Sgt. Joe Friday Dragnet Revolver

Richochet said:
I am a boomer, as are many of my fellow SWCA Members. Here is a vintage photo of Jack Webb and LAPD Police Chief Parker. Chief Parker is handing a LAPD Badge and a snub nose Smith Revolver
and Detective's holster to the star of Dragnet.
Click to expand...

I don't remember ever seeing Jack Webb smile like that as
Friday on Dragnet. He was most often very serious.
 
My favorite Friday line: Friday and his partner standing on a front porch
conversing with the lady of the house. A formation of fighter planes flew
over. The lady said "have you ever in your life heard such a racket?"
Friday responded: "Yes Mam, at Pearl Harbor."

A while back locals were complaining about the noise the F-15s were
making out at Gowen Field. I sent that quote by Friday in to the local
newspaper, letters to the editor. I think of it as the sound of freedom.
 
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Now that we have settled the revolver issue...:)

His quote from Dragnet was actually "we're just looking for the facts". This may have been preceded by "ma'am" if the line was spoken to a woman.
 
Drm50 said:
In late 1990s at auction in Carrollton, Ohio I saw to Jack Webb guns sold.
Both were in wooden presentation cases with documents proving they were JWs. One was a m36 with Gold inlayed badge 714 in side plate. The other was a Browning Hi power that had badge in box with it. Had some engraving but don't remember what. I do remember they didn't go for very much and often thought it was mistake not buying them.
Click to expand...

I remember an episode where Joe Friday stated that his personal choice for a handgun was the Browning HiPower. If I remember correctly, he was undercover talking to a member of an extremist group when he said that.

Found the episode " Intelligence" from 1969 says he prefers the Browning 9mm.
 
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midkansmithfan said:
USAFSS Good for you.
Click to expand...

Thank you. A couple of years ago I read an article that said
candidates for the USAFSS were chosen from the top one half
of one percent of recruits. I was so proud I told my dear wife.
She said that doesn't say much for the other 99 & 1/2% does it?
She really knew how to keep me humble.
 
federali said:
Sure glad they don't make holsters with exposed triggers anymore. They're really good for shooting yourself in the butt.
Click to expand...

Oh boy.

That wasn't a problem prior to the introduction of the "plastic fantastics".

I will confidently, and safely, carry any revolver, DA or SA, in a holster with an exposed trigger.
 
crazyphil said:
I don't remember ever seeing Jack Webb smile like that as
Friday on Dragnet. He was most often very serious.
Click to expand...

Jack Webb was an interesting man. Loved Jazz music ( he owned 6,000 recordings) and was married to his first wife, singer and actress Julie London. He produced One Adam 12 and Emergency!
 
federali said:
Sure glad they don't make holsters with exposed triggers anymore. They're really good for shooting yourself in the butt.
Click to expand...

Very often, when pictures show holsters that do not cover the
trigger, the fear of shooting yourself is brought up. If that is a
concern that you have, I suggest the following:

Go up to the top bar and click on the Search function.
Type in: Holsters that do not cover the trigger.

You will find an excellent thread dealing with the subject,
and perhaps allay your concerns about the open trigger.
 
crazyphil said:
My favorite Friday line: Friday and his partner standing on a front porch
conversing with the lady of the house. A formation of fighter planes flew
over. The lady said "have you ever in your life heard such a racket?"
Friday responded: "Yes Mam, an Pearl Harbor."

A while back locals were complaining about the noise the F-15s were
making out at Gowen Field. I sent that quote by Friday in to the local
newspaper, letters to the editor. I think of it as the sound of freedom.
Click to expand...

Reminds me of a "quote" that my daughter (ER Room senior Registered Nurse at a trauma Level 1 Hospital) told me some years ago. She has brand new, just graduated nurses under her supervision and a 93 year old man was brought in with heart troubles, when they got him stabilized, a new nurse asked him if he still smoked, and he said yes, she asked how long. He replied: "missy...I smoked my first cigarette on Omaha Beach, June 6, 1944."

She replied: "OH...THAT SOUNDS NICE. IS THAT A GOOD BEACH FOR A FAMILY VACATION?"

I can't print my daughters reply to the new nurse on this Forum.
 
One of his guns is in Ohio and on display not long ago. A big SWCA collector that comes to the NE Ohio Bunch has it, it was on display at one meeting. If I remember it is a model 36 engraved. DRM50 May have been at the auction he bought at. Tom said when the gun came out for auction, he held his hand up till he won the gun. Larry.
 
cmansguns said:
Reminds me of a "quote" that my daughter (ER Room senior Registered Nurse at a trauma Level 1 Hospital) told me some years ago. She has brand new, just graduated nurses under her supervision and a 93 year old man was brought in with heart troubles, when they got him stabilized, a new nurse asked him if he still smoked, and he said yes, she asked how long. He replied: "missy...I smoked my first cigarette on Omaha Beach, June 6, 1944."

She replied: "OH...THAT SOUNDS NICE. IS THAT A GOOD BEACH FOR A FAMILY VACATION?"

I can't print my daughters reply to the new nurse on this Forum.
Click to expand...

Helps me remember many years ago there was a news special
on site with veterans of the D-Day Invasion. A reporter asked
an old paratrooper an idiotic question. The old paratrooper
just looked at him and said: "Kiss my XXXX!" They didn't cut
it. I thought it a very appropriate answer.
 
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s&wchad said:
Retro cool!
Looks like a 2" round butt .38 Special M&P revolver in a Lewis Police Special holster. Still well armed with that today!

"Just the facts...."
Click to expand...

I think you are correct. Chief Parker is handing Jack Webb a S & W Model 10 M&P with 2 inch barrel in a Lewis Leather Police Special holster. I have owned a square butt example 1956 Model .38 sans holster several months ago. A classic!
 
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The photo has proven difficult to source. In an old blog I found it with this quote from an apparent news media source. Unfortunately, the source of the quote is not named. It is date-lined Feb. 22, 1966. Attached another photo from the same occasion. Parker died, still on the job, later that year.

"LOS ANGELES: Jack Webb (R) now producing, directing, and starring in Universal TV's 'Dragnet 1966' receives his old police revolver and badge 714 from Los Angeles Police Chief William H. Parker. In 1958 when Webb stopped production of his 'Dragnet' series, he turned his revolver and badge over to Parker. In the new show, to be released over NBC-TV this fall, Webb will portray Joe Friday, the same character he made famous in his old show."

This would imply Webb did carry this gun as Joe Friday by 1958. I'm not that fluent in the episodes. Anyone watch some from that year lately where you could tell?
 

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