[Rinkendorf]

I just purchased what was advertised as a NYPD issue revolver, serial number C604543. Can anyone tell me about the age of this gun? Is it possible it could have been a NYPD issue? I am also curious what ammunition is recommended for this age of a gun.

64A8A0E3-7FDE-499B-8D03-B94F3040E463.jpeg

• Rinkendorf
• Nov 25, 2020

 

[blazermark]

early/mid 1960s by the look/sn#

looks like a Model 10, heavy barrel

 

[blazermark]

should be a model # on this one - check on frame where the crane sits when cyl closed

 

[delcrossv]

C prefix serial number puts it in the late 40's to mid 50's. It's a "Military & Police" model and is probably a little before model numbers were stamped on the frame as blazermark notes.

Usually police issue guns are stamped on the grip strap with issue/badge numbers. If your gun doesn't have that, it's probably not a department issue gun.

You can shoot any .38 special ammo in it.

 

[Rinkendorf]

Thanks, I'll look

 

[delcrossv]

Should be visible on the outside.

 

[Rinkendorf]

C prefix serial number puts it in the late 40's to mid 50's. It's a "Military & Police" model and is probably a little before model numbers were stamped on the frame as blazermark notes.

Usually police issue guns are stamped on the grip strap with issue/badge numbers. If your gun doesn't have that, it's probably not a department issue gun.

C prefix serial number puts it in the late 40's to mid 50's. It's a "Military & Police" model and is probably a little before model numbers were stamped on the frame as blazermark notes.

Usually police issue guns are stamped on the grip strap with issue/badge numbers. If your gun doesn't have that, it's probably not a department issue gun.

You can shoot any .38 special ammo in it.

Thanks, that is very helpful. Is +p ammo appropriate?

 

[delcrossv]

Thanks, that is very helpful. Is +p ammo appropriate?

Appropriate, but probably unnecessary. +p adds wear to the gun, and user.

 

[Rinkendorf]

Thanks. That's what I thought.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! Your gun should be stamped MOD 10-2 or 10-3 inside the yoke area. It was shipped in 1962 according to the SCSW, 4th Edition. The 10-2 change changed the thread on the extractor rod from right to left hand. All NYPD guns were stamped NYPD on the backstrap by S&W before shipping to the PD. So, if it is not stamped, it is unlikely to be a police revolver although it might have the same engineering configuration as they used. These guns were manufactured to shoot full load .38 Special (before the current reduced loading) and could also handle .357 Magnum loads as later made for other LEO agencies before the Model 13. You can shoot anything currently made including +P+ loads without breaking a sweat.

 

[delcrossv]

^^^ *Only if the chambers are cut to fit the longer .357 cartridge.

You can shoot anything currently made including +P+ loads without breaking a sweat.

You might sprain a wrist though.

 

[Rinkendorf]

That's good information. I am looking forward to shooting it.

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! Your gun should be stamped MOD 10-2 or 10-3 inside the yoke area. It was shipped in 1962 according to the SCSW, 4th Edition. The 10-2 change changed the thread on the extractor rod from right to left hand. All NYPD guns were stamped NYPD on the backstrap by S&W before shipping to the PD. So, if it is not stamped, it is unlikely to be a police revolver although it might have the same engineering configuration as they used. These guns were manufactured to shoot full load .38 Special (before the current reduced loading) and could also handle .357 Magnum loads as later made for other LEO agencies before the Model 13. You can shoot anything currently made including +P+ loads without breaking a sweat.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

^^^ *Only if the chambers are cut to fit the longer .357 cartridge.

I never said this model could chamber .357 cartridges, only that it was manufactured to be capable of handling them. The Model 13 was basically this gun modified with a deeper chamber for the .357 cartridge.

 

[Rinkendorf]

^^^ *Only if the chambers are cut to fit the longer .357 cartridge.

I never said this model could chamber .357 cartridges, only that it was manufactured to be capable of handling them. The Model 13 was basically this gun modified with a deeper chamber for the .357 cartridge.

Thanks, I plan to stick with standard .38 Spl

 

[Absalom]

By the looks of it, this was definitely a police revolver. If you bought it anywhere around New York, there’s a good chance it was NYPD.

However, by the time of that serial you will not find any stamping on the gun indicating that it was an NYPD gun. All through the revolver era NYPD officers were required to purchase their guns, usually from the department’s Equipment Bureau, but also elsewhere as long as the model was on the (very short) approved list.

About 90% of officers bought the M&P/Model 10 in whatever the current iteration or dash-version was. That’s why so many of these are available on the collector market. Since these became the officers’ private property, none were ever stamped NYPD. Until the early- to mid-1950s, officers were required to stamp their shield number on the gun, usually the backstrap but sometimes squeezed in next to the butt serial; this practice faded away, and was gone by the time of your gun.

So only a history letter can confirm that the gun shipped to the NYPD.

 

[delcrossv]

^^^ *Only if the chambers are cut to fit the longer .357 cartridge.

I never said this model could chamber .357 cartridges, only that it was manufactured to be capable of handling them. The Model 13 was basically this gun modified with a deeper chamber for the .357 cartridge.

Pressure wise sure, lengthwise no. Seemed kinda confusing as written, at least to me.
Love those Mod 13's though, a very underrated gun.

 

[Blackcloud2]

By the looks of it, this was definitely a police revolver. If you bought it anywhere around New York, there’s a good chance it was NYPD.

However, by the time of that serial you will not find any stamping on the gun indicating that it was an NYPD gun. All through the revolver era NYPD officers were required to purchase their guns, usually from the department’s Equipment Bureau, but also elsewhere as long as the model was on the (very short) approved list.

About 90% of officers bought the M&P/Model 10 in whatever the current iteration or dash-version was. That’s why so many of these are available on the collector market. Since these became the officers’ private property, none were ever stamped NYPD. Until the early- to mid-1950s, officers were required to stamp their shield number on the gun, usually the backstrap but sometimes squeezed in next to the butt serial; this practice faded away, and was gone by the time of your gun.

So only a history letter can confirm that the gun shipped to the NYPD.

View attachment 488642

Thank you for that information, very interesting and helpful!

 

[WendyZXZ]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Big Larry]

C prefix serial number puts it in the late 40's to mid 50's. It's a "Military & Police" model and is probably a little before model numbers were stamped on the frame as blazermark notes.

Usually police issue guns are stamped on the grip strap with issue/badge numbers. If your gun doesn't have that, it's probably not a department issue gun.

You can shoot any .38 special ammo in it.

Police guns are not always marked in any way. I have a 1940 shipped M&P that went to the Sacramento PD. No markings at all, and the 6" revolver appears to have never been used. It was in a one gun shipment. Big Larry

 

[Absalom]

It always depends on whether the guns were department-owned and issued or whether the officers were allowed/required to purchase their own.

Department-issued guns are much more likely to have an identifying stamping, sometimes accompanied by an inventory number; they usually don‘t have anything identifying the individual officer.

On the many privately purchased guns, you‘re generally not going to find any markings unless the owner decided to add a personalization. I have the 1923 M&P below which was part of a shipment to Minneapolis PD, but then appears to have become the officer‘s personal property; the name and department hand-engraved on the sideplate are certainly not official.

Policies like the old NYPD practice which required shield number stampings on guns privately owned, are an exception.