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January 12, 2012
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I have not spoke with my friends here at this fine forum lately. In past posts, I have written of the 'lack' of available info on the 1970-71 .38 Dan Wesson Model 11 of the NYPD. For those who might not know, this was a Dan Wesson first production revolver of 1970. This is pure conjecture on my part, but sometimes in , or around, 1970 the NYPD negotiated with Mr. Dan Wesson on providing the NYPD a third choice in four-inch, fixed sight, and blue steel service revolver. The other two 1970 choices being the Smith & Wesson Model 10 in blue steel and a four-inch heavy barrel and the Colt Metropolitan MK III, also in blue steel and a four-inch heavy barrel. All three of those NYPD choices were chambered in .38 Special and had fixed sights. Mr. Dan Wesson was just starting out with his new firearms company in 1970 and NYPD acceptance of his 'modified' Model 11 must have given the company a much needed shot-in-the-arm financially. It probably didn't hurt his new company on the PR-end either, with this large police department approval. For several years, 1970-75, the Dan Wesson sixgun was offered to rookies in the police academy, along with the other two selections. NYPD cops purchased their own service revolver, albeit, at a discount, but they still purchased their own service revolver. I have found out that most 'rooks' were encouraged towards the S&W Model 10 by NYPD Range Officers, who were more familiar with the workings of the Model 10 as opposed to the Colt and Dan Wesson Revolvers. There were some modifications to the DW Model 11 that had to be made before it could be marketed to the NYPD. This is the features of the NYPD Dan Wesson Model 11:
1-Chambered in .38 Special only. No mags allowed in NYC.
2-The four-inch barrel could "not" be interchangeable. A "fixed-barrel" Model 11.
3-In 1970, only in blue steel, for NYPD Service Revolvers.
4-I'm not sure what type grips were specified or how much newbe NY cops paid.
I located, through the S&W Forum, a retired NYPD Officer that had a partner who packed the Model 11 for duty use. He loved its accuracy, I was told. That was soon to be a common saying about DW sixguns, accurate! I haven't seen a picture or located any printed info on this early Dan Wesson that served the NYPD. That is a story waiting to be told and shared with Dan Wesson Historians. I just wish that the people in the know on this subject would step forward and share the data before it is permanently lost. Thank you my friends and a "special" thanks to the leadership here at the Dan Wesson Forum that keep this fine site up and running!
David
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December 4, 2011
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Very interesting discovery you made David, thanks! It would be great to see one, I can't imagine there are that many still around. It would make quite a nice collectors piece. I hope we can someday see one of these beauties in the 'flesh'.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
My father
If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
My grandfather
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