Help!!!

AMT8951 · January 10, 2006, 05:21 PM

I've been tasked with teaching a class in "The History and Development of Police Firearms" at my local police academy. I have about 2wks to throw together a a 50 min presentation. The class will cover police weapons from the 1870's to present. It will mostly deal with patrol type weapons,( ie. pistols, revolvers, shotguns and a little on patrol carbunes), rather than SMG's, sniper rifles, and other "Exotic" Weapons. It will be geared towards police recurits who don't know a heck of a lot about guns.
Anyhow, I need a good, reliable, and legitimate on line source for firearms info. I also need a source for firearms photo's that aren't copy writed. I would greatly appreciate any help that can be provided.

P.S. I'll also probably have some pretty specific firearms related questions that I'll need answered by my fellow forum members in the near future.

mete · January 10, 2006, 05:31 PM

You might include information about Teddy Roosevelt who standardized Police in NYC. That included a weapon and exams instead of political appointees.Don't have a website.

matthew temkin · January 10, 2006, 05:33 PM

The History Channel has a series, TALES OF THE GUN, and one of the eposides is the history of police guns.
Trooper Mike Conti of the Mass.State Police is on it quite a bit, and they do a great job.
It is probably sold on it's website.

Blackwater OPS · January 10, 2006, 05:35 PM

This is a great place to start for the info. Otherwise google is you friend. for pictures try securityarms.com, this site google image and manufacturers websites.

almark · January 10, 2006, 05:38 PM

Mike Irwin on this board seems to know a heckuva lot about guns, and he could probably suggest a book or two for you... may wanna PM him.

Any chance you'd wanna share the presentation with TFL when you're finished? Sounds like it would be interesting!

CabinJohn · January 10, 2006, 05:45 PM

You might want to send an email to the NRA... ask them what they have on file.

IACP doesn't seem to have anything on their web site, but I know they have a lot of publications available that are not listed either. You may want to try them.

Also, send an email to Smith & Wesson. Somebody there must have most of the information you are looking for.

Good Luck. (If you were looking for the History of [photo] Identification, I could be of more help).

**Mike Irwin** · January 11, 2006, 01:20 AM

I can't help you with the photographs...

Starting out in the 1870s and right up through the first decade or two of the 20th century there would have been a wide variety of handguns that would have been used.

Few police forces were armed wholesale during that time, so it would have been up to the individual officer to arm himself.

You would have seen a wide variety of both cap and ball (Wild Bill Hickock carried a pair of Colt Navy .36s) and Smith & Wesson, Colt, Merwin & Hulbert, and other makers all the way from pocket guns up to the full-size Peacemaker and Schofield type guns.

In the 20th century up through to the 1970s the story was really about two companies, Smith & Wesson and Colt, which owned probably 75% or more of the American police market, with he vast majority of police handguns being revolvers.

After World War II Colt largely surrendered the civilian market to Smith & Wesson, so by the 1970s relatively few police forces were arming their people with Colt revolvers.

By the end of the 1970s the "Wonder 9" cycle had started. Colt didn't have a single entry, and Smith & Wesson had their 39/59 semi-autos, but the lion's share of the new market for police semi-autos started going to companies like Sig, Beretta, and Glock.

Today, the police force that carries a revolver is largely an oddity.

Mikeyboy · January 11, 2006, 09:45 AM

+1 on the history channel "Tales of the Gun' Series. Try doing seraches with Colt, S&W, Remington (the 870 shotgun, and the model 700 rifle) Glock and Beretta and the word police. 50 Minute presentation???....man that's long.

