The handguns I've purchased from the NYPD Equipment Section

[RichCapeCod]

I've noted that a lot of the folks on this forum like to discuss the handguns associated with the NYPD. Here are the ones which I personally purchased from the NYPD's Equipment Section, which was located at 1 Police Plaza in Manhattan.

Colt Detective Special, purchased around 1972 or so. Came with a pencil barrel which I had replaced with the newer heavier barrel (no cost to me -- done at the Firearms and Tactics Outdoor Range by dept gunsmiths). Used it as my back-up handgun as well as my "off-duty" handgun.


My service handgun, a model 10 heavy barrel. Carried that handgun virtually every day as a police officer, detective, sgt and lt. As a detective I carried the handgun in a Seventrees holster/belt combo along with my Colt Detective Special, plus a 3X3 Seventrees pouch of extra ammo.


S&W 36 3" heavy barrel. Bought it for around $76 bucks. Put Fuzzy Farrant grips on her. For some reason I almost never carried this fine handgun. No reason.


Technically I purchased this gun from the Equipment Section. This little J-frame has my initials as the serial numbers. It's a long (very) story. If you have a copy of the Standard Catalog of S&W go to page 227 (bottom part) and read the letter from the S&W factory explaining how these handguns came about. I'm the lt. mentioned in the letter.




This gun came in a mahogany case. I've never so much as cracked open the cylinder.


I "think" I purchased this 4" heavy barrel Colt Police Positive from the Equipment Section. Had it tefloned coated and put Fuzzy Farrant grips on it. Hardly ever carried the little handgun.


Close up of my model 36 2" square-butt handgun I won while at the Police Academy. Never carried the little gun.

 

[Absalom]

Thanks, great display!

A question about the adapters in pictures 1 and 2. Are those Mershons or Pachmayrs? And did you guys get those through the department, too? They seem to be very common. I have somewhat of an interest in adapters. A 1968 Model 10-6 that I just got lettered to the Equipment Bureau came with a nicely fitted Mershon, which is a bit interesting since Mershon had been out of business (bought up by Pachmayr) for about 10 years by the time the gun was born. But since I see them on a lot of older NYPD guns, I've been wondering whether they maybe came from a common source.

 

[murphydog]

Thanks for the post, photos, and your service! There are many references to police officers not being "gun people" but you are obviously one .

 

[kbm6893]

Did you get the model 10 refinished? It looks very good for being a long time duty gun.

 

[JayCeeNC]

Very nice.
As a leather guy, I'm also interested in seeing the Seventrees rig you used.

 

[jinx]

S&W model 36 with 3 inch barrel and Fuzzy Farrant grips.
I will take it.
Would also like to see the leather.

 

[mj2008]

S&W snub with your initials

Hey bud, the one with your initials, it looks like a double action only. What model is that? Before I got on the job I remember they had a problem with some frames cracking on a light weight Smith off duty. When I bought my off duty they had a choice of S&W or Ruger. I picked a Smith 640. Great little revolver. I'm impressed with your collection. Very nice.

 

[RichCapeCod]

Thanks, great display!

A question about the adapters in pictures 1 and 2. Are those Mershons or Pachmayrs? And did you guys get those through the department, too? They seem to be very common.......

Pachs, bought privately. They were a common add-on for dept revolvers. In point of fact, all the really competent shots just used these adapters on their handguns and were able to put slug after slug in the same hole!!

Rich

 

[RichCapeCod]

Did you get the model 10 refinished? It looks very good for being a long time duty gun.

Sure did! I wore that handgun out. Honest. While a sgt. and the Firearms and Tactics Unit I was on the line firing the handgun. The lead spitting was so bad by then I couldn't stand it. Took it in to the dept gunsmith. They couldn't repair the handgun! I was told I wore the hole in the recoil plate where the center cylinder pin (I'm sure there's a tech term for this part...) wore to an egg shape.

S&W rep was on the range that day. Took my gun and I got it back three weeks later. New barrel (my old one was bulged a bit...), new cylinder (my old one had some bulged chambers...) and a press fit hole for my center pin, plus a new blue job!

Rich

 

[RichCapeCod]

Very nice.
As a leather guy, I'm also interested in seeing the Seventrees rig you used.

