How common is it to find police trade in Smith and Wesson 3rd gen autos with the police inventory markings? I just won an auction and it says it has them on the right side of the gun on the barrel, slide, and frame. They are edited out of photos on the site. Didn’t really think about the markings when I put a bid down as I looked at the condition of the gun and it looked good for the price. After winning I thought I’d research the markings. Just curious if this is rare or common or somewhere in between. I’ve seen some with the name of the PD usually abbreviated, but never with the inventory markings. That seems more like a move the military would do.

Does anyone have any insight or own any older 3rd gen Smiths with said inventory markings?

Few agencies do, and I suspect this may be a "seasonal hire" gun kept in the safe for peak busy season hires. Other than keeping components in the same gun, I can't imagine why they'd mark all three up.

Pics would be kind of neat if you get a chance. Personally, I never could understand why an agency would scribe anything on a duty gun but then again, every one I've been issued has been mine and mine alone forever. Nothing but a serial number, as it should be.

Can a 2nd generation play?
S&W 659 with "Turlock P.D." stamped on frame.

PC

^^^^^that’s cool. I’ve always thought it would be nice to have a department marked gun. Seen some with Glocks though not with Smiths. These numbers are different though as they are just inventory numbers I believe for tracking at the PD. Not sure which department.

I have a -66 with a County PD stamp on it.

I have another -66 thats a 125th anniversary of the Chicago Police Dept.

It’s not totally uncommon. They’re out there.

I would imagine it was more common in the 3rd Gen Smith days than it is now. My department's last Glocks had our patch and agency name on the slide. I guess the city lost it's shit that we sold them to the officers that carried them (and allegedly bought back all the unsold ones to destroy).

I have a P226 that says TPD on it. 1989 production gun.

quote:

Originally posted by LincolnSixEcho:
How common is it to find police trade in Smith and Wesson 3rd gen autos with the police inventory markings?

Pretty common on the frame IMO, they were the Glocks of the day. Also if it is DAO, it will have a smoother factory LEO trigger action.

I have an excellent 5906 that was full of belly button lint.
They guy carried the schitt out of it, but I don't think he shot it much.
Glad it doesn't have the armorer's marks.

The Swiss Watch of Wonder Nines.

It seemed to be more frequently done in agencies out west. I have seen 4506s from Texas, Arizona and a few California agencies so marked. Not so much on the east coast.

Although the very last 3rd gen 45s made, the Melonite 4566TSWs for the WVSP, were all laser etched with the agency name. Regards 18DAI

I’ve got a 5906TSW with “CSPD” markings on the frame from when the Colorado Springs PD changed over to the M&P9.

I’d like to have a KSP marked 1076 and a box or two of matching ammo.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s...6-gun-show-find.html

I have come across the gun a couple times but no coin to pick it up.
See the ammo once but it was not for sale.

When we had 3rd gen Smiths they had the department seal engraved on the slide and frame and a custom serial number range. They were pretty sharp looking. When we transitioned to Sig we did away with it. Apparently someone upstairs didn't want a bunch of trade in guns with police markings floating around on the secondary market and then ending up on crime scenes.

I believe the OP is actually referring to some kind of tracking numbers, not agency names, abbreviations, or insignia. But in the spirit of thread drift, I have a P229 9mm with the Flint MI police department arrowhead shaped shield on the slide.

An Agency to Agency thing. Hwy Patrol in MT only ever marked their first issue guns in 1935. Never marked any to date. And the only tracking numbers I've seen were on the outer box before it went to a specific Trooper. Maybea truly LARGE Agency would do tracking numbers?