I met yesterday. One these days I'll have to stop in and ask what type of weapons he was issued. I know, as a Sgt., he was on the Fugitive Team for quite a while and always has a MSP "Plain Jane", black, Chevy Suburban with heavily tinted windows parked in his driveway, ready to roll on a moments notice. Because of this type of duty he may have been issued, or at least authorized to carry, something a little different than when he was on road patrol..........
Last edited:
Michigan State Police issues handguns
MSP issued Model 10’s until 1988. Beginning in 1989, Troopers were issued a Sig 226 in 9mm. Since then, Sig 226 DAK, then Glock 17.
Revolvers with the MSP shield stamped on them were issued to the top shooter in each academy class.
5-shot S&W .38 2” were issued as off duty handguns and also carried on duty as a backup. Stainless steel cylinder with alloy frame to reduce corrosion due to carried in offhand uniform pants pocket.
Retired MSP.
MSP issued Model 10’s until 1988. Beginning in 1989, Troopers were issued a Sig 226 in 9mm. Since then, Sig 226 DAK, then Glock 17.
Revolvers with the MSP shield stamped on them were issued to the top shooter in each academy class.
5-shot S&W .38 2” were issued as off duty handguns and also carried on duty as a backup. Stainless steel cylinder with alloy frame to reduce corrosion due to carried in offhand uniform pants pocket.
Retired MSP.
Federal +P+ for Michigan
Tangentially:
William C. Davis, Jr. in the Dope Bag on +P+ .38 Special loaded for police in the March, 1979 American Rifleman Dope Bag column.
=========================
"The Winchester 04070 load and its Federal Cartridge Corp. equivalent, designated 38F-TD (Treasury Dept.), develop an instrumental velocity at
15 ft. of 1020 f.p.s. from a 2" barrel.
Federal also produces similar loads with 125-gr. bullets at a 15 ft. instrumental velocity of 1015 f.p.s. from a 4" revolver in both hollow-point and soft-point configurations, with non-serrated jackets.
The hollow-point 125-gr. load made for the Illinois State Police has the designation 38E IL, and the 125-gr. soft-point load made for the Michigan State Police is designated 38J-MI.
These Federal loadings have double-entry headstamps with the manufacturer's symbol (FC) and the letters LE."
=====================================
Several have reported that the California Highway Patrol routinely shot the Winchester 110 +P+ in their Model 60 Chief Special revolvers. Did Michigan shoot the 125 grain Federal in their J frames?
Several years ago, when I inquired about the Illinois 9 mm and .38 Federal ammunition, Federal customer service didn't know the LE and government 4 segment headstamps existed - even to the point of mistakenly saying that any case not marked +P or +P+ was standard pressure. I told them; don't know if they believed me.
For any wondering why Illinois needed .38 ammunition, agents from the former Illinois Bureau of Investigations kept their 2 1/2 inch Model 66 revolvers when rolled into the state police detective division. ISP detectives were then allowed to carry the snub model 66 too. Oral history to me from a state police range master back then.
Tangentially:
William C. Davis, Jr. in the Dope Bag on +P+ .38 Special loaded for police in the March, 1979 American Rifleman Dope Bag column.
=========================
"The Winchester 04070 load and its Federal Cartridge Corp. equivalent, designated 38F-TD (Treasury Dept.), develop an instrumental velocity at
15 ft. of 1020 f.p.s. from a 2" barrel.
Federal also produces similar loads with 125-gr. bullets at a 15 ft. instrumental velocity of 1015 f.p.s. from a 4" revolver in both hollow-point and soft-point configurations, with non-serrated jackets.
The hollow-point 125-gr. load made for the Illinois State Police has the designation 38E IL, and the 125-gr. soft-point load made for the Michigan State Police is designated 38J-MI.
These Federal loadings have double-entry headstamps with the manufacturer's symbol (FC) and the letters LE."
=====================================
Several have reported that the California Highway Patrol routinely shot the Winchester 110 +P+ in their Model 60 Chief Special revolvers. Did Michigan shoot the 125 grain Federal in their J frames?
Several years ago, when I inquired about the Illinois 9 mm and .38 Federal ammunition, Federal customer service didn't know the LE and government 4 segment headstamps existed - even to the point of mistakenly saying that any case not marked +P or +P+ was standard pressure. I told them; don't know if they believed me.
For any wondering why Illinois needed .38 ammunition, agents from the former Illinois Bureau of Investigations kept their 2 1/2 inch Model 66 revolvers when rolled into the state police detective division. ISP detectives were then allowed to carry the snub model 66 too. Oral history to me from a state police range master back then.
Last edited:
The Michigan State Police were issued Federal .38 plus+P 156 grain semi jacketed soft points in both Model 10’s and 5-shot airweights. At least that is what I was issued in ‘89 just prior to transition to Sig 226 9mm’s.
Correction…. MSP issued Federal 125 grain semi jacketed soft point +P. That’s was a long time ago
