Harrison
US Veteran
A sheriff's deputy that carries a S&W 15-22 in his patrol car.
What Unlikely Gun Have You Personally Seen Used By A LEO?
- Thread starter Wyatt Burp
- Start date
Cdog
Member
We had a recently passed friend and Sheriff here where I live that may have had most anything from a Colt Thunderer to a Iver Johnson Owl Head.
Any time I see a revolver with a blued frame, nickel cylinder and a cut barrel, I think "I bet Ronnie owned that."
He wasn't much on "awfulmatics" as he often called them, but he loved the classic old wheel guns.
Any time I see a revolver with a blued frame, nickel cylinder and a cut barrel, I think "I bet Ronnie owned that."
He wasn't much on "awfulmatics" as he often called them, but he loved the classic old wheel guns.
When I first went to work for Burns Security way back in the day I was issued a Colt Official Police 38. Not too unusual you think, except that it had genuine mother of pearl grips.
I never did shoot that gun. My training consisted of "Don't shoot yourself, or anyone else if you don't have to." I've often wondered what happened to it. I kept it, even after I had stopped working for Burns until one day they called me and told me they were being audited and needed the gun back.
Years later, working for Pinkerton's, I was issued a Model 10, with more conventional "Goodyear" grips. One night I was working an all night grocery store assignment. There was a plain clothes Henrico Co. cop working with me. He roamed the store, I stayed at the guard station/door.
During the night, a classic "little old lady" came up to me and pointed and whisperd "That man has a gun" (CC was almost unheard of then). I looked and could clearly see the outline of a Browning High Power under my partners shirt. (Unusual because I had never seen a cop carry anything but a revolver at that time).
I winked at the woman, and whispered...."That man is a policeman." She noded gravely, as if we shared some deep, dark secret..."OHHHhhhhhh!" she mouthed...and went on with her shopping.
I never did shoot that gun. My training consisted of "Don't shoot yourself, or anyone else if you don't have to." I've often wondered what happened to it. I kept it, even after I had stopped working for Burns until one day they called me and told me they were being audited and needed the gun back.
Years later, working for Pinkerton's, I was issued a Model 10, with more conventional "Goodyear" grips. One night I was working an all night grocery store assignment. There was a plain clothes Henrico Co. cop working with me. He roamed the store, I stayed at the guard station/door.
During the night, a classic "little old lady" came up to me and pointed and whisperd "That man has a gun" (CC was almost unheard of then). I looked and could clearly see the outline of a Browning High Power under my partners shirt. (Unusual because I had never seen a cop carry anything but a revolver at that time).
I winked at the woman, and whispered...."That man is a policeman." She noded gravely, as if we shared some deep, dark secret..."OHHHhhhhhh!" she mouthed...and went on with her shopping.
Stevie
Member
Korth revolver..carried by a small-town police officer..who constantly bragged on it...but couldn't afford a decent personal car!!
Oldiron
US Veteran
Back in the early '70s we recieved a call one afternoon to pick up an American in Mexican waters (which was legal). When we got there the guy wasn't in Mexican waters, he was on the beach. Although a no-no the pilot decided to pick the guy up anyway and we landed. Just as we finished loading the guy up, the local Federale rolled up. He was wearing a 45 on each hip, two bandoleros and had a Thompson under his arm. Needless to say I jumped back in the chopper, told the pilot let's go and we made a fast gitaway.
Larry
Larry
my brothers now deceased father in law was sheriff here in Montana for many years and usually carried a Colt SAA 44-40 and a Winchester M94 in 30-30, and Winchester 1897 12 gauge ....did all that he needed.
Randy
Randy
Old Corp
Member
Not an LEO, but once in '70's at an indoor mall in eastern NC I noticed a 'mall cop' (security guard) walking his rounds. Never having seen armed security there, I just HAD to check out his belt and gear. I shadowed him for a bit and got a very good look at a Colt Python - REPLICA gun.
Yep, still 'unarmed' security, but had never seen that anywhere before.
Still hard to believe........
Yep, still 'unarmed' security, but had never seen that anywhere before.
Still hard to believe........
Straightshooter2
US Veteran
Back before everything became so PC, a friend of mine with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office carried his own Winchester 30-30 in his trunk. From what he told me, several other JSO officers copied him but a new Sheriff put an end to that.
