Cops & Revolvers: Extinct?

In the 90's, with a bunch of folks in a gun class, we went for BBQ after class in small town. A local officer came in and gave us the stink eye (we were all in vests, tactical pants - LOL). He was carrying a chromed SAA with a belt of rounds under his substantial belly. We were all carrying Glock 19, Berettas, 1911s or some other semi.

About 3 years ago, had to stop in another small town on the way to a funeral of a dear friend. The local BBQ - two local officers came in - a Beretta 92 (it seems) and a 1911. Times change.

I know we have periodic threads to argue that the revolver is the equal of the modern semis because some old toot carries one. Well, I'm an old toot and shoot a revolver decently. I like Js for pocket carry but in today's world there is no reason not to carry a modern semi on your belt. If I had to carry a revolver on my belt - I wouldn't feel helpless but I can do better.

GEM said:

In the 90's, with a bunch of folks in a gun class, we went for BBQ after class in small town. A local officer came in and gave us the stink eye (we were all in vests, tactical pants - LOL). He was carrying a chromed SAA with a belt of rounds under his substantial belly. We were all carrying Glock 19, Berettas, 1911s or some other semi.

About 3 years ago, had to stop in another small town on the way to a funeral of a dear friend. The local BBQ - two local officers came in - a Beretta 92 (it seems) and a 1911. Times change.

I know we have periodic threads to argue that the revolver is the equal of the modern semis because some old toot carries one. Well, I'm an old toot and shoot a revolver decently. I like Js for pocket carry but in today's world there is no reason not to carry a modern semi on your belt. If I had to carry a revolver on my belt - I wouldn't feel helpless but I can do better.

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In certain scenarios or environments, the revolver shines exemplary.

Yes, when you, Marty and Doc Brown go back to the cowboy town. Yes, you can come up with some, like a contact shot or a hunting/game application of a large caliber. However, for the police or civilian most common usage, we've moved on to the semis. Should a police officer in today's world carry a revolver as primary- no.

Js or LCRs for Bugs or dress constrained, NPEs - reasonable choice.

I recall having a discussion with deputies on "administrative duty" checking iron at the courthouse. Most were on the detail a short while, but this one guy I recall being there since a locally famous trial back in 1994, he liked being a "people greeter" I guess. He also had an awesome memory, and he knew his guns very well. I recall him stating the last wheelgun he saw was around 97' (I think) He even had a collection of them when they all were "traded in" I believe deputies were able to keep them if they wanted for a payroll deduction of 150.00$ which about half or better of them did. I think he paid a bunch of deputies who didn't want to keep theirs the 150$.
They then were for sale at local gun shops for about 300$ or so, and they sold quickly. M586s 4" bbls.

There are a number of guys using j frames for backup guns still.

I was thinking of posting to this thread yesterday, to the effect that I had not seen a policeman or a security guard carrying a revolver for at least 20 years, but I decided that another negative post didn't really add anything. Then today I saw an armed security guard on duty at my local Walgreens (!) open carrying a J-frame-sized revolver! I could not tell exactly what it was because the holster covered most of it, and oversized rubber grips covered the rest. But just seeing a revolver in service was a surprise.

.455_Hunter said:

The NYPD forced transition for the last couple dozen .38 guys in August 2018.

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NYPD went to semi-autos in 1993, so these guys had been on the job for 25 years, give or take. They're eligible for retirement after 20 years. What would have been the harm in letting these diehards keep their wheelguns for a few more years?

i like and do carry a revolver at special times, but i do own and also carry semi-auto pistols more. i bought a glock 22 in .40 S&W with three hi cap magizines for my inner city traveles. if a flash mob gets me there should be enough blood trails and bodies for the police to clean up.

toivo said:

NYPD went to semi-autos in 1993, so these guys had been on the job for 25 years, give or take. They're eligible for retirement after 20 years. What would have been the harm in letting these diehards keep their wheelguns for a few more years?

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Logistics, ammo cost, training 2x a year and qualification. 24 thousand or so cops you can see how it gets complicated.