January 10, 2006, 05:21 PM	#1
AMT8951 Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2005 Location: Central NY Posts: 492	Help!!! I've been tasked with teaching a class in "The History and Development of Police Firearms" at my local police academy. I have about 2wks to throw together a a 50 min presentation. The class will cover police weapons from the 1870's to present. It will mostly deal with patrol type weapons,( ie. pistols, revolvers, shotguns and a little on patrol carbunes), rather than SMG's, sniper rifles, and other "Exotic" Weapons. It will be geared towards police recurits who don't know a heck of a lot about guns. Anyhow, I need a good, reliable, and legitimate on line source for firearms info. I also need a source for firearms photo's that aren't copy writed. I would greatly appreciate any help that can be provided. P.S. I'll also probably have some pretty specific firearms related questions that I'll need answered by my fellow forum members in the near future. __________________ .40 cal Sig 2340 Kahr E9 S&W M65-5 RIA Midsize .45acp Glock 21 Olympic Arms M4 Win M70 .375 H&H FN PBR .308 Win M69A .22 Mini-14 Ithica M37 Deerslayer 12ga Remington 721 30/06

January 10, 2006, 05:35 PM	#4
Blackwater OPS Senior Member Join Date: September 11, 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,152	This is a great place to start for the info. Otherwise google is you friend. for pictures try securityarms.com, this site google image and manufacturers websites. __________________ "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." -Ben Franklin Spc. Jeremy M. Campbell Died 9/1/2005 and the best DS ever MSG Matthew Ritz Died 11.23.2005 matthewritz.com For those who have had to fight for it, Life holds a special meaning that the protected will never know. (\__/) (='.'=) Someone set us up the bunny! (")_(")

January 10, 2006, 05:38 PM	#5
almark Senior Member Join Date: March 30, 2005 Location: TX Posts: 359	Mike Irwin on this board seems to know a heckuva lot about guns, and he could probably suggest a book or two for you... may wanna PM him. Any chance you'd wanna share the presentation with TFL when you're finished? Sounds like it would be interesting! __________________ "The brain is a wonderful organ. It starts working the moment you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get into the office." -Robert Frost

January 10, 2006, 05:45 PM	#6
CabinJohn Member Join Date: July 5, 2005 Location: NW Mass Posts: 61	Try the NRA? You might want to send an email to the NRA... ask them what they have on file. IACP doesn't seem to have anything on their web site, but I know they have a lot of publications available that are not listed either. You may want to try them. Also, send an email to Smith & Wesson. Somebody there must have most of the information you are looking for. Good Luck. (If you were looking for the History of [photo] Identification, I could be of more help).

January 11, 2006, 01:20 AM	#7
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	I can't help you with the photographs... Starting out in the 1870s and right up through the first decade or two of the 20th century there would have been a wide variety of handguns that would have been used. Few police forces were armed wholesale during that time, so it would have been up to the individual officer to arm himself. You would have seen a wide variety of both cap and ball (Wild Bill Hickock carried a pair of Colt Navy .36s) and Smith & Wesson, Colt, Merwin & Hulbert, and other makers all the way from pocket guns up to the full-size Peacemaker and Schofield type guns. In the 20th century up through to the 1970s the story was really about two companies, Smith & Wesson and Colt, which owned probably 75% or more of the American police market, with he vast majority of police handguns being revolvers. After World War II Colt largely surrendered the civilian market to Smith & Wesson, so by the 1970s relatively few police forces were arming their people with Colt revolvers. By the end of the 1970s the "Wonder 9" cycle had started. Colt didn't have a single entry, and Smith & Wesson had their 39/59 semi-autos, but the lion's share of the new market for police semi-autos started going to companies like Sig, Beretta, and Glock. Today, the police force that carries a revolver is largely an oddity. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

January 10, 2006, 05:31 PM	#2
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	You might include information about Teddy Roosevelt who standardized Police in NYC. That included a weapon and exams instead of political appointees.Don't have a website.

January 10, 2006, 05:33 PM	#3
matthew temkin Junior member Join Date: June 7, 2002 Location: NYC Posts: 363	The History Channel has a series, TALES OF THE GUN, and one of the eposides is the history of police guns. Trooper Mike Conti of the Mass.State Police is on it quite a bit, and they do a great job. It is probably sold on it's website.

January 11, 2006, 09:45 AM	#8
Mikeyboy Senior Member Join Date: October 31, 2005 Posts: 1,231	+1 on the history channel "Tales of the Gun' Series. Try doing seraches with Colt, S&W, Remington (the 870 shotgun, and the model 700 rifle) Glock and Beretta and the word police. 50 Minute presentation???....man that's long.