- Joined
- Mar 5, 2013
- Messages
- 4
- Reaction score
- 27
As a Firearms Consultant and Historian, I recently received a S&W Model 15-3 Combat Masterpiece from a client requesting I look into it's history. According to my client, the revolver belonged to his Uncle, LAPD Homicide Detective Steve Tyrpak. My client knew very little about his Uncle who passed away in 1989. He did have boxes of "stuff" in his attic that he thought was his Uncles brought back to WA state by his father upon the death of Det. Tyrpak. The Revolver itself is pristine so I did not believe it was his duty weapon. Also, the revolver is the standard 4" barrel with service grips issued to patrol officers and not likely carried by plain-clothes Detectives. Initial inspection revealed the action was DA only. During the 70's, sidearms utilized by the LAPD were required to shoot DA only due to accidental shooting issues, and were modified to DA only by LAPD armorers. SN revealed a Manufacture date of 1975. My client also had the original box, with an unopened, still sealed cleaning kit in it. I placed a call to the LAPD firearms department and spoke with an armorer who checked the serial number, although he did not think anything would show up due to age. He then informed me that I was in luck in that the disposition of any weapon not destroyed is maintained, and he informed me the revolver was removed from inventory in 1978. and had a officer serial number of 5161 assigned to it. With my clients permission, I began digging through boxes in his attic hoping to find something and after three days, I did. I found Det. Tyrpak's LAPD badge, his death certificate, a copy of his eulogy in 1989, written by his former Captain, and a resume Det. Tyrpak wrote April 25, 1980, Applying for an Investigator position at Hollywood Park Racetrack in L.A.. I also found Photo negatives of Det. Tyrpack posing for his Investigator III (highest level) photo for his credentials holding a placard with the numbers 5161! (to be continue)
