7 Best Law Enforcement Revolvers of All Time

NAA I think you can appreciate the issues of switching from the 38 revolvers to a semi auto as you were on the transition team. I saw some pretty nasty slide bites when we converted over. On a positive note it was a self correcting problem.

1ABNDT thanks for this thread it brings back a lot of memories.
 
DanRR said:
I carried the S&W model 10 in its 2" and 4" versions.
A joy to pack but marginal caliber, lacking stopping power, even with modern ammunition.
If I had the choice, Python for sure.
Our department issued the Ruger GP-100; a heck of a revolver; handles everything, but quite heavy to carry even if they were delivered with the underlug shortened.
Nevertheless, I will never trade such a reliable hefty revolver for that inconvenience.
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Nice , firsthand view is always best !
I was wondering if those Pythons were ever purchased by any LEO departments in bulk .
That would be awesome .
 
1ABNDT said:
No please any duty firearm I enjoy learning about and studying these more than the race guns. Funny you mentioned the above, I was watching Joe Mantegna who hosts "Gun Stories" airs on Sportsman channel (1419) Bell. And he was running through the H+K rifles. Ty again.



[youtube]Fmo54eQaF8s[/youtube]
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Love Joe , one of the few non brainwashed idiots that Hollywood has not nearly enough of .
 
nitroxace said:
NAA I think you can appreciate the issues of switching from the 38 revolvers to a semi auto as you were on the transition team. I saw some pretty nasty slide bites when we converted over. On a positive note it was a self correcting problem.

1ABNDT thanks for this thread it brings back a lot of memories.
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Thank you all for helping me build new ones.:rockOn:
 
nitroxace said:
NAA I think you can appreciate the issues of switching from the 38 revolvers to a semi auto as you were on the transition team. I saw some pretty nasty slide bites when we converted over. On a positive note it was a self correcting problem.
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One particularly nasty one we use to call it 'Glock thumb'. Yes, a mostly self correcting learning moment.

---------
NAA.
 
Meroh said:
Totally missed the Webley; world wide acceptance for police and military. Classic.
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Here is a video that I came across a little while ago from the Canadian Gun Vault Inc showing a Toronto Police issued Webley. The markings on the gun indicate T.P.F -Toronto Police Force. This gun was originally issued prior to 1956. In 1956 - The 13 Police Forces merged to become the Metropolitan Toronto Police Force. I believe that the number 1056 would have been the officers badge number that it was issued to.

https://youtu.be/wD18RGdQtkM
 
medvedqc said:
do you remember other than being what you liked about while carrying on duty? any mechanical issues you want to share. i like my gp100 and carry only in wilderness when we re in alaska.
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Medvedqc,
The model 10's were light enough to be comfortable to carry ; even a 4" could be concealed easily when working in plain clothes.
I would not go back again to it and keep the Ruger.
I don't remember of anybody experimenting a malfunction with both.
 
I was issued a brand new, still in the greased paper, S&W Model 10 HB back in 83. Carried in a cross-draw leather holster with Sam Brown until we got the clamshell holsters.
 
Dagmaar said:
Nice , firsthand view is always best !
I was wondering if those Pythons were ever purchased by any LEO departments in bulk .
That would be awesome .
Click to expand...

Due to their cost, Pythons were rarely issued to police forces. A couple of exceptions were Colorado State Patrol and Florida Highway Patrol which issued them at different times. Actually Colt revolvers were not very common as S&W owned the police market until Glock came along and took it away from them when semi autos were widely adopted.

My agency issued Webleys back in the day, but allowed personally owned revolvers to be carried as long as they were blued S&W or Colt 4" to 6" barreled six shot revolvers that could chamber .38 Special and pass an inspection by an armourer. The Webleys were so bad they were nicknamed "Wobbly Webleys" and were chambered in the anemic .38 S&W so most members bought their own guns. Notice I said could chamber .38 Special? That meant a lot of .357 Magnums were bought as personal owned duty guns. Also a surprising number of 5" S&W Model 27's were bought as well as a few Pythons. I think if an inspection of a locker or duty bag was done, a box or a few speedloaders of .357 Magnum ammo might have been discovered.
 
Dagmaar said:
Nice , firsthand view is always best !
I was wondering if those Pythons were ever purchased by any LEO departments in bulk .
That would be awesome .
Click to expand...


Dagmaar,

To my knowledge, no canadian police department ever issued Pythons.
Some did in the States.
 
The model 10....
38 Spl caliber with marginal stopping power....well except a head/heart shot.
One of my officers shot an assailant who was hitting his partner with a bat.
21 feet, hit the omoplat hence a large bone taking the full energy of the bullet and still a menace.
The bullet , a half jacket 125gr +P, only expanded to 10mm.
 
tobin said:
Due to their cost, Pythons were rarely issued to police forces. A couple of exceptions were Colorado State Patrol and Florida Highway Patrol which issued them at different times. Actually Colt revolvers were not very common as S&W owned the police market until Glock came along and took it away from them when semi autos were widely adopted.

My agency issued Webleys back in the day, but allowed personally owned revolvers to be carried as long as they were blued S&W or Colt 4" to 6" barreled six shot revolvers that could chamber .38 Special and pass an inspection by an armourer. The Webleys were so bad they were nicknamed "Wobbly Webleys" and were chambered in the anemic .38 S&W so most members bought their own guns. Notice I said could chamber .38 Special? That meant a lot of .357 Magnums were bought as personal owned duty guns. Also a surprising number of 5" S&W Model 27's were bought as well as a few Pythons. I think if an inspection of a locker or duty bag was done, a box or a few speedloaders of .357 Magnum ammo might have been discovered.
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Thank you for the answer . This is a great thread , quality info !
 
DanRR said:
Dagmaar,

To my knowledge, no canadian police department ever issued Pythons.
Some did in the States.
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Thank you too DanRR . I kind of thought they would be cost prohibitive and I heard , maybe incorrectly , that they need a knowledgeable owner for fine tuning them . Is it true they were a gun that needed some tinkering frequently ?
 
I had a 357 model, That thing was smooth, better than the late model pythons, on par with the early pythons., which where about the same gun, with a plain heavy barrel.
I shot my smith 19 as good, but than I shot it way more.
Great write up guys.
 
You are 100 percent correct Tobin in regards to 357's. Even though we were issued a 38 back in the day, a lot of officers purchased 357's for their own collections. I still own my 686-1.

In regards to 357's being in Canada issued I remember the Quebec Provincial Police - Surete du Qubec being issued a 357 as their duty firearm till the early 90s. I cant recall the model. Are there any former or serving members that can assist.
 
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