The Greatest Handgun I've Ever Owned

[Ol Sarge]

That's a great story and a gorgeous 27 Sarge. I'm kinda interested in that butt plate......any decorations on it? I know they were installed primarily as a persuader, just curious about your thoughts.

The butt plate is a piece of stainless with my name engraved on it. There's a spacer under its made of white rubber. A gunsmith friend of mine made that for me 35 years ago. As far as the "persuader" goes, someone else said something like that in an earlier post. In more than 44 years in law enforcement, in patrol, riding motor, k-9, anti-robbery stake out, I never hit anyone with a firearm. I know a story of an officer in Atlanta in the early '70's who did and it went off and killed the guy. Now, I sent more than one huligan to the ER with a 5-cell Bianchi flashlight which I also still have.

 

[BigBill]

Sarge nickel rocks.

Nothing wrong with swinging a flashlite. Got a backup?

 

[snowman.45]

Damn, Iggy. That M58 makes me drool a bit. I always wanted one to carry on-duty, but never could find one. Then, there would have been the issue of getting it approved.

 

[spdguns]

Been there, done that. I cut my teeth back in the day, shooting a Model 15 with 158gr wadcutters, loading out of loops. Our agency wouldn't let us carry speedloaders!!! We shot the 60 rd PPC course and the 50 Oklahoma qualification CLEET course. I was top shooter. 1987 was a long time ago. I'm still at it, so far. I guess that explains my love of the old Smiths.

 

[Ol Sarge]

This thread has kind of taken on a life of its own. It started with me reminiscing about my absolutely wonderful M-27. That included some little war stories. Then others chimed in with their own favorite gun or comments about mine or other war stories. All that has been great and I'm enjoying it all. Then just now I thought what about a thread called "War Stories". Maybe in the lounge. What do you guys think? Let me know. I'll start it. Just make sure the statute of limitations has run on your story. I don't want anyone posting from a cell block somewhere.

 

[Bpx4st]

What this thread has got me to thinking is, I may not go after an auto-loader next but add a brother or sister to my 66. There are some handsome guns been shone & I see several in pawn shops around here when I go out drooling...I mean, looking. Still would like a (forgive me) Beretta but that was so I could put Boom Boom (66) in a safe place...but these other Smiths have me reconsidering.
Thanks for the pix & the stories!

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[Engine49guy]

..... Now, I sent more than one huligan to the ER with a 5-cell Bianchi flashlight which I also still have.

IIRC Back in the day we called the four or Five D cell Mag lite a "Duffy light" ...

 

[gsn]

Man are we a bunch of old farts or what-did anyone else besides me get in trouble big time for forgetting to take the hot stuff out before indoor qualifications?

 

[dscampbell]

The butt plate is a piece of stainless with my name engraved on it. There's a spacer under its made of white rubber. A gunsmith friend of mine made that for me 35 years ago. As far as the "persuader" goes, someone else said something like that in an earlier post. In more than 44 years in law enforcement, in patrol, riding motor, k-9, anti-robbery stake out, I never hit anyone with a firearm. I know a story of an officer in Atlanta in the early '70's who did and it went off and killed the guy. Now, I sent more than one huligan to the ER with a 5-cell Bianchi flashlight which I also still have.

Me too and the sheriff got mad. He said next time use your flat sap or baton I got two days off to help me remember.


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[Ol Sarge]

In the academy our unarmed defense instructor was a heavy weight Karate and Kick Boxing world champion (I won't mention his name.) He was showing how to break a hold when someone is choking you from the front with both hands wrapped around your neck. The move was to thrust your hands upward through the assailant's arms wrap over his arms and put him in an arm-bar and take him to the ground. I'm thinking about this and saying I'll never remember all this on the street. So I said to him, "What if I just break your nose. Just take the palm of my hand and give you a rabbit punch and spread your nose from ear to ear." He said that's not what they want me to teach. I decided to try to learn their stuff and then do what I know works when it hits the fan.

 

[MrG5122]

Me likey.

 

[Ol Sarge]

Today I found the original box for my M-27-2. Inside was the screwdriver and bore brush still sealed in the original plastic bag. Also was the warranty card dated April 29, 1975. I knew I had it I just hadn't thought of it in years. Now it's in the safe with the gun.

