Philly PD guns

[digi-shots]

I posted these pics awhile back when I first got this .38 M&P. It belonged to a Police Sgt. from the Philadelphia 17th Police District.
He retired after 30 or 35 years of service and died back in the 1950's.

Although I've never had it lettered, it shipped from the factory back in May of 1923.

Does anyone else have any photos of Philly PD guns that they could post?
I'd like to compare the "stamping" on the side.

Thanks!

 

[digi-shots]

I posted these pics awhile back when I first got this .38 M&P. It belonged to a Police Sgt. from the Philadelphia 17th Police District.
He retired after 30 or 35 years of service and died back in the 1950's.

Although I've never had it lettered, it shipped from the factory back in May of 1923.

Does anyone else have any photos of Philly PD guns that they could post?
I'd like to compare the "stamping" on the side.

Thanks!

 

[moosedog]

Nice photos of a old veteran. I like that 50s phone.
Sorry but all I have are Detroit PD guns.

 

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

Linda;

I remember that we discussed your Philly PD revolver sometime over the last year. I have one but, it does not have the engraved name of the officer, like that on your M&P. Mine is a Regulation Police .38 S&W that was carried by a Philadelphia detective. It lettered as being shipped to a distributor in Philadelphia in 1919. This lent some support to the oral history provided by the seller concerning it's alledged pedigree, despite not being engraved or stamped with the detectives name. In all probability it was not a department issue, but rather a personal purchase, more compact and suitable for plainclothes work. I believe that the service revolvers were all marked with the officers name, but not secondary arms. As I mentioned to you in our earlier conversation, my contacts in Philadelphia informed me that all PD personnel records prior to the mid 1960's are all hard copy and stored. They suggested further, that the storage and management of those documents were in significant disarray making it nearly impossible to execute a hand search for specific records.

There are two notches carved into the palm of the extension grips.

Here is an extremely rare example of a S&W marked vulcanized pocket holster with the model REGULATION POLICE in red print.

Your photos are wonderful. Based upon the images and hands on observation of other Philadelphia PD M&P's I've had the chance to examine, there is little doubt in my opinion that yours is quite genuine. You might want to letter it to confirm the shipping destination.

BTW...your holster is also very period and in remarkable condition. Appears to be a combination model, very nice accessory!

 

[Frank from jersey]

Here's one I bought at a local shop across the river.

 

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

Frank;

It's an interesting piece. Looks like it's had a few careers under it's belt. Has it been lettered by Jinks? I'd be curious to learn where the shipping destination was. Looks to be a 1920's era judging from the grips, but I don't have my references at hand to check the serial. And by the way....did it come out of NY or PA....not sure which river you refer to?

 

[digi-shots]

Lefty,

WOW, what a great looking Vulcanized holster! I never saw one like that before. S&W logo and all !

Any thoughts as to what the notches mean?

I'm planning on sending Roy Jinks a close-up photo of mine and getting the gun lettered. I just printed out a hard copy photo to include with my request. I have an oral history on mine but would like to know it's shipping destination. It's S/N 449,470 and shipped in May of 1923.

I got the holster from ebay... it's really nice and clean.

Linda

 

[digi-shots]

Frank,

Nice looking PD gun. Looks like "Thomas C. Taylor" used the same engraver!

Thanks for posting the pic.

 

[Bell Charter Oak Holsters]

Originally posted by digi-shots:
Frank,

Nice looking PD gun. Looks like "Thomas C. Taylor" used the same engraver!

Thanks for posting the pic.

Linda;

My guess is that all Philadelphia PD service revolvers of that period were engraved/marked with the patrolman's name, perhaps upon graduation from the police academy or some time shortly afterward. Typically during that period, both large and some small departments had the backstraps stamped with the purchasing agency initials and shield numbers of the new patrolman. Philly's practice of engraving the name made more practical sense. Promotions usually meant change in rank and badge/shield number....the name would not change except for a female officer upon marriage....and that would have been nearly extraordinary given that very few if any female officers, were assigned to uniform patrol assignments in that day.

I'm supposing the two notches on my RP represented acknowledgement of some significant event.

Edited to correct spelling errors.