I don't have photos of that gear. The model ten was in a Speed Scabbard (I think that was the name), the Detective Special in a VAM cross-draw holster. My belt was a horsehide, double layer, nylon stiched 1 1/4" wide one. Held all that **** and more quite comfortably.

Rich

 

[RichCapeCod]

S&W model 36 with 3 inch barrel and Fuzzy Farrant grips.
I will take it.
Would also like to see the leather.

The only photos of leather gear I have are some of the newer model items I took for a gun book I wrote:

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Handgun-Training-Important-Handling/dp/0988882817/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1439347187&sr=1-1&keywords=practical+handgun+training"]Practical Handgun Training: A Practical Guide in the Important Aspects of Handgun Use and Handling: Richard P. Rosenthal: 9780988882812: Amazon.com: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51f43hxhepL.@@AMEPARAM@@51f43hxhepL[/ame]

I'll try and get around to taking photos of the old stuff someday. Promise to post it when I do.

Rich

 

[RichCapeCod]

Hey bud, the one with your initials, it looks like a double action only. What model is that? Before I got on the job I remember they had a problem with some frames cracking on a light weight Smith off duty. When I bought my off duty they had a choice of S&W or Ruger. I picked a Smith 640. Great little revolver. I'm impressed with your collection. Very nice.

It is DA only. It's a very long story, but I was the guy that finally got the NYPD to go stainless with their revolvers. Just in time to transition to semi-autos. Timing is everything. Oh, and I had S&W stop turning out J-frames with those 1/10" front sights and had them put full size sight on the little handguns.

Rich

 

[g8rb8]

Technically I purchased this gun from the Equipment Section. This little J-frame has my initials as the serial numbers. It's a long (very) story. If you have a copy of the Standard Catalog of S&W go to page 227 (bottom part) and read the letter from the S&W factory explaining how these handguns came about. I'm the lt. mentioned in the letter.

Now, that is about as good as it gets. Having a gun serial numbered (on purpose) to your initials is arguably more impressive than a one-of-a-kind, Gun Club, serial #1, or celebrity owned gun. I've read that paragraph on p. 227 a couple of times before and went back one more time tonight. My best to you and your service. THANKS!

 

[ladder13]

Rich, you have a great collection.

A few years back I saw a Colt DS inscribed just like yours, with a different name of course , at a gun shop in Rockland County.
I had no idea what the Masback trophy was or what it signified. the Colt was well worn and somewhat overpriced, imo.
The gun, actually there were 2 well worn DS's in the case, sat there for many months. I looked at the DS at least twice.
I finally got around to researching the inscription, and decided if it were still there it would be mine.
Of course, it was gone.

 

[Radco]

Rich thank you for sharing your Photos! That is a very nice collection!
And Thank You for your service!

 

[Mark6005]

Interesting when others share their service and affection for their firearms. Thanks for sharing Rich

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Very nice!!

I have to ask - does the NYPD ever sell guns to non-police officers?

 

[kbm6893]

It is DA only. It's a very long story, but I was the guy that finally got the NYPD to go stainless with their revolvers. Just in time to transition to semi-autos. Timing is everything. Oh, and I had S&W stop turning out J-frames with those 1/10" front sights and had them put full size sight on the little handguns.

Rich

Wow! What a career and what a story! I remember when Officer Marvin Yearwood shot that kid on the train platform with his Model 10 that he had cocked, supposedly because the kid was mouthing off and Yearwood did the "cock the hammer so you know I mean business" Hollywood move. BOOM! DAO revolvers came soon after that. I wasn't on the job yet, but remember it vividly.

 

[kbm6893]

If anybody with the Smith book can scan that page I'd love to read the story.

 

[wheelgun28]

Rich, you have a great collection.

A few years back I saw a Colt DS inscribed just like yours, with a different name of course , at a gun shop in Rockland County.
I had no idea what the Masback trophy was or what it signified. the Colt was well worn and somewhat overpriced, imo.
The gun, actually there were 2 well worn DS's in the case, sat there for many months. I looked at the DS at least twice.
I finally got around to researching the inscription, and decided if it were still there it would be mine.
Of course, it was gone.

I found my notes on that one...

It was a Harry Hersfeld Trophy, awarded in September 1960

In hindsight I should have bought it, but it was well carried as I recall.

I have seen pictures of the Bloomingdale Trophy also.