I saw a Pittsburgh cop carrying a revolver this summer. he may have been a motorcycle cop.

JCooperfan1911 said:

Was it a snub nose?

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Yes, I should have said that. It appeared to be a two inch barrel (the holster was molded to fit the gun). I don't think I have seen a two inch J-frame-size gun carried in a belt holster like a service pistol before. Like I said, it was an armed security guard, not a policeman.

Monac said:

Yes, I should have said that. It appeared to be a two inch barrel (the holster was molded to fit the gun). I don't think I have seen a two inch J-frame-size gun carried in a belt holster like a service pistol before. Like I said, it was an armed security guard, not a policeman.

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I carried a SP101 .357 snub

JCooperfan1911 said:

Very interesting. You mentioned it had oversized rubber grips? Could you see if the gun was blued or stainless? Also, can you describe the holster? Thanks!

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I think it was stainless, but I could not see much of the gun itself. The holster looked like black leather, and was molded tight around the gun, outlining the trigger guard, for instance. I think it came up pretty high. The grips looked odd to me. They were rubber, and large for a J-frame. They were long enough to give a grip to all 4 fingers. They had prominent finger grooves, and got smaller in diamer toward the bottom. Like I said, it seemed like an odd rig for service belt carry. All their other guards have had automatics that I vaguely classified as "Glock style".

One of the local PDs had an SRO who still ran a revolver, but he retired last year. That's the last revolver I've seen as the main duty gun on an officer.

Revolvers do have a place, particularly in a magnum caliber with a longer range: across a parking lot, football field, etc. We can't always get to a long gun when needed, but at the same time statistics show most gun fights are just a few yards away, and capacity can make a difference.

When the department I was with went from .38 Special/.357 magnum revolvers to the "plastic fantastic's" we were told that it was mainly for litigation purposes. Same weapon, same caliber same training. I carried my Model 36 snub or a Colt Detective Special as a backup/off duty firearm until I retired. Still carry the Model 36 today.

wcwhitey said:

Logistics, ammo cost, training 2x a year and qualification. 24 thousand or so cops you can see how it gets complicated.

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Yeah, I see your point. There couldn't have been more than handful of guys with 25+ years in, but even then it could be a problem.

Monac said:

I was thinking of posting to this thread yesterday, to the effect that I had not seen a policeman or a security guard carrying a revolver for at least 20 years,

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I worked a short stint as a corporate security guard. There were 2 duty firearms for guards on the payroll. Anyone who worked the local hospital contract they held was issued and qualified with a standard Glock 19 Gen4. The rest of us got issued S&W 38spc revolvers. I believe it was a Smith 64-5. They were beaters. And the company "armorer" trimmed the mainspring on one of them to give it a lighter DA pull at the guard's request. Problem was it caused light strikes. Thankfully that wasn't my weapon, just the guy qualifying next to me.

When we went to the Smithsonian Museum about 4 years ago all the guards there were carrying what looked like blued HB model 10s. I tried to talk to one of them but they don't like to talk. Not about guns anyway. I am not sure if they are a police force or private security guards. But all I saw were armed with revolvers.

I found this. It looks like they are private security to me.

https://security.si.edu/

You asked this before, but I guess it is still a burning issue.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/police-revolvers-still-being-used.891342/

Down here all bank security and armored trucks guys are obliged by law to carry 38cal 4 inches revolvers and for long guns 12ga shotguns without stocks, only pistol grips.
As a firearms instructor sometimes I carry a stainless steel 38cal 6 shots 4 inches in a IWB holster. Sometimes a .40, depending on my mood. Heck, sometimes I carry a full size .380. As long as you have a gun on you and are capable of making holes where you want is good enough.

My hometown police force still has a few guys carrying revolvers, but they are all reserve officers and have to supply their own gear. The full timers are all "issued" a Glock and pay for it through payroll deduction.

The security guards for the "big companies" all carry either OLD used revolvers or personal semi-autos. The small local company does a payroll deduction for the armed officers, and they are REALLY generous with their payment plan.

Not law enforcement, but is a current picture.