Working man’s guns - post your guns no matter the make that earned their keep

[.38SuperMan]

I thought it would be fun to start a thread on guns that earned their keep. Guns that worked in the line of duty whether they were military, police, security guards or whatever you can think of where they were used in everyday life. They could have been used by settlers to defend the farm or during the war, it makes no difference. They can be rifles, revolvers, muzzle loaders or whatever and can be any make.

Hopefully you can share their stories too.

I'll start, I recently bought a beautiful M&P 38 snub nose from 1948, my birth year. I purchased it from a friend who bought it in 1980 from a retired Chicago police officer who bought it new in 1948. The revolver was his backup and carried daily.

I have no idea if it was ever used in a fight but it was the daily carry for that officer.

 

[hivel37]

This long action snub is about a year older than
yours. It has a story, no doubt. Unknown to me.

 

[BB57]

This pre-Model 10 dating from 1949-50 was also reportedly owned by a former Chicago police officer, per the LGS where I bought it. If so, it was used and carried very little.

 

[Loyaljeeper]

This no dash 442 was my UC, BUG, and off-duty roscoe until about 2019. I may start qualifying on it again.

 

[.38SuperMan]

This long action snub is about a year older than
yours. It has a story, no doubt. Unknown to me.

I've read the term long action and short action. Can you explain what and why and how to determine.

 

[KLYDE]

Long time girl friends father passed away on Dec 7 last year. We found this Colt Police Positive in his safe. He was retired Boston PD.

Thinking it might be a BPD gun, I sent away to Colt for a letter. It came back issued to the Detroit Police Department 1923.

Klyde

 

[Erocksmash]

My Austrian import stamped G19, she's been with me for a long time, served as a duty weapon for the SO I was on with, killed 2 coyotes that went after my pup on a golf course I lived on, been threw 4 hurricanes, the mud and sweat, 2 Bobcats have been taken out on the ranch with ol'girl, has taken out 1 Alligator. she's has been mirror polished, stripped, nickel plated, and striped again only to be brought back to her standard black finish...

Now she retired to the garage where she sees regular use...

Probably has 6k+ rounds on her and never a failure...

She's earned her keep

 

[Sistema1927]

This M&P, c. 1957, looks like it was "rode hard, and put up wet", but it still locks up strong and works perfectly.

 

[sigp220.45]

Got this Sig P220 on my Dad's FFL while I was still in the Academy. It was my constant companion on many adventures in New Orleans, Montana, Idaho, New Mexico, and Colorado. Somehow it kept getting grandfathered in, and I was able to retire with it. I don't know many guys who carried the same gun for 25 years. Its my oldest boy's now.

 

[Mule Packer]

I've posted this trusty Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt many times before, so please bear with me. For over thirty years now, it has ridden on my hip while I've lead the pack string into wilderness areas, packing equipment and supplies to U.S. Forest Service trail crews during the summer or packing kids, grandkids, or friends into their deer and elk camps in the fall. It has logged literally hundreds of miles with me on horseback.

 

[.38SuperMan]

I forgot that I had this. It's an Israeli police surplus Beretta 84. It's certainly been carried but still functions perfectly. I have the original grips but prefer the Altamont set I have on it.

Unfortunately I don't have any history on it other than it's marked Israeli Police.

 

[sipowicz]

My dad bought his DS in 1969. He originally had a 5 shot 36 but wanted to upgrade to something a tad bigger with one more round. At that time he already had 15 years on the NYPD. Thankfully he never had to fire it on duty but he did pull it out to alter some miscreants behavior on more than a few occasions. He retired in 1988 as the Captain of the 49 PCT and continued carrying it another 25+ years. At that time he realized the gun was more of a liability at his age than an asset Not an easy thing to come to terms with but he handled it admirably just like when he realized giving up driving was in his best interest. Anyway, after his passing at 90 years old, my brother sent me his gun. It's what I carry most of the time even though I have more "tactical" models to choose from but I'm sure I don't need to explain why.

 

[JohnRippert]

If this one could talk.

 

[lkabug]

My Model 10-5, 4 inch hard cromed.
Now wearing a pair of Bigmtnman's grips. (Thanks Ken)
This model 10 walked down many alleys. It has see the heat of the moment. If this gun could talk..... It was a working gun, retired, with honors, to a life of light duty

 

[heeter3]

Sipowicz,I can only hope that my Son and my 2 grandsons cherish my guns the way you do your dads.God bless him and how nice of you to share that story.

 

[Moo Moo]

I recently put down a deposit on this ex-Brinks security Model 64-3. The rubber Pachs are well worn. (Sorry about the poor photo. It was taken in an indoor range).

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Well, I have several surplus police or military guns, none of which have anything to do with me except I own them now.

Model 64 - from a private investigative firm - given to a friend:

Model 64 re-import - somebody somewhere carried this thing on duty - it not longer looks like this but I'll use the original working gun picture:

Wells Fargo Model 10 4 inch nickel - destroyed in a fire

Beretta M 92 - Italian carabinieri surplus

Beretta Model 81 .32 ACP carabinieri surplus, now sold

Walther P-4 - presumed German military or police weapon:

CZ Duo .25 ACP - made in German occupied Czechoslovakia in 1944 - presumably carried by one side of the other post-war:

M 5906 police trade in:

I can't speak for the BHP but the replica, an Israeli Kareen, well, you know that saw military or police service:

Wells Fargo Ithaca Model 37 Featherweight 12 guage:

Not pictured is a Winchester Model 97 in 16 gauge that I am pretty sure was a working gun once a long time ago..............

 

[BigMuddy]

I've posted this trusty Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt many times before, so please bear with me. For over thirty years now, it has ridden on my hip while I've lead the pack string into wilderness areas, packing equipment and supplies to U.S. Forest Service trail crews during the summer or packing kids, grandkids, or friends into their deer and elk camps in the fall. It has logged literally hundreds of miles with me on horseback.

I never get tired of seeing that one. The gun, the rig, it all looks great.

Dan

 

[Scharfschuetzer]

Working Guns

I type this today due to the accuracy and efficacy of this Model 65 no dash as a service revolver on the PD. I still take it out from time to time and it's still as good as it ever was. I never qualified less than Expert with it.

The Model 60 No Dash (in the brown Hoyt holster) was and still is a constant companion for 40 some years now.

Finally, I transitioned to this Model 58 for the last part of my LEO career. Like the Model 65, I always qualified Expert with it.

 

[CH4]

My dad's Colt Official Police (Heavy Barrel) and Smith Victory Model, he carried both his entire career. After retiring, he carried this M60 the officers gave him as a retirement gift.