ringo1597
SWCA Member
Earlier this week, a fellow forum member posted his 38/44 Heavy Duty find at last weekends show in San Angelo. I looked at that gun several times, but for what ever reason I did not purchase it, then Saturday morning I found this, or I should say it found me.
Austin Police Department #6, with a 6 1/2" barrel, in exceptional condition.
Today I reached out to a long retired APD Lieutenant, to ask him if he had any knowledge about these guns. Much to my surprise he was a wealth of information.
Turns out he was the supervisor in charge of Personnel and Training, which also included the pistol range as well as the firearm inventory.
He told me that he would meet regularly with a Smith and Wesson representative, who suggested that the revolvers be sent back to Smith for refinishing. The Lt. told me that all 249 APD guns had 4" barrels, and that 4 were returned from the factory with the longer barrels. I had always been under the impression that just 2 guns had the longer barrels. The Lt. went on to tell me that Smith did not charge APD a fee for refinishing this guns, and the guns with the long barrels were never reissued upon being returned from Smith.
Larry Richardson
SWCA #2494
Austin Police Department #6, with a 6 1/2" barrel, in exceptional condition.
Today I reached out to a long retired APD Lieutenant, to ask him if he had any knowledge about these guns. Much to my surprise he was a wealth of information.
Turns out he was the supervisor in charge of Personnel and Training, which also included the pistol range as well as the firearm inventory.
He told me that he would meet regularly with a Smith and Wesson representative, who suggested that the revolvers be sent back to Smith for refinishing. The Lt. told me that all 249 APD guns had 4" barrels, and that 4 were returned from the factory with the longer barrels. I had always been under the impression that just 2 guns had the longer barrels. The Lt. went on to tell me that Smith did not charge APD a fee for refinishing this guns, and the guns with the long barrels were never reissued upon being returned from Smith.
Larry Richardson
SWCA #2494
