ColumbusJBR
Member
Very cool! Don't see these often. Thanks for sharing and congrats on the new pickup!
New to me 68-2 with LAPD Roll mark
- Thread starter damngato
- Start date
S&WshooterFIN
Member
SCS&W 4th e tell:
Model 68-2 .38 Special California Highway Patrol
Prototype model 66-2 with 68-2 overstamp serial number AES0001 with Los Angeles Police Department on the right side of the barrel with Maple wood stock in 6" barrel configuration in .38 Spl
Model 68-2 .38 Special California Highway Patrol
Prototype model 66-2 with 68-2 overstamp serial number AES0001 with Los Angeles Police Department on the right side of the barrel with Maple wood stock in 6" barrel configuration in .38 Spl
MyDogReese
Member
So Essentially, this is a M27 (Highway Patrolman) in SS and rechambered in .38 Special?
Looks beautiful and if it shoots anything like my 27, it’s a winner!
Looks beautiful and if it shoots anything like my 27, it’s a winner!
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- Dec 31, 2008
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No, it's a K frame, so it's a M66 frame (overstamped) with the shorter 38 Special cylinder....
Engine49guy
Member
Watched Adam 12 as a kid,
Seem to recall they had 6" Model 14"s and changed to 4" Model 15's later or do I have that backwards? Kinda fuzzy, maybe Reed had a 4" and Maloy had a 6" at one point,
Im guessing both length. 38's were in service at some point, think I've also seen pics of LAPD cops holding 6" full lug blue 14-6's too.
This has me wondering if they wanted a 6" stainless 38 that the factory didn't just make a run of 6" narrow rib Model 67 barrels and install them on standard 67 frames.
Something tells me it was easier to make a batch of 6" Model 66 barrels with the longer forcing cone and dept rollstamp or they specified that they wanted an ejector rod shroud.
Seem to recall they had 6" Model 14"s and changed to 4" Model 15's later or do I have that backwards? Kinda fuzzy, maybe Reed had a 4" and Maloy had a 6" at one point,
Im guessing both length. 38's were in service at some point, think I've also seen pics of LAPD cops holding 6" full lug blue 14-6's too.
This has me wondering if they wanted a 6" stainless 38 that the factory didn't just make a run of 6" narrow rib Model 67 barrels and install them on standard 67 frames.
Something tells me it was easier to make a batch of 6" Model 66 barrels with the longer forcing cone and dept rollstamp or they specified that they wanted an ejector rod shroud.
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SGT ROCK 11B
Member
... an aversion by the top brass to anything labeled "Magnum". We were issued .38 revolvers, could qualify with and carry personally owned .357s, but were only allowed department issued .38 Special ammunition. We lobbied for .41 Magnums, knowing management would never approve such a big, scary, MAGNUM thing, but would perhaps compromise and allow us .357s. It worked
Police Management especially in the old days came down to what the Chief wanted.
We lobbied for .45 Colt and .45 ACP revolvers which is great improvement over the .38 Special.
You have it correct, LAPD was using 6 inch Model 14's when Adam-12 went into production. During the run of Adam-12, LAPD transitioned to 4 inch Model 15's, but I think I read that they also cut the barrels of some Model 14's to four inches too. I suspect your reasoning for making Model 66's with a longer barrel shank is most likely correct, easier and cheaper to make Model 66 barrels with a longer shank and fit a Model 67 cylinder than to make a run of 6 inch Model 67 barrels.
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Current Values ? ? ?
I have CHP and LAPD marked.
CHP has been polished (Mothers Mag??
LAPD has an officers Name and Badge Number engraved into the side plate.
Does not appear to have every been carried.
Still has Single Action
Bekeart
I have CHP and LAPD marked.
CHP has been polished (Mothers Mag??
LAPD has an officers Name and Badge Number engraved into the side plate.
Does not appear to have every been carried.
Still has Single Action
Bekeart
Art66
Member
Article explaining the history of the M 68
An online search located an article that nicely explains the history of the Model 68. Here's my recollection:
The CHP changed their issue ammo to 110 grain .38 Special +P+ to get higher performance. They followed up with a revolver that could withstand the higher demands of that ammo. That was the S&W Model 68-2. The barrel was 6" to get higher velocity to better penetrate into a vehicle. The frame was the same as the Model 66, since it was capable of withstanding magnum loads.
The Smith & Wesson Model 68 | RevolverGuy.com
An online search located an article that nicely explains the history of the Model 68. Here's my recollection:
The CHP changed their issue ammo to 110 grain .38 Special +P+ to get higher performance. They followed up with a revolver that could withstand the higher demands of that ammo. That was the S&W Model 68-2. The barrel was 6" to get higher velocity to better penetrate into a vehicle. The frame was the same as the Model 66, since it was capable of withstanding magnum loads.
The Smith & Wesson Model 68 | RevolverGuy.com
Art66
Member
Politics
The article mentioned there was public opposition to .357 Magnum ammunition (which had been used by some law enforcement personnel). That probably influenced the CHP to stay with .38 Special ammunition.
The article mentioned there was public opposition to .357 Magnum ammunition (which had been used by some law enforcement personnel). That probably influenced the CHP to stay with .38 Special ammunition.