 

[Ol Sarge]

Oh, and the original grips. They were removed before the gun was ever fired.

 

[TexasRaider]

When I was a wee lad, my Dad worked for the Amarillo Police Dept, carried a m58, and I still remember the smell of the original Hoppes when he would clean it, that and how big it was! Been trying to find an old APD m58 for years, but the old heads that retired with them, unsurprisingly, never give them up. When I went through my first Regional Academy back around 1990, we were at the range doing our firearms training when some grey beards were qualifying with revolvers, a few still had .41 Mags. They were doing the old 'rock at lock' and the 3 yd line, fired, then holstered. One of the older officers start laughing and, raising his hand, said "Can I put my target out?" Indeed, the blast set his B-27 on fire and it was smoldering, lol!

I remember reading that of all the large agencies in the US, only Amarillo, San Antonio and San Francisco carried the big .41 Magnum. I keep thinking, with today's bullet tech, what could Speer or Hornady do if they really put some work into that caliber!

Man, nothing made today hardly has the class of those old big Smith N frames...

 

[DWalt]

" In any case one of his fellow agents advised him to file off the front sight so it wouldn't hurt so bad when a bad guy shoved it where the sun seldom shines, offending Liddy with his prized S&W. "

Stories like that pre-date Liddy by many decades. I first heard that back in the mid 1950s, probably old at that time.

 

[BUFF]

Thread topic drift alert!

In "WILL" Liddy wrote that as a new FBI agent, he wanted a .357 Magnum S&W like the older gunfight veteran agents carried but couldn't find one, so he bought a Combat Masterpiece/Model 15 .38 Special instead. When showing his new revolver to said senior agents, that is when one of them told him to file off the front sight. The crack was their way of making fun of his "little" sidearm.

 

[Jaymo]

Beautiful 27.

As a lifelong Python and Colt fan, I can honestly say that my 586 and 52 killed my lust for a Python.
In fact, I own 15 Smiths and exactly one Colt and it's not a Python, though (IIRC) it is built on the same sized frame (Army Special .38, former Detroit PD gun)
I'm starting to think there must be a reason for that.

 

[beach elvis]

I'm so luvvin' this thread.
As I read, I can almost smell the coffee, bacon, and hash browns. (sigh)
It's a privilege, fellas.
How I love it so...

 

[Engine49guy]

Oh, and the original grips. They were removed before the gun was ever fired.

We now require a new pic with its original grips next to the factory box !

 

[grcoffman104]

When I was a wee lad, my Dad worked for the Amarillo Police Dept, carried a m58, and I still remember the smell of the original Hoppes when he would clean it, that and how big it was! Been trying to find an old APD m58 for years, but the old heads that retired with them, unsurprisingly, never give them up. When I went through my first Regional Academy back around 1990, we were at the range doing our firearms training when some grey beards were qualifying with revolvers, a few still had .41 Mags. They were doing the old 'rock at lock' and the 3 yd line, fired, then holstered. One of the older officers start laughing and, raising his hand, said "Can I put my target out?" Indeed, the blast set his B-27 on fire and it was smoldering, lol!

I remember reading that of all the large agencies in the US, only Amarillo, San Antonio and San Francisco carried the big .41 Magnum. I keep thinking, with today's bullet tech, what could Speer or Hornady do if they really put some work into that caliber!

Man, nothing made today hardly has the class of those old big Smith N frames...

And Nev state police. What was dad's Nam? Might have knew him?

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[jimmyj]

During my 45 years career I carried several different firearms (S&W, Colt) and they could shoot better than me. One of my favorite was a S&W Model 1950 Target that I had the barrel cut from 6.5" to 45/8".
One of the most accurate revolvers I owned. (this is another "Sin" that I will have to answer for on the judgement day)

 

[heysox]

You can always tell a sergeant, but you can't tell him much.

 

[Old Corp]

Starting in 1980, our department issued a melange of Colts to everyone. I ended up with a well-used Trooper MKIII, some newbies got just 'Troopers', especially females as the older Troopers had the smaller, frame-sized grips.
Detectives had Detective Specials or Cobras.
I was top shooter in the Academy, even though I was not keen on that Trooper MKIII.
About a year or so later, we went to all Smiths, 4" M66's for uniform, 2.5" for Detectives.
What a big difference - most scores went up. For me, it became an extension that made good hits really easy.
Against regs, I changed mine to a smooth combat trigger, polished bearing surfaces, and continued to shoot in area matches with it.
Eventually, I was involved in an on-duty use of deadly force where the M66 proved it's worth. I had to give it up for several months, and it came back with a case number electro-pencilled on the grip frame.
Still have it, and probably will hang onto it.

