My Apache 586s

[sigp220.45]

I finally was able to close the deal on a couple of 586-2s that were being traded in on some Sig Sauers. The Jicarilla Apache Police Department offered them to their officers, along with their Glock 31s and 32s, but while there was some interest in the Glocks, the wheelguns just sat. I work a lot of joint cases with them, so the Chief of Police let me in the deal, too.

I picked a nice clean one, and one that had definitely seen some use. Not surprisingly, the prettier one had a slightly stiffer action than the old veteran, which was butter smooth.

They both had Pachmayr grippers on them, but I found some magnas that matched up fairly well with each gun.

The Jicarilla Apache reservation is a beautiful place, located at the very northern edge of New Mexico, next to the Carson National Forest. I also work on part of the big Navajo reservation, but my part of that tends to be dry and have that Monument Valley look from John Ford westerns. The Jic is all mountains and trees, and is home to some truly magnificent elk and deer hunting. Too bad I can't hunt there.

The cops are fun to work with and I always enjoy going there. Finding these revolvers was a nice bonus.

Jicarilla Apache Police

I haven't had the chance to shoot them much - just a few rounds to make sure they function. I've never owned an L frame before, but now I see why they have such devoted fans around here.

 

[MSgt G]

Great story and pictures. Do they have any more? I'd love to have one along with the patch.

 

[Joni_Lynn]

Nice catch. The 586 is a nice revolver.

 

[Marshall 357]

Very nice, I love my 586, they will serve you well.

 

[S&Wcamaroman]

They are nice! I do like my 586.

 

[ENGINE18]

Nice wheelies!

 

[bgrafsr]

You did very well. Congratulations on a good buy.

 

[policerevolvercollector]

Brad,
Please keep me posted if you find another NM police revolver.

Thanks!
Charles

 

[j38]

Neat story and thanks for the link to the Jicarilla Tribal Police site, ... interesting story there also. I know you'll enjoy your 586s. I think they are great revolvers, and yours have some history.

Regards,

Jerry

 

[Texas Star]

Brad-

You mentioned working also with the Navaho Tribal Police. I read Tony Hillerman's books about some of their fictional officers, and always wondered what their uniforms, cars, and guns looked like. Hillerman evidently didn't think to cover that. He is now deceased.

Is there a site that shows them, or can you provide brief answers? Did he portray them well, if you read his books?

In general, what determines if a case is in the realm of the Tribal Police, or when the FBI steps in?

Thanks,

T-Star

 

[sigp220.45]

Tony Hillerman was never a big fan of the FBI, but our relations with the Navajo Nation Police Department are actually pretty good.

The tribal court system handles all misdemeanor offenses, while the FBI investigates major crimes. For us that usually means child sexual abuse, serious assaults (life threatening injuries or the use of a deadly weapon), rape, arson, robbery, and murder. The state cops and sheriff's department don't have jurisdiction on most Indian reservations, so all major crimes have to go through federal court.

In those cases, we never just ride in and take over. Every case I have is also worked jointly with a Navajo Criminal Investigator. We could not possibly do the job without them. There are still plenty of people on this reservation who only speak Navajo, and the tribal cops know everyone and every place someone might be. I really love working with them. It may be hard to believe with the stoic front many of them put up, but there is not a funnier group of people on earth than tribal cops. They love a good joke or absurd situation more than anyone. They also used to have pretty brave firearms instructors:

Current weapons are Glock 22s, M4s, and 870s.

Here's a strange looking link with some photos and information:

</title> <meta name="keywords" content=""> <meta name="description" content=""> <style> a {font-family: verdana; color: #AF4A01; font-size: 8pt; text-decoration: none} a:hover {font-family: verdana; color: #591904; font-size: 8pt; text-decoration: bl

 

[BlackSky]

586 is .357 perfection as far as I'm concerned. Congrats on a great double pickup.

 

[Texas Star]

Tony Hillerman was never a big fan of the FBI, but our relations with the Navajo Nation Police Department are actually pretty good.

The tribal court system handles all misdemeanor offenses, while the FBI investigates major crimes. For us that usually means child sexual abuse, serious assaults (life threatening injuries or the use of a deadly weapon), rape, arson, robbery, and murder. The state cops and sheriff's department don't have jurisdiction on most Indian reservations, so all major crimes have to go through federal court.

In those cases, we never just ride in and take over. Every case I have is also worked jointly with a Navajo Criminal Investigator. We could not possibly do the job without them. There are still plenty of people on this reservation who only speak Navajo, and the tribal cops know everyone and every place someone might be. I really love working with them. It may be hard to believe with the stoic front many of them put up, but there is not a funnier group of people on earth than tribal cops. They love a good joke or absurd situation more than anyone. They also used to have pretty brave firearms instructors:

Current weapons are Glock 22s, M4s, and 870s.

Here's a strange looking link with some photos and information:

</title> <meta name="keywords" content=""> <meta name="description" content=""> <style> a {font-family: verdana; color: #AF4A01; font-size: 8pt; text-decoration: none} a:hover {font-family: verdana; color: #591904; font-size: 8pt; text-decoration: bl

Many thanks! Very informative...


T-Star

 

[Joe Kent]

Sigp220.45, in a post above you mentioned not being able to hunt in the Apache area. Is hunting totally banned or is it restricted to Tribal use only?

 

[HOGSTR]

That is a great score, and very similar to how I came into ownership of my 586. I picked mine up in Albuquerque in the mid 90s, and while not a safe queen it remains one of my favorite pieces. Thanks for the photos...

 

[sigp220.45]

Joe - hunting is limited to tribal members, with the exception of some very expensive tags that are either drawn by lottery or sold at auction. Ten grand for an elk, even a great big one, is out of my league.

Trophy Mule Deer, Elk Hunting: Jicarilla Game & Fish; Big Game Hunting

 

[j38]

sigp220.45,

I would be interested in knowing what ammo was issued for those 586s back in the day ... if you ever get the chance to ask.

Thanks,

Jerry

 

[sigp220.45]

I did ask - the Chief said all they ever shot were 125 grain full .357 Magnum loads, even at qualifications. He couldn't remember the brand. That probably explains why they all had Pachmayr Grippers on them.

These must be tough guns, even the more worn one is still tight as new.

 

[mdwiese]

Very nice, I have the itch for a 586.

 

[Joni_Lynn]

Go ahead and scratch the itch. I did and am still happy with the result.