LEO vs Military Sidearms over the decades

[Cosmoline]

I'm just making sure my understanding is more-or-less correct. To my knowledge, LEO's in the US carried primarily .38 Special revolvers until the 1970's, when some upgraded to .357 Mag. revolvers. These were almost universally replaced by high-cap wonder nines in the early 1980's. By the late 1980's and through the 1990's a number of dept's upgraded to the .40, but by now virtually all departments nationwide utilize semiautos.

At the same time, the US military switched to 1911 semis as the main battle sidearm by WWII, with revolvers such as the Colt Commando and S&W Victory model taking a back seat. Of course the 1911 was replaced by the 92F.

If I'm correct, then is it true that very few LEO's ever carried a 1911 style piece for duty? Indeed did any departments utilize single action semis? It seems most use SA/DA's or DAO's.

 

[jc2]

Your painting with too broad a brush.

The .357 Magnum starting seeing wide-spread LE use as early as the 50s. In fact, both the Highway Patrolman (later Model 28) and the Combat Magnum (later Model 19) both were designed primarily for LE use. In fact, it was a LEO (Bill Jordan) who was the driving force behind the Model 19. Of course, many departments who adopted the 19 (and later the 13, 66 and 65) did load them with .38 Specials (the FBI's Model 13 as an example). I would say up to the 80s and the wundernine craze, there were probably more LEOs carrying .38 Specials than anything else. Now, virtually all LEAs use autoloaders (at least as the primary weapon) with .40 S&W being the most common load, followed closely by the 9x19 then the .45 ACPs, 357 SIG, etc.

Actually, the military switched to the 1911-series autoloader beginning in 1911--prior to World War 1 (not 2). I believe it saw its first military action in Pershing's Punitive Expedition. The S&W and Colt Models 1917 were used as supplemental weapons in the Great War because there just wasn't enough 1911s, and they couldn't be made fast enough. They also saw limited use in World War 2.

Throughout the 30s and even through today, 1911s (and P35s) have seen LE usage in this country though not to any great extent. From the 30s on, the 1911 was (and still is) the weapon most associated with the Texas Rangers, and FWIW, our Sheriff and Deputies are still carrying today. I believe Melvin Purvis was using a 1911 when he got Dillinger. I would say its (and the P35s) might have been a little more widespread (at least in the Southwest) than your post indicates.

 

[Josey]

In my family, the weapons were mostly S&W revolvers. 32s, 38s and I had the first 357 Magnum. A Colt Trooper MKIII. Colt 1911s, Police Positives and a 38 DA were in the family too. I carried a S&W 9MM for about a month. I went to a 1911. I also have a heirloom Radom manufactured Polish 9MM. They were fairly cheap and popular at one time. I currently CCW a BHP in 9MM.

 

[orangeninja]

I believe the 1911 is still the predomninant weapon for tac teams isn't it?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Quote:
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I believe it saw its first military action in Pershing's Punitive Expedition.
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The Model 1911 was first used in combat at the Battle of Bagsak Mountain, on Jolo Island, in the Phillippines in 1913.