CW
Danny Abernathy
Member
Back in the early 80's I was in a LGS talking to a friend and another fellow walked up who was a friend of my friend. He introduced us and the guy was a US Marshall. He had two 2 1/2inch mdl 19's in a double shoulder holster and on each hip he had a Colt Commander-four guns that I could see! He said he was in Fugitive Apprehension, I wouldn't have wanted him after me. Later my friend told me that he was a professional wrester in his spare time, one of a masked tag team.
CW Spook
US Veteran
Back in the late 70s, I sold a little Titan .25acp to a deputy sheriff who carried it as a BUG.
Old TexMex
Member
Good help is hard to find!
I recall a Houston area Sheriff who carried a sawed off 12 ga about 18" long max, nickel plated hammer gun and the hammers were gold plated. Got my "undivided" right away.
About all the Constables I knew in Texas were very partial to N frames, nickel w/ stags.
Mexico used to be nickel plated .38 Super 1911s with eagles on the stocks, or virgin of guadalupe in silver and gold.... No holster for Federales, just dress sansabelt slacks, a Guayabera shirt and CPO shades.
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Ingrams
About twenty (20) years ago I was performing a site inspection/audit of a facility and found four (4) fully automatic Ingram Mac-10 submachineguns in the armory. These were the 9mm version, and all had suppressors and folding "stocks." IIRC, the magazines were thirty-two (32) round capacity.
I knew for a fact these guns were not "authorized" so I took custody of them and personally conveyed them to HQ for disposal. I can tell you it was an strange feeling driving about 400 miles on the interstate in a POV with such a weapons load. Likely could have made a few $$$$$ were I inclined to dispose of them along my journey that was through some fairly...how shall I say... "interesting" cities.
In speaking with some folks far more knowledgeable than I, was told the best use of Ingrams was to strap the trigger back and toss them into the area you wished to clear. About as accurate that way as in hand held...so I was advised.
Be safe.
About twenty (20) years ago I was performing a site inspection/audit of a facility and found four (4) fully automatic Ingram Mac-10 submachineguns in the armory. These were the 9mm version, and all had suppressors and folding "stocks." IIRC, the magazines were thirty-two (32) round capacity.
I knew for a fact these guns were not "authorized" so I took custody of them and personally conveyed them to HQ for disposal. I can tell you it was an strange feeling driving about 400 miles on the interstate in a POV with such a weapons load. Likely could have made a few $$$$$ were I inclined to dispose of them along my journey that was through some fairly...how shall I say... "interesting" cities.
In speaking with some folks far more knowledgeable than I, was told the best use of Ingrams was to strap the trigger back and toss them into the area you wished to clear. About as accurate that way as in hand held...so I was advised.
Be safe.
jlrhiner
US Veteran
By the time you got trigger strapped back, you wouldn't have had time to throw it. A 32 round mag would empty in about <2 seconds.
Great for sentries and getting a roomful of folks to ducking and weaving.
Great for sentries and getting a roomful of folks to ducking and weaving.
I began LE in 1962. A County Deputy carried a S&W Combat Masterpiece .22 for a service revolver as he wasn't proficient with any thing larger. In that era Officers in that part of the world furnished their service weapon. Most used Smith and Wesson or Colt .38spl. One carried a Colt M1911A1 .45acp nickeled plate with stag grips, another a Colt SSA .45 Colt 5 1/2" blued with pearl grips, another carried a cut down Colt Model 1917 .45acp. One Officer had a S&W Model 29 .44 magnum 4" service revolver, Colt Cobra .38spl as a BUG, Winchester Model 12 12gauge , Winchester M2 .30cal carbine, M3 .45acp "Grease Gun", and a German MP-38 9mm SMG in his partol vehicle.
Dave from Pa
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
In the mid 70`s l worked patrol in a small borough.Street dept. foreman who was friends with the mayor got his nephew hired as a part timer.His first day he showed up in blue jeans and his police shirt with a Ruger Blackhawk in some type of cowboy rig.He rode with me a few times during his short career,left alot to be desired.
Alpo
Member
Reminded me. Late 70s I was a security guard. We were UNARMED security, but Fred carried a gun. Cap pistol. Not even a "Python replica", but a regular old, chrome-plated pot metal, slide the left side of the cylinder up to insert the roll-caps, plastic jigged bone grips, obvious to anyone that looked at it, cap pistol.
