Pre 27 Tucson PD

[azmick]

Recieved the letter from Roy Jinks today on my 5" 357 Magnum revolver S80880. The request was mailed out a little over a month ago. It was shipped Nov. 29, 1950 to the City of Tucson, Tucson Police Department, Tucson Az. A couple things strike me on it. The gun has not left the state and the ship date is about a full year earlier than I thought it would be. Now i need to find a set of proper grips. this is it with one of my HPs

 

[azmick]

Recieved the letter from Roy Jinks today on my 5" 357 Magnum revolver S80880. The request was mailed out a little over a month ago. It was shipped Nov. 29, 1950 to the City of Tucson, Tucson Police Department, Tucson Az. A couple things strike me on it. The gun has not left the state and the ship date is about a full year earlier than I thought it would be. Now i need to find a set of proper grips. this is it with one of my HPs

 

[Blackcloud2]

Mick, was there any markings on it to indicate it was a Department weapon? What's the story on it, where did you find it?

 

[sabre]

Originally posted by Blackcloud2:
Mick, was there any markings on it to indicate it was a Department weapon? What's the story on it, where did you find it?

I'd like to hear the details myself

Bill

 

[azmick]

There are no marks on it to indicate dept. issue.
i had made a couple trades and ended up with 6" 27-2 that was too nice {95% or better}to take javelina hunting so i went to the gun show last Dec. and traded/sold/worked into this gun. Javelina hunt was a bust by the way but we had a good time up about 20 miles south of Wikieup and just past the Nothing store.
i went to the gun show looking for a 1955 vintage Highway Patrolman to go along with my 28 no dash, 28-2 and 28-3 and saw this guy with this thing. never had a 5" barreled revolver but figured the pig would never know and my feet were tired and the price was right and the deal was made. he had no idea it was a dept gun or made no mention of it anyway. i had never lettered a gun before and last month decided to letter this one. something about a box of choclates comes to mind about now. i'm still suprised it is a dept. gun as the wear on it does not indicate a lot of holster wear for a 57 year old PD gun. it does not look to me to be refinished,and there are no factory refinish marks, but
just got the letter today so Monday will begin the search for more info from Tucson! i'll keep you posted if and when i find out something

 

[Blackcloud2]

Cool beans! Well, at least you (we're) close to Tucson for your research, good luck!

 

[Art Doc]

I like department issued 5" .357 N frames.

That's when cop guns had panache.

 

[pace40]

Originally posted by SaxonPig:
panache.

azmick... what a great find. Its always the ones you're not looking for. There's a couple hundred of us, at least, who can't wait to hear what comes back from Tucson PD.

SP...I haven't actually seen anyone use this word in a sentence in probably 40 years. Cool thread on multiple fronts

 

[j38]

azmick, Congratulations on finding a very interesting S&W. I will look forward to any more information you find about this gun or the period when it was used by the TPD. Great stuff! Thanks, Jerry

 

[npd136]

I carried a 625 when I first started with the Sheriff's Dept and my buddy carried a 6 in 57. When everyone was going plastic, he would not give up his 57. He carried it right up to when he quit.

 

[Art Doc]

I use panache all the time. One of my two favorite words.

The other is eschew.

"I have so much panache that I eschew the opportunity to stoop so low."

And I still like that 5" N frame.

 

[Vanilla Gorilla]

Just something about a 5 inch Model 27 that makes it handle so well. Florida Highway Patrol liked them too. Issued them for quite some time.

I'm getting closer to maybe tracking down one of the nickeled 5 inch Model 28s. I have them name of a trooper now who received one and was reputed to have purchased his.

 

[No30]

I use panache all the time. One of my two favorite words.

The other is eschew.

"Eschew Obfuscation"

I saw that on a bumper sticker a few years ago. I laughed so hard I spilled my coffee on the newspaper and dropped my cell phone. It's a miracle I didn't wreck.

Todd

 

[Blackcloud2]

I appreciate the words too, but avoid them personally...they sound like nuts! Seriously, especially in print:

eschew = cashew
pancahe = pistachio

I know, the world has gone nuts!

 

[opoefc]

Azmick, Several years ago, I picked up a Registered Magnum .357 that lettered to the Tucson Police Dep't. and research indicated that several Reg. mags had been shipped to the TPD,so keep your eyes peeled around the Tucson garage sales & swap meets - you might strike gold again. An old Tucson LEO told me that the City Council sprung for the extra buck cost of the Reg. Mags, at the time ( middle of the depression mid 30s) due to the favorable limelight brought on to the city and their Police Dep't by the capture of the Dillinger gang by the local cops a year earlier. Ed.