Good thread. Thanks guys.

 

[Ol Sarge]

We now require a new pic with its original grips next to the factory box !

Well let's see if I can do a better job of the photos. I got 'em loaded but can't rearrange them like I'd like. The first shows the gun with the original grips, the owner's manual and warranty card. If you can read the card, it's dated 26 April 1975. The next photo includes the box. Next is a close-up of the box with the hand written info. Next shows the butt plate which shows years of wear against a Dodge Diplomat seat. Lastly is a shot showing the holster wear on the frame next to the hammer and backing plate behind the cylinder. This is a well used and worn gun that shoots like new today.

 

[jimmyj]

The Greatest Handgun

Starting in 1980, our department issued a melange of Colts to everyone. I ended up with a well-used Trooper MKIII, some newbies got just 'Troopers', especially females as the older Troopers had the smaller, frame-sized grips.
Detectives had Detective Specials or Cobras.
I was top shooter in the Academy, even though I was not keen on that Trooper MKIII.
About a year or so later, we went to all Smiths, 4" M66's for uniform, 2.5" for Detectives.
What a big difference - most scores went up. For me, it became an extension that made good hits really easy.
Against regs, I changed mine to a smooth combat trigger, polished bearing surfaces, and continued to shoot in area matches with it.
Eventually, I was involved in an on-duty use of deadly force where the M66 proved it's worth. I had to give it up for several months, and it came back with a case number electro-pencilled on the grip frame.
Still have it, and probably will hang onto it.

Good thread. Thanks guys.

Evidence Techs ruin many nice weapons by scratching a ID# on the weapon's surface when the serial #, type and caliber weapon was only necessary. Thankfully I finally reached a level of command where I was able to end this procedure. My rule "You damage or deface it, you are done".

 

[LT SCOTT 14]

When hired by our rural Marshal's Office, we had to supply a revolver. 4in bbl, 38/ 357, Blue or Stainless. I bought a used 10-5, 4in tapered bbl., 38 Spec. Still have it since 1988.

They provided holster(Border Patrol style with a strap), cuff case, cartridge drop case(speedloaders just got authorized. You provided them and a 2 flap case), Sam Browne Belt, keepers, baton ring, cuffs, 2 spare keys. We were certified with a PR24. The carry ring had a raised front to keep baton in correct direction for drawing.

After you qualled on the Academy Firing Course, the dept would issue a M66, 4in , SS, and 1 box of Federal 125gr HPs.

Campaign Hats, Badges(1-shirt, 1-jacket), collar brass, 2 pants, 2-short sleeve shirts, 2 -winter shirts, Tie, Tie bar. 1-winter patrol jacket.
Spring/Fall jacket on your dime.(most bought windbreakers with snaps, and had patches sewn on. Cop jackets were like $40, windbreakers like $10.) Takes time to get extras.

Was a Deputy Marshal 2yrs before my first Kevlar Vest. Very risky, expensive. Second Chance was a good item.
Now they issue in Academy, good idea.(furnished by the PD)
Thank all for allowing me to time warp to the 80's!

 

[dscampbell]

Back in 1973 my department gave $600 your first year and you bought everything. They gave a badge and cap device 18 rounds of 158 LRN .38 special. I carried a 6" model 28 until the sheriff mandated 4" then switched to a model 13. My last year they started issuing model 59's but withdrew them due to problems and instead we got 4" model 66's and issued Sam Browne belts with Jordan holsters.


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[Geronimo Jim]

Ron Power full house PPC gun. Magic.

 

[Muley Gil]

During my 45 years career I carried several different firearms (S&W, Colt) and they could shoot better than me. One of my favorite was a S&W Model 1950 Target that I had the barrel cut from 6.5" to 45/8".
One of the most accurate revolvers I owned. (this is another "Sin" that I will have to answer for on the judgement day)

What caliber was your 1950?

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Many...........They ALL had S&W on the barrel.............