7 Best Law Enforcement Revolvers of All Time

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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In the same vein, as a student way back in the 80s, I recall a shooting involving Peel Regional Police in which an officer shot and killed a suspect; following which hell was raised. One of the strikes against the officer was the fact that he was using .38 +P hollow points obtained from a friend in the RCMP; the family, legal system, and of course activists made a huge stink about the ammunition.
 
I don't remember SQ issuing 357's.
I do remember, in the beginning 80's, Laval Police Dept. issued model 13's.

Dagmaar, there is kind of snobism in the Python world between old and new models.
"Old" tenants brag they were adjusted by hand; for sure ; parts were oversized and needed fitting by a skilled gunsmith.
Pray the Lord you did not experience a malfunction because you lost your revolver for quite a while in the States....forget about in Canada.
The new Pythons benefit of modern technology and parts are "drop-in".
I owned a 1983 model and a 2020 model.
The 2020 is awesome with lots of improvements.
One thing to be said though , rear sights are the Accro model and horrible; I replaced the front sight with a fiber optic one.
And don't phone Colt, they have no spare parts, idem with the usual suppliers.
Nowadays, "old" models owners ask for $3000.00 - $3500.00.....ask but don't sell.
Hands down, I would go for the "new" model.
 
marshall said:
What about the Colt Troopers? Colt Police positive?
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My department had a couple of Colt Police Positives in S&W .38 (not SPL).

I was issued one initially but after firing it with the department armourer, he decided it was unserviceable and it was replaced by a Model 10-3 with 4" regular barrel.

Some of my colleagues were issued the Webley MKIV 38/200.

I was fortunate to have my M&P. The .38 S&W round nose was an anemic cartridge.

Enjoying the stroll down memory lane....
 
nitroxace said:
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
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Great video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tswjqQocbbA
 
nitroxace said:
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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The Police Association (aka union) agitated for an issue revolver for those who would not or could afford to buy their own revolvers so the S&W Model 10 was issued in the mid 1970's but members were still allowed to carry their own guns until the 1980's when that was finally stopped. Remember that until the 1980's, police salaries were not that great, not like today so not everyone had the money to buy their own guns. Besides the issue 4" Model 10, a number of Colt Detective Specials were purchased for plainclothes officers. However after an initial purchase of these Colts, future snub nose revolvers were S&W (Model 10 & 12). Once again, a number of members bought J frame S&W's such as Model 36 or later 60 for their own use. We also looked at the Colt Border Patrol .357 which a local gun dealer brought in which was a plainer finished Colt Trooper Mark III but did not purchase these. I bought one for my personal use though.
 
IIRC, the last issue of duty ammo for RCMP .38 Spl revolvers was a 158 gr all lead HP +p load.

I had an acquaintance in the Santa Clara County Sheriff's in the Bay area of California in the late 1980's/early 1990's who's duty carry was a 6" Colt Python. That agency allowed individual officers to purchase their duty carry gun from a list of approved handguns. Another friend in the San Jose PD in the same county carried a S&W M57 6" in .41 Magnum.

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NAA.
 
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When I first joined my department in 1979 the department was equipped with 4 inch Colt Official Police revolvers, using 38 Spl SWC ammo. Excellent guns.

For some odd reason, the detective branch was issued S&W model 38 Bodyguards. Besides being only 5 shot, the grips were so small (our departments minimum height requirement was 5'10") that the guys used to wrap the grips in rubber bands so they could grip the guns better.

Shortly there after we switched to Ruger Service Six's in stainless; 4" barrels for patrol officers and 3" for the detective branch. Ammo used was 38 Spl plus P 125 Gn hollow points. Also excellent guns.

In 2005 we switched to the Sig 226, which they still use.
 
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highlander said:
When I first joined my department in 1979 the department was equipped with 4 inch Colt Official Police revolvers, using 38 Spl SWC ammo. Excellent guns.

For some odd reason, the detective branch was issued S&W model 38 Bodyguards. Besides being only 5 shot, the grips were so small (our departments minimum height requirement was 5'10") that the guys used to wrap the grips in rubber bands so they could grip the guns better.

