Smith & Wesson Model 68-2 "California Highway Patrol" .38 Spl. Price Check

[jtoothman25]

got this gun

We have two of these, and to the right person should be worth a bunch. They are the same one above, but number 5 and 6 of the thousand or so guns they made. Never been fired, and kept clean. In the 80's, we paid $500 to get in the door of the auction, and then a couple hundred bucks each for these. The first 20 or so were auctioned off for a fund raiser.

 

[josephthreedogs]

I also have a M-68 marked Los Angles Police Dept. with a six in. barrel. The model # stamped inside the yoke is very clearly over stamped on a M-66 frame.

 

[XavierBreath]

If anyone wants to consuct a sale, purchase or trade on The High Road, a forum is provided for that purpose.

Please do not try to conduct a transaction on this forum. When you go to the BST Forum, please read and abide by the rules there.

Thanks,
Xavier

 

[Mike8623]

Got them

I have one of the model 68 with the CHP on it and one of the model 68 commemoratives......neither has been shot.

 

[easyrider604]

It's essentially a M66 with a cylinder length & bbl-cylinder gap set for .38spl.

This quote is from Post #3. I can see that a .38 spl cylinder is shorter than a .357 magnum cylinder, but what is the difference between the barrel-cylinder gap specs between .38 and .357?

Thanks

 

[9mmepiphany]

the barrel is screwed further into the frame to maintain the gap specs

 

[Yoda]

Model 68-1 was the very first revolver I ever bought

I got a Model 68-1 via private sale at a Pensacola gun show. It was the very first revolver I ever bought, and to me, it is "just right." It's still my very favorite handgun, but that's probably just because it was my first revolver.

One thing, though: Mine is marked for .357 Magnum, and they chamber just just fine. However, every so often, the cylinder seems to try to back off the ejector rod, and it has to be tightened up. I suspect the gun has been used to launch too many .357's over its lifetime.

BTW: I paid $200 for it about 1999-2000.

- - - Yoda

 

[RP1911]

66-2 lapd ?

I found this thread after doing a Google search. Sorry for the necroposting.

I have a 66-2 with LAPD marked barrel. It's a 6" in .38 special. I am getting conflicting information regarding the existence of such a handgun.

The original box says 66-2 6" .357 magnum.

here are some pictures of the actual handgun:

http://picasaweb.google.com/y2kltc/SW662LAPD#

 

[Radagast]

Per the standard catalogue of S&W 3rd edition, the model 68 was sold to the LAPD as well as the CHP.This started in 1983, the S&W 66-2 was released in 1982, so your barrel and frame are from a similar time period.
At a guess your revolver was put together with left over parts from the LAPD contract by the S&W factory. Otherwise it may have been rebarrelled at some point with a barrel taken from an LAPD gun.
For a small fee Roy Jinks the S&W historian will research your guns history and send you a letter telling you what it's original configuration was and where it was shipped to. This used to be $30.00, I'm not sure of the current price.

 

[RP1911]

Thanks for the reply. I'll get a letter from Roy Jinks.

 

[Elmer]

It's not clear to me why LAPD would have been interested in M-68's because they never issued the +P+ Treasury load.

LAPD didn't buy it for the +P+ reasons, they were just looking for a 6" .38 special in Stainless Steel to issue along with the 4" Model 67's they were buying at the time.

I got a Model 68-1 via private sale at a Pensacola gun show. It was the very first revolver I ever bought, and to me, it is "just right." It's still my very favorite handgun, but that's probably just because it was my first revolver.

One thing, though: Mine is marked for .357 Magnum, and they chamber just just fine. However, every so often, the cylinder seems to try to back off the ejector rod, and it has to be tightened up. I suspect the gun has been used to launch too many .357's over its lifetime.

That would be odd, as the 68 is a .38 special. Sounds like you either have a mismarked gun, or someone converted a 68 to a .357 by swapping out the barrel and cylinder from a 66.

 

[rishooter]

I bought

one for $500,but it wasn't mint by any means.Apparently the officer who had it issued was as clumsy as me and it has some scraping,but it shoots great.
An interesting side note was a transfer document showing it as one of five firearms shipped from Verdugo Hills CHP Station to the CHP Academy in Sacramento.It showed each officer's name that was issued each weapon,so I know who carried the one I have.When I retired from LE,my Ruger Speed Six had its share of bumps and bruises,but shot like a pipe.

 

[Michael Rogers]

Hi Guys
I'd like to clear up a few misconceptions posted here. I'm a retired LAPD Sergeant..29 years.
First LAPD did not buy or issue the model 68. It was sold to Officers through the Revolver & Athletic Club at the Academy. If the officer wanted to carry the weapon on or off duty they had to register it at the LAPD Armory and have the single action feature removed so it fired double action only.
I'm looking at my neutered weapon now and it has an 8 stamped over the 6. There is a -2 after the stamp over. On the right side of the barrel "LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT' is stamped and the other side is "Smith & Wesson on top of .38 S & W SPECIAL CARTRIDGE"
LAPD never authorized the carry of any Magnum chambered revolver. In the early to mid 70's there were rumors about a certain 77th St Sergeant who I will not name that "hot loaded the 38 158 RNL ammo, and there were numerous ammo inspections at the time to "ferret" out any unauthorized ammo.
The photo offered by Professor Frink is accurate and as you can see on the original box it shows its for a 38 Special.
The reason I stumbled on this Forum is I was just notified today that one of my 68's was recovered today. I loaned it to my Nephew 15 years ago and he was Burglarized and the weapon stolen. I was trying to try to find a current value for the weapon. I havn't seen it yet so I do not know the condition.