NYPD Firearm History

NYPD Firearms

One of my fields of interest is the evolution of the firearms used by the New York City Police Department from its inception in 1845 thru 2001.

Here is a list of the side arms authorized by the PDNY, then the NYPD for officers on and off duty use.. (This list is under construction)

I am always looking for corrections, additions or other information about firearms and personal equipment of the PDNY and NYPD- Especially 1980 and earlier. Email me

Pre 1895

(Click on thumbnail for larger view)

Prior to The 1895 purchase of Colt revolvers, each Patrolman was required to supply his own revolver as a sidearm. Contemporaneous sources describe a wide assortment of firearms in the officers hands, often low priced top-break revolvers made by companies such as Iver Johnson or Harrington and Richardson. There are not a few stories of patrolmen armed with long obsolete Civil War era cap and ball revolvers.

Example: H&R Top-Break
Various Mgrs. and calibers

Mfg 1896-1907

Adopted 1895

In 1895 Theodore Roosevelt- The President of the Police Board-disgusted with the poor marksmanship and non uniformity of firearms in the department, ordered 4,500 Colt New Police Revolvers in 32 New Police Caliber.

Compared to modern standards the smaller revolver and caliber may seem anemic- but viewed in the light of the late 19th and early 20th century where a patrolman spent his whole tour on foot, the lighter weight was certainly more tolerable.

Colt New Police .
32 Colt New Police Caliber 5 Shot

Mfg 1908-1948

Adopted 1913

In 1913 and 1914 the Department purchased 821 Colt Model M1908 pistols for issue to it's detectives. (Possibly the first semi automatic pistol adopted by a US Police Department).

The longevity of these pistols was quite short, for several possible reasons- the leading theory was the safety factor: For officers used to being armed with revolvers the need to manipulate a safety may have been a challenge.

Colt Model 1908
.380 Caliber

Mfg 1905-1942

Adopted 1908

S&W 38 Hand Ejector Model 1905
38 S&W- 5 shot- 4 inch

Mfg 1907-1947

Adopted 1908

Colt Police Positive
38 Colt New Police Caliber

Mfg 1917-1957
Adopted ?

S&W Regulation Police
38 S&W Caliber- 5 shot- 4 Inch

MFG 1908-1995

Colt Police Positive Special
.38 Special- 6 Shot-4 inch

Mfg 1908-1969

Colt Official Police
.38 Special - 6 Shot- 4 Inch

Mfg 1899-Present

Authorized 1926

S&W Military & Police

Mfg 1941-1945

Authorized 1941

The Colt Commando is a Colt Official Police revolver that was produced during the WWII years. Due to the exigencies of war time demand, the revolver was greatly simplified to speed production. Changes included a dull finish rather than the normal mirror like polish on pre-war models. The applied finish was Parkerized, instead of blued. The trigger and cylinder release were smooth rather than checkered- reducing machining operations, and finally the revolvers were supplied with brown plastic grips- a product that the manufacturer dubbed "Coltwood". There were 50,617 Commandos produced- the majority of them going to the US military, and the defense industry, there were units allotted to vital users, of which the NYPD was near the top of the list.

Colt Commando
.38 Special- 6 shot- 4 inch barrel

Mfg 1940--

S&W Victory
.38 Special- 6 shot- 4 inch barrel

Mfg 1957

S&W Model 10 (Tapered Barrel)
.38 Special-6 shot-4 Inch

Mfg 1957

S&W Model 10 (Heavy Barrel)
.38 Special- 6 Shot- 4 Inch

S&W Model 10
.38 Special 6 Shot- 2 Inch

Mfg 1969 - 1973

Colts final wheel gun offering to the department was the Metropolitan MK III- A basic revolver built on Colt's new mid sized J Frame.

Externally the Metropolitan closely resembles the venerable Official Police with its unshielded ejector rod. The most identifiable feature are larger checkered walnut grips.

Internally the major change is the adoption of a coil mainspring. Safety improvements included a frame mounted firing pin, and a transfer bar system to ensure that the revolver could only fire if the trigger was fully pulled.
The Metropolitan Mk III was chosen by the Department over the Official Police Mk III because of the Metropolitan's heavy barrel- providing the same benefits to the Officer as the S&W Heavy barrel Model 10

Colt Metropolitan MK III
.38 Special- 6 Shot-4 inch

Mfg 1970-1975
Authorized 1970 (Unconfirmed)

In 1970, in an effort to offer a third choice of duty revolvers for recruits (In addition to Colt and Smith and Wesson), the NYPD entered into an agreement with Dan Wesson to produce a revolver specifically for the Department. The revolver would be a departure from the standard Dan Wesson line- it was produced in .38 Special (As apposed to DW's standard .357 Magnum chambering), a fixed 4 inch barrel (Dan Wesson's unique trademark was an interchangeable barrel system), fixed sights. It is believed that they retained the modular (Interchangeable) grip system of the commercial offerings.

While these were offered for several years to the new Officers, anecdotal reports indicate that the Range Officers who were more familiar with steered the recruits away from the M 11. As a result of this,, there is little solid information on the Model 11's use in the department, the number of units produced, or even a confirmed picture of the revolver. The Dan Wesson Company has faced bankruptcy and changed hands several times over the years, and their documentation, and institutional memory of the Model 11 seems to have vanished over the years.

If any one has details, pictures, etc... of the Model 11 in NYPD use, please email me.

Dan Wesson Model 11
.38 Special-6 Shot-4 Inch

S&W Model 30