Shortly there after we switched to Ruger Service Six's in stainless; 4" barrels for patrol officers and 3" for the detective branch. Ammo used was 38 Spl plus P 125 Gn hollow points. Also excellent guns.

In 2005 we switched to the Sig 226, which they still use.
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I had no idea that police departments used to have minimum height requirements. There must have been some big guys where you worked!
 
As I was a rookie with Toronto when this issue came out I purchased a copy and still have it. I was able to locate it online. It was published on Jan 9th,1989 in regards to Police Services wanting to upgrade to 357. In todays era you are seeing a push in certain departments to go from a 40cal to a 9mm.

https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1989/1/9/furore-over-firearms

Published Jan 9th,1989

FURORE OVER FIREARMS
COVER
THE PUSH FOR DEADLIER WEAPONS
What began in 1899 as the Smith & Wesson Military and Police revolver has evolved into the Model 10 .38-calibre weapon, which is now the standard issue side arm for about 4,000 police departments around the world. Known as the “.38 special,” the six-shot handgun is powerful enough to kill—or at least stop—someone, but less likely to richochet and hit bystanders than more powerful weapons. Now, particularly because of the recent increase in firepower among American drug runners, police departments in the United States have started switching to weapons with greater stopping ability. And even though there is no evidence to suggest that Canadian criminals are more heavily armed than they used to be, police unions in several cities are urging that the standard .38 widely used by Canadian police be replaced with the .357 magnum, a similar-sized gun that uses far more powerful cartridges. They can increase the muzzle velocity by as much as 30 per cent and pack about twice the striking force of a .38.

Push: In fact, police in Lethbridge, Alta., and in a number of smaller Quebec municipalities already carry .357 magnum revolvers (not to be confused with the even more powerful .44 magnum that actor Clint Eastwood has used in his celebrated Dirty Harry movie role). Last fall, the Quebec provincial police placed an order with Sturm, Ruger & Co. Inc. for 500 .357 magnum revolvers and plans to equip all of its 4,300 officers in the province with the deadlier weapon in the near future.

At the same time, the Montreal Urban Community Police force is surveying its 4,500 members to see whether or not they are satisfied with the .38s that they currently carry. According to Det. Sgt. David Adamo, a 30-year veteran of the Montreal force, most of his fellow officers would prefer to carry magnums. “Every force in every little jerk town around here has better weapons,” said Adamo. “And we’re in the centre of things, where the worst things happen.”

A determined push for more powerful weapons is also being mounted by Calgary police officers. “We must enforce the law,” said Staff Sgt. Michael Dungey, president of the city’s police association, which asked the Calgary Police Commission to supply its members with .357 magnums. “The .357 is not much bigger than a .38 calibre,” said Dungey. “But it packs a tremendous wallop.”

Unhappy with .38-calibre revolvers, the Calgary police association began lobbying for magnums after an incident last year in which Calgary officers fired nine bullets into a
dangerous dog without managing to kill it. The German shepherd, which had bitten three people, finally succumbed to two shotgun blasts. A subsequent autopsy found one of the bullets embedded only three inches deep in the animal’s chest muscle. “It is reasonable to conclude,” said a recent police department report, “that an average man weighing more than twice as much would also show little effect from such a hit.”

But critics of the move to heavier weapons say that Canadian police officers do not have to contend with the heavily armed drug runners that their U.S. counterparts face. “Society should be very vigilant about sanctioning any trend to greater use of firearms,” said Darryl Raymaker, a Calgary lawyer who is chairman of the city’s police commission. “Calgary is not Los Angeles or Detroit. There are deep philosophical questions about raising the level of firepower. This is a pretty peaceful society.” Death: At the same time, there is little statistical evidence to support the move toward heavier police weapons in Canada. According to the Ottawa-based Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, a total of 35 police officers—including railway police—were shot to death between 1978 and 1987. But the figures show no annual increase during the 10-year period in the number of officers killed. In fact, not a single officer was fatally wounded in Ontario or Quebec in 1987—although nine citizens were killed by police bullets in those provinces during that year.

