Cops & Revolvers: Extinct?

[JCooperfan1911]

Does anyone know of any law enforcement men CURRENTLY using a revolver as their primary weapon?

Not asking about backup guns, or that cop you saw 10 years ago with one. Just curious if there’s any holdouts at all.

-J.C.F.

 

[Sistema1927]

In 2002 I attended the funeral of Officer Jeff Russell of the Albuquerque Police Department. (He was killed in an MVA, and I was serving as a Chaplain for APD at that time.). I remember the Chief mentioning that he was one of the last officers to still carry a revolver.

 

[Riomouse911]

I know of an honor guard that all its members currently carry polished 4” S&W Model 66’es for ceremonial duties, those look sharp with the jackets and campaign hats. There is also an occasional older reserve deputy who may be seen locally with one. Not on patrol but usually working a special event like the rodeo.

Other than these, the revolver is pretty much obsolete for on-duty law enforcement work out here.

Stay safe.

 

[.38 Special]

I see the occasional security and/or armored car guard with a revolver. Most of those appear to be whatever was cheapest at the pawn shop, though I have recently seen both a 625 JM (with moonclip pouches!) and a 357 TRR8. I honestly can't recall the last time I saw a sworn officer with any sort of wheelgun, though.

 

[.455_Hunter]

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

In the 2010 timeframe, I saw a Philidelphia PD Officer armed with a Model 10 at the airport.

I would guess some rural and/or reserve deputies might still armed in such a manner, especially in the Rocky Mountain region.

 

[Seedy Character]

While at the hospital, last week; Sheriff brought in a person who had caused a wreck.Sheriff and 3 deputies were standing in the hall.
All 4 were carrying S&W wheel guns. 2 M-19, a M-586 and a M-57.

I talked with them for 30 minutes, about their wheelies. None were ever upholstered I never got to fondle them.

 

[Gordon]

Some security companies MUST carry .38 specials in a revolver , notably bank guards contracted by banks . I actually was thinking about getting a guard card for hand guns in CA and doing that as a retirement gig. I need a knee operation first tho so I can run again. I know the owner of a medium sized gaurd company around where I live , he said .38 revolver (4") and a high security holster, and pepper spray and a Monadok stick if I want . I must be able to sprint a 100 yards .

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

Isn't there some prison guard tac teams still rocking revolvers?

I'll see if I can find it.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

While at the hospital, last week; Sheriff brought in a person who had caused a wreck.Sheriff and 3 deputies were standing in the hall.
All 4 were carrying S&W wheel guns. 2 M-19, a M-586 and a M-57.

I talked with them for 30 minutes, about their wheelies. None were ever inholsterrd. I never got to fondle them.

This entire post reads like a steamy novel LOL

 

[.455_Hunter]

While at the hospital, last week; Sheriff brought in a person who had caused a wreck.Sheriff and 3 deputies were standing in the hall.
All 4 were carrying S&W wheel guns. 2 M-19, a M-586 and a M-57.

I talked with them for 30 minutes, about their wheelies. None were ever inholsterrd. I never got to fondle them.

What region of the country?

 

[JCooperfan1911]

Delete

 

[earlthegoat2]

I know you specifically asked about “current” events.

I think the lack of them gives you your answer.

 

[Pat Riot]

I was doing a search on this the other day out of curiosity. We have a security guard at work that carries a S&W 686. He is the only one on the security company’s roster that does.

I found this article about the police in Chile.
https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2021/03/10/current-police-issued-revolvers/

This article mentions police in Philadelphia being allowed to carry revolvers and certain “grandfathered” officers in Dallas.
https://www.tactical-life.com/firearms/handguns/largest-departments-police-sidearms/

The Hong Kong Police still use S&W model 10 revolvers, but according to this write up on Wikipedia they are going to transition to something else due to international firearms laws.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Police_Force

 

[wcwhitey]

https://www.americas1stfreedom.org/...-police-swat-like-units-prefer-mr73-revolvers

French Police apparently prefer revolvers. I retired NYPD 2014 and a revolver was rare but still out there. Like an earlier poster stated that was all finished in 2018. Even the part time Bay Constables representing the various Long Island towns have gone to semi autos. They were holdouts for a long time as they were all retired LEOS and carried what they had from previous careers.

 

[Seedy Character]

What region of the country?

Texas

 

[Mr. Mosin]

None that I know of down here…

 

[DTL]

One I know from our club, Chief of Detectives, 4" Smith .357. Near retirement so one of the last to do so.

 

[shafter]

I don't believe there are any in my state. It's a small world among the instructors and I'm sure I would have heard if there was. I know a few who keep a 38 revolver in their cruisers for putting down deer struck by cars so they don't have to go home and clean their duty pistols multiple times per week.

 

[Rexster]

When I call or visit one of my academy classmates, about having a good, safe Christmas, I will try to remember to ask. He “grandfathered” two S&W L-Frames, in 1997, so did not have to use one of the several .40 autos that became standard, for all uniformed personnel.

Notably, had I bothered to “grandfather” my two K-Frames and GP100, I might well have kept carrying them, on duty, until I retired, in 2018. (At the time, I was in a 1911 “phase,” but when I ran into problems with compatibility with the then-mandated duty holster*, in 2002, I would have gladly resumed carrying my revolvers on the street, rather than settle for one of those .40s.)

*In my experience, the Safariland 070, also known as the SS III, was really a poor holster to use with 1911 pistols, and the SIG P229. It worked very well with revolvers, and, some other autos.

 

[defjon]

I know many revolvers currently carried as back up guns.

 

[Old_Grouch]

Does anyone know of any law enforcement men CURRENTLY using a revolver as their primary weapon?

Within the last year I have seen one deputy from one of our rural counties (I don't remember which one. SD has 66 counties. 64 of them are rural) who was carrying a S&W revolver. Appeared to be a 686.

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

A late friend of mine was still using a model 60 as his backup as of 5 or 6 years ago but I think they were required to carry department issue sig or glock (can't remember which) as their main duty weapon.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

I apologize… I was wrong. Young rookie fresh from Academy graduation packs his fathers Mdl 64, and is a heck of a shot.

 

[Palladan44]

I don't believe there are any in my state. It's a small world among the instructors and I'm sure I would have heard if there was. I know a few who keep a 38 revolver in their cruisers for putting down deer struck by cars so they don't have to go home and clean their duty pistols multiple times per week.

Cleaning a semi-auto duty pistol because of firing it a time or 2, or 200???? WHAT????

 

[herrwalther]

The inmate transport officer for my county still carries a revolver as his primary duty weapon. Not exactly sure of the model but it looks like a S&W 686 with a 4ish inch barrel. He carries it in a leather OWB belt slide holster with a thumb break and a miniature copy of his badge embedded in the leather. He is a older officer so I am sure he is under some grandfather clause about keeping a certain duty weapon until retirement.