My service revolver in 1971 as a rookie cop!

[Desert Rat 416]

Somebody looks like "a world of mean" in the 3rd photo! Who would want to tangle with him? Neat post! Bob

Yup, always said that noncompliance, and the need for one's own self defense, may never need occur if you successfully project outright intimidation. Maybe that's why some of today's crop of "kinder-gentler" LEO's think they really require those 17 shooters when what they really need to practice is their "war face".

Great post OP - thanks for sharing.

 

[-db-]

I didn't know much about revolvers when I first started getting interested in them a few years ago but I knew a 4" 10-5 was a must-have classic and one of them was among the first S&Ws I purchased and, needless to say, plan on keeping.

Good stuff, dabney.

 

[L Pete]

No Mag lights back then. Only " Kilites"!

Yep, Kel-lites. We used to drill the end cap, and install a rifle sling swivel in it with a wrist strap. Some of those lights got real long in those days. We used to tease some of the guys by asking when they were going to install a small wheel on the end to keep them from dragging the ground. There's nothing like a good multi-tasker. Then, someone got sued, and all that changed......

I see what these officers today carry on their"harness", and I have to wonder how they work with all that stuff and a vest for an entire shift. In those days, on my River Belt, I carried a Model 13 in a Border Patrol Holster, 12 round cartridge slide, one set of handcuffs in the case, and a baton ring. All of which, I considered way too heavy to begin with. No vest, as they weren't around back then. Second Chance was just getting started. A vest would have been considered "stiffling" in those days, during the hot weather months in Texas.

 

[Old cop]

I started w/a Model 10 in 1968 and had to use it more than once during my 30 year career, revolvers just work. My duty belt also carried my weapon, 12 rounds in a loop swivel holster (dump pouches later w/boarder patrol holster), batton ring & cuffs. No vests then and I too thought all that stuff was too heavy. I can't imagine how cops carry all that stuff & wear a vest today.

 

[JAREDSHS]

David, great post-thank you.

 

[Retired W4]

I was never in law enforcement but I did carry a Victory model in Vietnam and had to qualify with an M-10 every year until the M-9 was adopted. My son carries an M-9 when he flies. All the best luck to you LE types and thank you for your service to those who have retired.

 

[BubbaBlades]

I carried a 6" Colt Python back in 1971 but several of the old timers still had their department issued Model 10s. As the assistant range officer, I got to see many officers shoot their Model 10s and most were about average shots. A few individuals were very good shots and a few were so bad that they just made the minimum score required by the State of Florida.
One officer 's Model 10 had bullets so corroded that the cylinder would not turn and the gun needed to be soaked in solvent to get the cylinder open. Fortunately, that officer never needed to use that inoperative gun.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane with Kel Lights and 12 rounds in belt loops.

Mark

 

[BigBill]

This is what I'm talking about we can't get away from the history behind each model. Thanks for your story, your fine shooting and your service to keeping your town safe. You look like one mean officer if you had to be.
I wish we had more Leo's post there personal stories about them and there experiences with s&w revolvers. Thanks again.

I take the Barney Fife poster as you need a chuckle every day. He was awesome. One serious officer about the law. I grew up watching him and still watch Barney today.

I didn't do much in my lifetime but assemble the 155mm howitzers for the US Army. And built cnc machines to manufacturer parts for the m1 Abrams Chrysler tank. I did cnc machines to machine disc brakes for just about every car manufacturer around the world. Every time you step on your brakes it's a disc that manufactured on my machines. I made machines to manufacture the 4x4 front hubs and rotors besides the trailer truck brake drums too. You might say my machines that I built moves the whole world. Not much history from me. My last job was working for Otis elevator world engineering headquarters as a lead r&d lab tech for my last 20 years before I retired. I didn't serve my town or country but I helped save lives of our American soldiers where ever they put there boots on foreign soil. I gave my country my best workmanship that I could give. I got rejected to go to nam but I did my part at home.

My dad was a medic in the army. He later was a experimental repair machinest for Remington Arms. He's the guy who kept the bullet manufacturing machines running until they moved down south.