'Course, he also carried his Security Guard badge pinned inside his wallet, when he wasn't "on duty".
Fishslayer
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
Not too long ago I spotted a bank guard sportin' what appeared to be a SS or nickeled K frame sized wheelgun. Not too unusual on a "seasoned veteran" but this was a youngish whippersnapper in his 20s. 
sigp220.45
US Veteran
I knew a tribal cop in Montana who carried a nice Browning High Power. Not exactly unusual, except he carried it empty.
The tribe only had one magazine for it, and it was a 20 round extended one. Since it poked the seat of his patrol car, he carried the mag in his coat pocket, and would stick it in the gun when answering calls. If it was really serious, he would chamber a round!
The tribe only had one magazine for it, and it was a 20 round extended one. Since it poked the seat of his patrol car, he carried the mag in his coat pocket, and would stick it in the gun when answering calls. If it was really serious, he would chamber a round!
goldenlight
Member
Some of the local city police officers are still carrying 2nd generation S&W 659's, which surprises the heck out of me.
If I was a LEO, I would want at least a 5906, if for nothing else that the excellent Novak sights. They really are much faster to acquire a sight picture, IMHO.
The other officers carry anything from Beretta 92's to what looks like Glock 17's. I can't figure why the firearms aren't standardized, beyond the ammunition, which I still have to assume.
If I was a LEO, I would want at least a 5906, if for nothing else that the excellent Novak sights. They really are much faster to acquire a sight picture, IMHO.
The other officers carry anything from Beretta 92's to what looks like Glock 17's. I can't figure why the firearms aren't standardized, beyond the ammunition, which I still have to assume.
Gray Rider
Member
- Joined
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Started my career in 1980 in a small town department that was phasing out its weekend part-timers, full time officers were required to carry .38 or .357 revolvers or 9mm autos. The chief carried a S&W 59 and wouldn't allow me to carry my Gov't .45. All full-time officers carried 357's, a mix of S&W's and Colts. The part timers carried what they wanted, the smartest one by far, and the only one worth a damn, carried a S&W 57. The others carried a mix of things I doubt had been fired since the day they were put in their holsters. I remember one of them pulling his gun out and emptying the green corroded cartridges out.
A part-tmer from the next village over stopped me one day and asked me to figure out what was wrong with the new duty weapon he just bought, it wouldn't fire double action. It was a single action Ruger in 9mm. I broke this news to him and told him I knew the LGS owner he bought it from and would get him to take it back but he declined the offer as he liked the gun.
I knew a Sheriff's Deputy who carried a S&W 29 and a small town part timer who carried a Desert Eagle in .44 mag, I wouldn't want to tote that boat anchor around but he said it wasn't a problem.
I was on my way to a funeral detail with a trooper from another station who I knew, but not that well at the time, and we got to talking about back up guns. I told him a carried a Charter Arms Bulldog snubby and he then proceeded to pull a Beretta 92 out of a shoulder-holster under his shirt, that surprised me but not as much as it did when he pulled a second one from the holster on the other side. Keep in mind that we were in uniform (our duty uniforms not the dress blouses we'd wear to the funeral) with vests on. He had sewn the buttons on his shirts so it would look like they were real and held the shirt closed with velcro. He was built like wedge so he could pull it off without anyone knowing there was anything under his shirt.
A part-tmer from the next village over stopped me one day and asked me to figure out what was wrong with the new duty weapon he just bought, it wouldn't fire double action. It was a single action Ruger in 9mm. I broke this news to him and told him I knew the LGS owner he bought it from and would get him to take it back but he declined the offer as he liked the gun.
I knew a Sheriff's Deputy who carried a S&W 29 and a small town part timer who carried a Desert Eagle in .44 mag, I wouldn't want to tote that boat anchor around but he said it wasn't a problem.
I was on my way to a funeral detail with a trooper from another station who I knew, but not that well at the time, and we got to talking about back up guns. I told him a carried a Charter Arms Bulldog snubby and he then proceeded to pull a Beretta 92 out of a shoulder-holster under his shirt, that surprised me but not as much as it did when he pulled a second one from the holster on the other side. Keep in mind that we were in uniform (our duty uniforms not the dress blouses we'd wear to the funeral) with vests on. He had sewn the buttons on his shirts so it would look like they were real and held the shirt closed with velcro. He was built like wedge so he could pull it off without anyone knowing there was anything under his shirt.
