My service revolver in 1971 as a rookie cop!

[flagman1776]

As a rookie, I wasn't issued a weapon... had to sign out a Victory model that had seen better days. I signed the Victory out once... with it's 6 rounds of ammo. I carried my own 4" M19. As a part-timer, we had to supply our own (or sign it out). Everybody bought their own.
I bought an early nylon Hogue monogrip... Ugly as the day is long but amazingly it gave me much better control with the SuperVels I was carrying. (any factory ammo)
I swapped the monogrips to my M66 as soon as I was able to locate one... where they still are today. The dept eventually issued everyone ammo & the Winchester Silvertips are still with the gun. I was the first in the dept to use Comp speed loaders when most were using drop boxes. The dept armorer tried out my gear on the range & soon had them also.

 

[Magster]

Well if that isn't the cutest little thing. It is adorable and so.......small....;-)

I like to razz you guys who carried "medium frame guns". Where I worked we carried 25-5' in .45 Colt, usually with a triple speed loader case that looked like three tomato paste cans were inside. Big guns, Big Flashlights, Big Saps, and Big Sticks..........It was a GLORIOUS time. I miss those old days. Its funny that I have just really started getting into some of the model 10's now that I am in retirement. After lugging around those big N frames, the 3" model 10's carry real nice. When I carried the 25-5 at work, my off-duty was a 3" Model 13. That is one I wish I had kept.

Great pictures and glad to see all the retro revolver love. Those were the days when a lot of very tough cop work was getting done with a ton of individual initiative (the technology stuff sucked, so you had to just "know stuff to be a good street cop) and it was very much a full contact sport.

You got that right! You looked them in the eye and got it done.

 

[153]

Late 70's gear I lugged about ...

 

[Frank237]

Started in late 1974 in NJ. First day took a ride with the Captain to Red the Tailors in south jersey to get measured for uniforms. Then to Ray's Sport Shop on Rt 22 in N. Plainfield for my 4" M-19,cuffs, leather, 5 cell light and baton.
The M-19 was Dept mandayed but most ANY off duty gun was fine. So among the gun nut rookies it was the "gun of the week" club for several years. We carried everything from High Standard .22 mag derringers to a 6 1/2" M-29 off duty.

A much simpler time to be a copper.

 

[elpac3]

Back then

'1972 4" Model 19, 137 grain Super Vel's, 3 cell Kell Light, Mace and S&W cuffs on a Safariland velcro belt, Ithica 37 with #4 buckshot. No vest but had a Safariland ballistic clip board.

"Honest officer, I was just helping that sheep over the fence"

 

[Buford57]

The trick to using a Kel-lite is effective report writing, to wit:

"Having become separated from the issue baton, R/O used a flashlight as a field expedient to defend himself in accordance with his training in the use of the issue baton."

The fact that the issue baton was wedged under the passenger side headrest of R/O's patrol vehicle to serve as a hat rack is superfluous information which does not belong in the report.

 

[Engine 21]

The "elderly Lt." looks like someone I would be glad to answer calls with as a "Retired Elderly Captain."
I like the weapon. I did not offically come on duty until 1976,however I had been riding with my father for 4 years! My dad was the Dispatcher, Jailer,Patrolman, Sgt, Lt., then Capt. I was lucky to follow in his path. Between us we were on duty locally from 1969, until my retirement in Dec 2012! I spent many hours as a young guy cleaning his nickled mod 10! When I started getting paid, I had to prove how much more modern I was and bought a Dan Wesson 357 for me and one for him. He never carried the Dan Wesson on duty, but did carry it in a sholder holster through the White House on a tour once! I inherited it 3 years ago.
Sorry about the book length trip down memory lane but this reminded me that ther are a few dinosaurs left.

It is hard to see good men pass on and their values past down - father to son. They also liked to be viewed as "Peace Officers" and were respected for it. Seemed like these men were bulletproof and when they spoke - you listened. Today, people have an entirely different view of the Law Enforcement Officer and it just doesn't seem like the respect is there.