Safety: Even the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC)—the last remaining North American police force whose regular uniformed officers do not carry guns—is pushing for firearms. Responsible for policing St. John’s and some other parts of the province (the RCMP polices the rest), the 382-member RNC has relied on billy sticks since its inception in 1871. The last time an officer died on duty was in 1958, when a constable breaking up a picket fine was hit on the head with a plank. Despite that, the constabulary’s police association wants firearms. “It’s a safety issue,” said the association’s president, Sgt. Joseph Gullage. “Without weapons, we’re in no position to protect the public or ourselves.” Like other Canadian forces, the Newfoundland police are less concerned with what has happened in the past than with what might happen in the future if sufficient deadly force is not available.

RIC DOLPHIN with correspondents’ report
 
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Chuckbuster said:
In the same vein, as a student way back in the 80s, I recall a shooting involving Peel Regional Police in which an officer shot and killed a suspect; following which hell was raised. One of the strikes against the officer was the fact that he was using .38 +P hollow points obtained from a friend in the RCMP; the family, legal system, and of course activists made a huge stink about the ammunition.
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Which is interesting.... the last approved/authorized duty issue ammo I had for my two Model 10's [4" heavy barrel; 2" brl round butt snubbie] circa 1991 here in B.C. was 110 gr JHP +P's.

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NAA.
 
Carried a model 10, even though a marginal 38 I never had to use it. Only upholstered it once at work. I have a S&W highway patrol that is a much better built handgun. Interested above, our issue 38 ammo was 158 lead round nose.
 
I have shot a down cow in the forehead with a standard 38sp 158 and it never hurt the cow, she blinked, is all. Behind the ear does the job.
 
highlander said:
Yep there was.

At 5"11' and 180 lbs, I was the third smallest guy in my recruit class.

Those days are gone now though.
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Too true, these days its the "ittie bitties" that can't be seen when they get out of the car because the car roof is higher than they are.

I am 5' 10" and was about your weight back then and I felt small in those days.
 
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highlander said:
Yep there was.

At 5"11' and 180 lbs, I was the third smallest guy in my recruit class.

Those days are gone now though.
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Toronto had 5'10" and 160 lbs minimum for males. The female minimum if my memory serves me correct was 5'6" or 5'7" and 120lbs. They stopped the height and weight requirements around 1982. Just prior to the weigh in recruits would drink as much water and eat as many bananas as they could to hit that minimum target weight.
 
nitroxace said:
Toronto had 5'10" and 160 lbs minimum for males. The female minimum if my memory serves me correct was 5'6" or 5'7" and 120lbs. They stopped the height and weight requirements around 1982. Just prior to the weigh in recruits would drink as much water and eat as many bananas as they could to hit that minimum target weight.
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LOL - Our department was the same when I started in early 70's. The Dr. measured everyone's height precisely.

Just squeaked through at 5'10"; wore my socks and didn't cut my hair before the physical :)
 
Snowballs said:
LOL - Our department was the same when I started in early 70's. The Dr. measured everyone's height precisely.

Just squeaked through at 5'10"; wore my socks and didn't cut my hair before the physical :)
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funny i was wondering the same when the doctor measured some guys for the medical at the academy as well ... note that i never had that issue at 6' 5" and a little over lol but we had minimal height and weight as well ... sometimes not easy to fit in small european cars lol ...
 
A little late to the discussion, but my experience is:

1989 issued a Model 10 HB four inch
1993-2004 - Issued a Beretta 96DCT - helped do the transitional pistol program for 800 officers. Lots of sliced thumbs....NAA mentioned Glock Thumb...Beretta Thumb was a notch or two worse as the glock slide is flat and the Beretta's were tapered to a rather sharp point. EVERY transitional pistol class drew blood....EVERY ONE!
2004-2018 - issued a Glock 22 gen 3. Helped on the committee to switch to Glock. wrote the proposal to switch to 9mm but it wasn't adopted by the time I left.

Hands down, Glock is the best LE gun in my opinion. But like buttholes, everyone has one. YMMV

Boltgun
 
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