 

[Jst1mr]

Excuse me, officer, but it appears you've gotten mustard on the writing on that gun...

 

[jimbo728]

BigBill, Thanks for your enormous contribution.
And thanks to all who serve our Nation Honorably in freedom.
Jim

 

[dabney]

Big Bill;

Your service to this nation was 'awesome' with your 'knowhow' talents and skills. I could 'never' be the man you are as your contribution to this nation was just superb! As a lawman, for too many years, having citizens like "you" to support us, was the 'ultimate' in police community relations. On several occasions in my lengthy career, a citizen, with the kind of character, you have, stepped up and helped me out when things had gone "all wrong" and people like yourself is 'what' makes us the greatest nation ever! That is from my heart to yours, kind sir. Thanks, many thanks, to citizens like you!

David

 

[Desert Rat 416]

Big Bill;

Your service to this nation was 'awesome' with your 'knowhow' talents and skills. I could 'never' be the man you are as your contribution to this nation was just superb! As a lawman, for too many years, having citizens like "you" to support us, was the 'ultimate' in police community relations. On several occasions in my lengthy career, a citizen, with the kind of character, you have, stepped up and helped me out when things had gone "all wrong" and people like yourself is 'what' makes us the greatest nation ever! That is from my heart to yours, kind sir. Thanks, many thanks, to citizens like you!

Roger that. My dad was in the Army Air Corp and my mom was a "Rosie the Riveter." Without the efforts of all those like them we'd now be speaking a different language. The many technical innovations people have contributed to our military is a second huge part of what keeps us all safe.

Thanks Big Bill!

 

[dscampbell]

I oped for the c cell kel-lite that fit in the baton ring but after I used it as a baton I got a complaint and internal affairs said ditch it.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk 2

 

[-Virginian-]

David,

What an awesome post! Thanks for sharing with us!

Eric

 

[sandspur6]

Ahhh. Memory lane. I started in 1972 with a nickel M10 with real stags. I've carried a lot of guns in the past 42 years, but I've still got that same M10. I still carry it once in a while and its still just as accurate as it ever was. I well remember when the Kel-lite came out, too. Prior to that, we all carried a Ray-o-vac Sportsman 5-cell. And yes, I've still got my original handcuffs.

 

[nyeti]

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.

 

[waynesigmeister]

I started my LE career in July, 1974. I first carried a S&W Model 19 4" barrel with Remington 125 grain .357 JHP rounds. I had to buy all of my equipment when I started and I paid $125 for the pistol from a Smith LE distributor called Chesire and Perez in Monrovia, Calif.

Later on the department mandated we carried Model 60 revolvers. By the late 1980's, the department changed guns and issued the Beretta 92F. I kept the Model 19 since I first bought it. Gun was kept the same as the day I bought it. Carry the Bodyguard .380 or Glock 23 as my CCW gun's.

 

[dscampbell]

Ahhh. Memory lane. I started in 1972 with a nickel M10 with real stags. I've carried a lot of guns in the past 42 years, but I've still got that same M10. I still carry it once in a while and its still just as accurate as it ever was. I well remember when the Kel-lite came out, too. Prior to that, we all carried a Ray-o-vac Sportsman 5-cell. And yes, I've still got my original handcuffs.

I have my original handcuffs also.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk 2

 

[Muley Gil]

I started as a deputy sheriff in Alabama, just across the river from Dabney, in 1976. My first duty revolver was a reblued 1917. Next was a M27 converted to .44 Special. That was followed by a M25-5 and then a M24-3. Those wheelguns and a lightweight full sized 1911 that built were my primary service arms for 25 years.

The only time I carried a lowly .38 special was as a back-up ankle gun.

 

[nyeti]

I started as a deputy sheriff in Alabama, just across the river from Dabney, in 1976. My first duty revolver was a reblued 1917. Next was a M27 converted to .44 Special. That was followed by a M25-5 and then a M24-3. Those wheelguns and a lightweight full sized 1911 that built were my primary service arms for 25 years.

The only time I carried a lowly .38 special was as a back-up ankle gun.

Now we're talking! I would have loved to see that converted 27.