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LOT 3696
Desirable Austin, Texas Police Department Marked Smith & Wesson .38/44 Heavy Duty Double Action
372
Revolver with Scarce 6 Inch Barrel - Serial no. S89452, 38 Special cal., 6 inch round bbl., nickel finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1952/53.
This revolver is one of two hundred forty-nine received by the Austin Police Department between 1952 and 1964, with this one being a part of the initial June
3, 1952, shipment for 110. The revolver features round blade front and frame notch rear sights. Matching serial numbers are found on the butt, cylinder and barrel shroud. A factory rework star is also found on the rear face of the cylinder with a rework date of “777” and “R-N” refinish marking. Some of the known Austin Police revolvers, such as this example, were rebarreled when they were reworked with a 6 inch barrel. It is speculated by Smith
& Wesson collectors that the longer barreled revolvers were primarily used by motorcycle officers. The inside of the crane has been hand marked “G.H.”, likely the initials of a previous owner. The back strap is marked “AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT 6”. This early variation with the “POLICE DEPARTMENT” fully spelled out is only found on guns in the first shipment. These .38/44 Heavy Duty revolvers were ordered to replace the aging stock of .38 Military and Police revolvers the department had in stock and would remain in duty until being replaced in 1968 by the Model 27-2. The article “The Austin Police Department .38/44 Heavy Duty” by Bill Patterson states that one of the officers that helped take down Charles Whitman in the University of Texas Tower shooting was armed with one of these .38/44 Heavy Duty Revolvers.
CONDITION: Very fine as factory refurbished, retaining 98% plus nickel finish with scattered handling marks, slight softening of the back strap marking, and some discoloration on the trigger and hammer. Grips are fine with dings and scratches, high edge wear, and overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. This seldom seen revolver would make a perfect addition to any S&W or police firearm collection!
LOT 3698
Austin,
Texas Police
Department
Marked Smith & Wesson Model 37 Airweight Double
Action Revolver - Serial no. 29J576, 38 Special cal., 2 inch solid
rib bbl., blue/anodized finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1971/72. The back strap has the Austin, Texas police marking: “AUSTIN P.D. 128.” The right
grip panel is numbered to the gun. The accompanying City of Austin, Texas, inter-office memo from August 23, 1977, references this Model 37 by serial number and back strap marking as the service revolver of Sgt. W.W. White, who, at the time of his retirement, purchased the revolver from the city for $59.50. White’s check and receipt for the revolver confirm the transaction. All documents are scans of the originals. White served on the Austin Police Department from 1942-1977 and period newspaper articles indicate that White had his hands full fighting a juvenile crime wave in the post-war years.
CONDITION: Excellent as the service revolver carried by an officer of the Austin Police Department, retaining 97% plus original combination blue/anodized finish with mild holster edge wear, a cylinder drag line, and overall crisp checkering on the excellent grips. Mechanically excellent. An identified Texas police department S&W revolver that will be a welcome addition to any law enforcement collection.
Estimate: 1,500 - 2,500
LOT 3699
Texas Ranger Attributed Department of Public Safety
Marked Smith & Wesson Model 19-2 Double Action
Revolver - Serial no. K490372, 357 magnum cal., 4 inch solid rib
bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1962. Fitted with serrated blade front
and adjustable rear sights. The left side of the frame has the Department of Public Safety
marking “DPS 22078”. The hammer has been shaved to a bobbed configuration, and the
trigger altered to only function in double action, likely to meet the needs of the missions
it was serving on. This revolver is attributed from a previous sale to former Texas Ranger
Weldon Lucas. During his career in law enforcement, Lucas worked as a highway officer,
undercover narcotics agent for 20 years, Texas Ranger from 1981-1993, and Denton County
Sheriff from 1993-2004. Lucas also found work as a consultant for the hit TV show “Walker Texas Ranger”, and several of the Rangers in his unit were utilized for small roles throughout the show’s time on air.
CONDITION: Very good as used by Texas Ranger and Denton County Sheriff Weldon Lucas, retaining 80% original blue with some holster type wear at the muzzle and on leading edges, some light pitting, and a cylinder drag line from a life of hard service with multiple law enforcement agencies. The left grip has a small crack in the checkering, but the grips otherwise show an attractive wear pattern consistent with a life with the Department of Public Service. Mechanically excellent. Seldom does one get the opportunity to acquire a Texas Ranger used and altered gun, don’t squander this chance!
Estimate: 1,400 - 2,250
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 3697
Rare San Antonio
Police Department Marked Smith &
Wesson Model 64 Double Action Revolver - Serial no.
D640216, 38 Special cal., 4 inch heavy solid rib bbl., stainless
finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1973-1974. Fitted with
serrated blade front and frame notch rear sights. The hammer spur has been shaved for
a low profile appearance, and the left side of the frame is marked “SAPD” for San Antonio
Police Department. Like the Model 10 that preceded it, the Model 64 was extremely popular
with police departments across the United States. Includes a San Antonio SWAT patch.
CONDITION: Very fine overall as used by San Antonio Police showing some scattered dings
and scratches, and a cylinder drag line from a life of duty use. The grips show some wear from use but retain overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. This is your opportunity to get your hands on a police used and modified S&W with a seldom seen department marking!
Estimate: 1,400 - 2,250