Police Department Guns ?

[Dan M]

Are guns Police Department marked and/or shipped from Smith & Wesson to a Police Department worth any more than a Gun that shipped to regular Distributors?

Is there a premium just because?

thanks

Dan M

 

[panamajack310]

To answer your question ,,,YES... the model 520 was produced for NY state police but S&W never shipped them to the department...There are a fe of them hiding around.....any other s&w revolver or auto just like any other used gun.....I just bought a used department 686 no dash for $350.00...

 

[opoefc]

Definately. The premium can be substantial, depending on the model S&W shipped. The New Model # 3s shipped to the Nashville Police can run double or more than a similar gun without a pedigree of police use. Victory Models stamped with Police names can be 50% higher than a plain Victory, etc. However, be aware of fakes. The gun must letter or have other definate proof of Police lineage to support a higher value. Dan, How much more would you pay for a Registered Magnum that letters to the Tucson Police Dept., than the same gun that letters to some sporting goods dealer? Ed.

 

[m-1911]

There was a recent posting about a Model 520 that just sold at the Kull & Supica auction for $2K

 

[Dan M]

Thanks P-jack and Ed & Gary,

I won on an auction today a 38 M&P model of 1902, serial #33657 it is St Louis Police Department marked Gun and the officers name who caried it is supplied. Not sure of Condition as they only had one very bad picture. I am sure I overpaid for it but It seemed like a keeper and would go nice in my small but growing Smith Collection.

Thanks

Dan

 

[JayCeeNC]

Dan, some folks collect only PD guns. As I understand it, sometimes S&W marked the guns at the factory and they were shipped directly to a PD, sometimes the guns were ordered through a local distributor and marked by the department. Sometimes PD guns aren't marked at all.
Sounds like a nice gun, please supply us with pictures when it arrives!

 

[Dan M]

Thanks John,

here is the description that was on the Auction along with the only picture

Smith and Wesson Revolver marked St. Louis Police Department, Was owned by Sgt. AE Olsen, 1929-1954

 

[Deacon KC]

Looks good!

 

[Guest]

I would give this a YES especially with the one I recently picked up. It "Letters" as having gone to the SO that I was working for when it was shipped and it also has a small KKG stamped under the Stocks, that I put there 31 years ago! I was the Assistant Range Master and helped with the unpacking and test firing of this batch of Smith revolvers. The small KKG indicates it is one of the guns that went "Home" to my Shop for a 'little work' of some kind when it first arrived. It was part of a shipment of 125 Model 19s and is one of only 25 of the 2-1/2" guns in the shipment. The Department stamping is "SHERIFF 007" and is located on the left front of the frame below the cylinder.

It's a keep now that it has finally come home again.

MAK

 

[JayCeeNC]

Looks nice and authentic, Dan.
I have a Detroit PD marked Model 10 no-dash that I picked up from a fellow S&WCA member. Virtually unmarked, it's one of the few model-marked pistols I have. It just looked so good and had the Dept. marking so I picked it up.

 

[m-1911]

I have a couple SLPD guns and the letters show that they were sent to Shapleigh Hardware and another to Geller, something and something Hardware.
I picked up another SLPD gun at the Tulsa show and as I bought it the man next to me was a retired Sgt from the SLPD and I let him have the gun. He had access to the SLPD archives and gave me the info on who my guns were issued to. One is a Model 1905 and the other is a 38/44 HD. He is mailing me copies of the 3 x 5 cards that they kept the records on. Interesting note is that the officer that had the 1905 committed suicide on July 4, 1928. When I get the cards I will try and do more research

 

[badge107]

Sometimes you get a surprise. I purchased a commercial 1917 in the 179,000 range. It was not marked as being issued to a L.E. agency. I lettered the revolver and was quite surprised that it was shipped to L.A.P.D. on May 13, 1929. It was one of 25 shipped to LAPD on that date to a Captain Hodson. Revolver cost them $22.15 each. I value this revolver more than other commercial 1917's in same condition. You never know how a letter will turn out. Most of mine have been to hardware companies.

 

[Art Doc]

Everyone seems to be saying yes but generally that's not my experience.

Certainly to a collector of cop guns a specific example he needed would be worth a premium, and some rare department guns, like the SFPD Model 58s, will fetch some extra dough, but from what I see it tends to be a push as far as value is concerned when a gun is stamped. Some folks want them, others avoid them. Just about evens out in the end.

I have a number of ex-cop guns I got cheap because they were stamped and hard to sell. In 1989 I paid $215 for a like new 5" Model 27-2 with police stampings on it. These guns were selling for $300-$350 at that time but this one was marked down due to the police marking.

I guess my advice would be that if you want the gun enough to pay extra then do it. But don't pay more just because you think it's worth more with police markings.

 

[mkk41]

The factory did a nice job , and so did some police suppliers that also did gunsmithing. But , I've seen some that were rather shabbily done by hand with individual letter/number stamps and a hammer. The alignment and spacing were all over. I've even seen some done with an electric engraving pencil.

 

[DRB]

I certainly think they are worth a premium. Here are pics of 2 I have

 

[Guest]

I like them too........

 

[handejector]

Originally posted by Dan M:
Are guns Police Department marked and/or shipped from Smith & Wesson to a Police Department worth any more than a Gun that shipped to regular Distributors?

Is there a premium just because?

thanks

Dan M

Hi Dan,
The obviously correct, definative answer is YES!! and NO!!

As always, it will relate to supply and demand. Let's define "demand" as desirability, and how many people desire it! As Ed said, a NM#3 shipped to Nashville gives a collector bragging rights.
Generally, the desirability AND value goes up with the desirability and popularity of the particular model in question. Back in the 1800's, the Atlanta PD used some S&W- I forget which model because I am not a top-break guy. I have heard collectors talk about them all my life, but as far as I know, none have surfaced. I'm sure one would bring a premium around here. On the flip side, try to get a premium for one of the ugly, brown, 3-screw 4" pencil barreled Mod 10's that are "A.P.D." marked. They dumped hundreds when they went to autos, and nobody wanted one.
Then, witness how well the Austin 38 HD's do, but then, HD's are hot anyway, and the owner can always believe his shot the Tower sniper.
Pre-war guns shipped and/or marked for a PD usually command a premium, like badge107's 1917 shipped to LAPD.
State Patrol guns that are Pre-war, and later 5-screw guns, do rather well. Part of that is the popular models they often chose. Later stainless State Patrol guns do a little better than Metro PD guns, perhaps because they appeal to the whole state, perhaps because Troopers have more of an "image".
Then, there are the Western law guns- Texas Lawmen's guns will always bring a premium. Texans will always pay for anything Texan. Find a Ranger gun, and you can pull out the big pencil.
FBI guns do well. Find J. Edgar's Reg Mag, and you can start looking at Beach property in Hawaii.

So, to summarize, we get back to supply and demand. 600 brown, 1960's Model 10's from a large Metro PD won't make your fortune. You won't be able to trade all 600 for a 44 Mod 1926 a Texas Ranger carried!

 

[mikepriwer]

Generally, I agree with Lee. A run-of-the-mill LEO gun does not
have a lot of premium.

The ones I have found interesting are the pre-WW2 target K-frames.
Generally these were used by the shooting teams of the departments,
and often were marked by the factory. There is not that many of them,
so they are somewhat scarce. In good condition, they are worth a
premium - but they were used !

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[m-1911]

I just got a letter on a pre war 22 Outdoorsman that lettered to the Winchester, VA Police Dept. It is not marked at all

 

[Dan M]

Thanks Guys,

This is what makes this Site so great. It's a real learning experience.

Dan