Police Issue of Small Frame S&W's

I believe NYC issued .32 S&W Long I-frames around the dawn of the 20thC.

Howdy

Theodore Roosevelt was police commissioner of New York City from 1895 until 1897. In 1896 he selected the Colt New Police revolver as the first standard issue revolver of the NYPD. While not a Smith and Wesson, this revolver fired the 32 Colt New Police cartridge, which other than the shape of the bullet, is identical to the 32 Smith and Wesson Long.

The Smith and Wesson 38 Regulation Police and 32 Regulation Police were both built on the I frame. The 38 Regulation Police fired the 38 Smith and Wesson (not 38 Special) cartridge, the 32 Regulation Police fired the 32 S&W Long. In the photo below, the revolver at the top is a 38, the revolver at the bottom is a 32. The I frame was not large enough for a six shot 38 caliber revolver, so the 38 Regulation Police was a five shooter.






I have no documentation that either of these were issued to police departments, but with names like that I find it hard to believe that they were not.

Maryland State Police issued model 36 S&Ws to detectives and officers for many years, prior to going to semi-autos.

I believe the 6-shot .32 J-frame guns were also issued to small stature female officers in some departments during the 70's approx timeframe.

There was also the Colt "D" frame revolvers like the Police Positive that was chambered in both 32 and 38S&W.

I know several officers that had J frame snubs as backup guns. Usually a Model 60.

Female Officers (who were commonly Dispatch Officers or Vice squad decoys) were often issued, or bought themselves, .32 S&W J and I frames, and Colt D frames, (Colt's I frame being the Python and ilk.) well into the mid 70's.

Mr. Mosin said:

Did any police department ever issue an "I" or "J" frame S&W in .32 or .38 caliber ?

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In "modern" times the NYPD didn't issue weapons, officers were given an equipment allowance and had to purchase their own weapons.

The J frame S&W 36 in .38Spl., along with the Colt Det. Spl., were okayed for official use as a backup for uniformed officers or primary weapon for plain clothes officers.

The model 60 was on the approved list in the NY1 configuration.

I cannot remember many of the sources, by now, as I did much of this reading during the Eighties, but I remember that numerous police departments and agencies have issued small-frame S&W revolvers.

IIRC, the Michigan State Police issued shrouded-hammer J-Frames, as secondary weapons. The exact model changed, over the years.

IIRC, the Massachusetts State Police issued shrouded-hammer Model 49 J-Frames to some officers who worked specialized assignments.

Let’s not forget that most LEOs in the USA own their duty and secondary/back-up firearms. This includes some of the USA’s largest police departments. Speedo66 already mentioned NYC PDs. I believe that the same is true of Los Angeles PD, and I know it to be true of Houston PD, in Texas. Most Houston PD cadets bought a Model 60 or 36, in the Eighties, when I started. (I bought a Model 60, in mid-1983, about the time I applied,)

Driftwood Johnson said:

Howdy

Theodore Roosevelt was police commissioner of New York City from 1895 until 1897. In 1896 he selected the Colt New Police revolver as the first standard issue revolver of the NYPD. While not a Smith and Wesson, this revolver fired the 32 Colt New Police cartridge, which other than the shape of the bullet, is identical to the 32 Smith and Wesson Long.

The Smith and Wesson 38 Regulation Police and 32 Regulation Police were both built on the I frame. The 38 Regulation Police fired the 38 Smith and Wesson (not 38 Special) cartridge, the 32 Regulation Police fired the 32 S&W Long. In the photo below, the revolver at the top is a 38, the revolver at the bottom is a 32. The I frame was not large enough for a six shot 38 caliber revolver, so the 38 Regulation Police was a five shooter.

View attachment 998365




I have no documentation that either of these were issued to police departments, but with names like that I find it hard to believe that they were not.

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My Dad owned and carried a similar Colt and if you really want to know, Colt will trace the serial number to the first owner. Dads Colt was delivered to port authority, how it wound up in Florida is anyones guess.

Copied from S&W forum:
SCSW says the Michigan State Police versions with the SS cylinder began in 1969. That year also began the 'J' serial number prefix. Serial #s are: 1962 295000 thru 1969 785544, so your gun may be mid-60s. Your gun also has the modern cyl. latch which began in 1966 ...

At different points in history of the NYPD Female Police Officers and Matrons were availed the use of 3” J Frames and I Frames as Duty Weapons. Off Duty and Back Up authorized for all members were Colt D frames, Smith Model 36, 640, 10 and 64 2”, Ruger SP101. Like was mentioned in recent times guns were not issued they were purchased from an authorized list. There were 3” Round Butt 64’s for those with smaller hands to use as a duty gun. All 64’s were DAO NY-1 configuration.

Circa 1970’s, the Alabama Dept of Conservation and Natural Resources issued Model 60’s to officers. In late ‘70’s till 1996 the Georgia DNR issued staff officers (admin Sergeants and Captains and higher ranks Mod 60’s for office wear. They were also issued standard duty revolvers for field activities (M65, then later M686).
My older brother when in Airforce OSI 1984-1989, was given a choice of either Model 36 or a Airforce created custom M1911 which became the Colt Officers model. He chose the M1911! The issue ammo for the M36 was the infamous PGU 88A. A tepid load with a 130gr FMJ round nose. (Not the PGU 88B that was loaded to .38Super levels and only allowed in the M15 issue revolver). The load for the M1911 was the now discontinued Hornady 230gr FMJ-truncated cone at over 900fps (5”, 825fps from 3.5” M1911).

The J-frame revolvers saw widespread use by several le agencies I had occasion to interact with in my career before the 9mm mania of the early 90’s. Mostly detectives or administrators.

The USAF bought 605 Airweight Chiefs Specials in 1953. Known as the Baby Aircrewman for connection to the lightweight Colt and Smith sixshooter Aircrewman revolvers.