police marked guns

[NCSUPackman]

I have an interesting story regarding a S&W model 10-6 police marked revolver:

I picked it up in a shop in West Virginia and it was marked "WAYNE P.D." When I got my history request back it said "...company records indicate that your handgun, with serial number D6######, is open on our records, therefore no further information is available."

Confused by that statement, I called Smith & Wesson customer service to ask for an explination. My call was forwarded to Roy Jinks himself and he said that statement meant that according to their files, the gun never left the factory.

I was a little dumbfounded for a minute before Mr. Jinks asked if it was a police gun. I explained that it was and had markings along the backstrap. He informed me that what probably happened was the department ordered a shipment of several guns, and someone either double wrote a serial number or skipped one when hand recording what guns were being shipped out.

His answer made me think that wasn't the first gun with that issue someone called about.

That left me curious as to what Wayne PD it came from. There is Wayne, WV outside Huntington so it's possible the gun made its way accross the state to coal country from there.

 

[M16]

Unfortunately, APD didn't dispose of retired firearms, they destroyed them.

This is not true. I bought one a couple of months ago. It is a S&W Heavy Duty.

 

[SaxonPig]

"OPEN" S&W records are not rare. It seems quite a few guns were shipped without proper logging or mistaken recording. Before 1968 when the strict law on recordkeeping went into effect it was not unusual for a company official or salesman to bag a handgun once in a while for personal use or to give as a gift.

Also, as in your case, multiple guns in a shipment can be skipped by mistake.

 

[sig220mw]

Never heard of a Colt commando. What is it?

 

[Jonah71]

I have an old 1888 Merwin Hulbert .38 marked C.P.D. and a 3 digit number. When I had it appraised I was told this detracted from it's value. I think it may have been different if I had all the paperwork to trace it back to the original owner. Kinda difficult since a fire (in 1909 I think) destroyed a lot of the info.

 

[Jim K]

The original Colt Commando was the Official Police in wartime dress, Parkerized and with plastic grips. Some 50,000 were made during WWII; they went to authorized, non-military, users. All (AFAIK) were in .38 Special and none were part of Lend Lease.

Post-war, 1984-86, Colt made a "Commando Special" similar to the Detective Special but with a matte-blue finish and rubber grips. I recall seeing them, but can't find much on them.

Jim

 

[1KPerDay]

A 1938 357 Magnum factory inscribed for the UHP.

WANT.

 

[ky40601]

sig220mw,

Here's a picture of the Colt Commando .38 Sp. I read Gen Eisenhower carried one.




Here are parts of the article:

"The Colt "Commando" revolver, Caliber .38 Special was produced in fairly substantial quantities, totaling over 45,000 revolvers through February 1945. This revolver gave a very good performance and was distributed through Defense Supplies Corporation to police officers, factory guards and other nonmilitary personnel."

"Orders for the Counterintelligence Corps, Military Intelligence and the Office of Strategic Services totaled nearly 12,800.
Only about 1,800 Commandos went to the U.S. Navy, but this was not because the Navy didn't want them. During the mobilization period and the early war years, the Navy favored the S&W Military and Police. In addition to the 3,000 revolvers for Naval Civilian Police bought in the spring of 1941, the Navy bought 65,000 S&Ws directly from the factory and many thousands more through the Army. The S&W "Victory" model became the standard issue sidearm for Naval air crews and shore-based personnel. However, in early 1944, the accidental death of a sailor resulting from a dropped S&W led the Navy to request Colt revolvers instead of the S&Ws the service had been receiving."

"Some Commando revolvers were definitely used in the war zone. General Eisenhower is reported to have had one. OSS records indicate some overseas issues of Commando revolvers, and most of the early two-inch barreled revolvers were sent overseas. But for the most part, the Commando was bought for the DSC. The SOD historical report for April-June 1944 stated:
...all Commando Cal. .38 Special revolvers were being allocated to the Defense Supplies Corporation."

 

[whitecoyote]

I have an old 1888 Merwin Hulbert .38 marked C.P.D. and a 3 digit number. When I had it appraised I was told this detracted from it's value. I think it may have been different if I had all the paperwork to trace it back to the original owner. Kinda difficult since a fire (in 1909 I think) destroyed a lot of the info.

I would love to see a photo of you Merwin Hulbert.

 

[W.E.G.]

Say hello to Stinkbutt.

This is a trade-in I bought last Friday.

The rubber grip is SATURATED with the rank cologne of the prior owner.

I tried washing the butt with hot soapy water.
No dice.

If you still even touch it your hand smells like stinkbutt.
The grip is that grippy kinda rubber that sticks to you like a southeast asian venereal disease.
I tried to hide it from my wife. When she came in the door, she said "What is that smell?!!!"
So, I'm busted, and I totally have to replace that grip.

Gotta love the high-tech inventory system the former agency-owner utilized.

 

[ky40601]

I have this 1951 Colt Police Positive Special stamped "R.M.C. 209". I have no idea what it stands for.

 

[rogertc1]

Mk4 Singapore Police Dept.

 

[SaxonPig]

1KPerDay- that RM came from the estate of an advanced collector who passed on a couple years back. As I was told 2 of the 50 UHP guns are known. The other 48 are still out there, somewhere. My guess is that most are still in the Beehive State, hidden in sock drawers or such since grandpa (the former state trooper) died.

Here are two photos of some UHP troopers wearing their Registered Magnums. Maybe my gun is one of those pictured. Who knows?

PS: All 50 were shipped with 6" barrels and returned to S&W 1948-1952 to be cut to 4".

 

[Jonah71]

I would love to see a photo of you Merwin Hulbert.

I'll try. I'm kinda lacking in computer skills, but I do want to take some pics of some of the guns I have. Will find someone else to help me post them. I was really dissapointed with the $5-600 "appraised value", even though I have no plans to sell it. I thought it would be worth more. I was told that the larger frame revolvers go for a better price. Also that I could get more for it if I found the right collector. But as I said, it's a gift from a good friend, and imo a piece of history. But I will try to get a pick posted.