 

[kbm6893]

I have my original handcuffs also.


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Me too but they're only 20 years old. Rookies were advised to throw thee issued pair in their lockers since they had a serial number and working a big city like New
York meant that cuffs could get switched in the heat of the moment. Wouldn't want your cuffs getting lost and winding up in a body floating in th east river! So I bought a pair of s&w to use. Still have them too

 

[kbm6893]

It is hard to see good men pass on and their values past down - father to son. They also liked to be viewed as "Peace Officers" and were respected for it. Seemed like these men were bulletproof and when they spoke - you listened. Today, people have an entirely different view of the Law Enforcement Officer and it just doesn't seem like the respect is there.

It's not. Used to be ONE cop could clear a corner full if punks. Rookies would bring their straight wooden night sticks home to practice twirling it as they walked the beat. Today's cop is a neutered watered version. Not putting cops down but the country takes the word of a 10 time crack dealing felon over a cop nowadays.

 

[mag318]

I came on the Chicago PD in 1971 and carried a Model 19 with our 158 grn RNL mandated ammo. As soon as S&W offered the Model 66 I upgraded to that revolver with a Colt 1911 as a secondary. Reading this thread most of us lot timers wouldn't want to be the police these days. Political correctness has ruined many fine departments. It use to be a generational thing when coming on the job an old timer would tell us how we just missed the good old days when the police were still the police. That all changed as we entered the 21'th century. To all here who were able to retire from a successful career, I hope you all enjoy your well deserved pensions for they too will also become a thing of the past I fear.
I still prefer a good revolver....................

 

[dscampbell]

The trick to using a Kel-lite is effective report writing, to wit:



"Having become separated from the issue baton, R/O used a flashlight as a field expedient to defend himself in accordance with his training in the use of the issue baton."



The fact that the issue baton was wedged under the passenger side headrest of R/O's patrol vehicle to serve as a hat rack is superfluous information which does not belong in the report.

I wish I had thought of that. . .


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[Jaymo]

I wouldn't stand in front of the"elderly Lt" and his Model 10.
My 10-6 4" and 10-5 2" shoot just as well as my 15-3 and 586.

 

[CH4]

I carried a Mod 10 in the USAF until we went to the Beretta M9 in 1984ish. After discharging from the AF, I carried a 4" 686 as a duty weapon until 91. I carried a 66 2.5 off duty until I retired, and still carry it CCW. I have many handguns and carry most of them, but the 66 2.5 is still my go to SD gun. Moreover, my wife carried a model 10 when she worked for the California Dept. of Corrections and I think they're still using them.

 

[cmj8591]

Nice to see that someone else likes Hogues. Most get their kicks by ridiculing them. I could never understand why.

Most of the people who ridicule "Good Year" grips never had to employ their revolver in a life or death situation with rain soaked, sweaty, blood soaked, (insert your favorite fluid here), hands. Most of us who actually had to use our S&W as something other than a collectors piece found out fast that rubber grips have a lot more to offer on a work gun. Having said that, there's nothing better looking in the gun world than a nice pair of Ropers on a blued N frame!

 

[JM4151]

When I came on in May of 1971 we had to purchase our own revolver. I bought a model 19 with a 4 inch bbl, but traded up to a 66 when they first came out, a year or two later. Had a pair of Alum S & W light weight handcuffs and a 5 cell (D) Kell light which I traded up to a Stream Light SL20 when they came out in the mid 1970's. I still have the 66 and Alum cuffs. I spent 38 years in LE and am really proud of my career. Would not have done anything different. Married to the same woman for 40 plus years and raised 3 kids who are all successful, with no drugs. Can't ask for anything more than that!

 

[neubert500]

I have my original handcuffs also.

Heck I still have a ticket book from when I was a young Sgt. and knew "everything". Never liked writing them things! 18 of em in a 37 year career!