CHP commemorative gun question

[benjamin101677]

So I purchased a few guns from a friend without really looking at them; I picked them up today and noticed on the model 60 Smith and Wesson .38 revolver that is it marked California Highway Patrol and a badge.

All my friend knows is that years ago he purchased some guns from a widow of a CHP Officer and never paid much attention to them either.

I can't find any information about CHP ever having a commemorative model 60 revolver; and I can't find where at any time the CHP would have ever issued the model 60 stub nose revolver.

Just curious if anybody knows anything about what I have? Doesn't appear to have been fired much still locks up very tight, and have very little wear.

Researching the model 60 on line I find that they are hard to date as even though this model number doesn't have a dash number that some model 60's were made without either adding the dash number.

Whoever the officer was I also ended up with his CHP 4006 which what appears to be CHP in house markings

[Mike-4]

Those model 60s were never issued. Davis Guns in Sacramento offered these revolvers mainly to cadets at the CHP Academy who would later use them as secondary weapons or off duty. I know this to be true, at least back in the 80s. Not a commemorative revolver as far as I know.

[SkyHawk]

The engraved sideplate looks like it might not be original to the gun, not sure if it is the pic but the fit doesn't seem factory. Maybe whoever had these engraved took a bunch of sideplates off guns, shipped them off for engraving and then put them back onto guns without matching them?

And is 2939 a badge number maybe?

That revolver has pinned barrel, nice...

[benjamin101677]

Those model 60s were never issued. Davis Guns in Sacramento offered these revolvers mainly to cadets at the CHP Academy who would later use them as secondary weapons or off duty. I know this to be true, at least back in the 80s. Not a commemorative revolver as far as I know.

Thanks Mike that would make a lot of sense; also ended up with who the officer was his 4006 that appears to have a CHP in house number of "A4036" all stamped on the frame; slide and barrel

I added photos on that

[The Gleam]

Hey Ponch.... look at the cool Model 60 over there!

[Mike-4]

You're welcome. The 4006 numbers were done at the factory per CHP contract.

[Horsewright]

Can confirm all the above. The Mod 60s from Davis went for about $200 early 80s. CTC 3/83. Didn't get one, had and still have a Mod 36.

[The War Wagon]

Hey Ponch.... look at the cool Model 60 over there!

YOU OWE ME A KEYBOARD!!!

[Jimi Jah]

That is California State property. Better turn it in.

[brianm767]

Yes the 4006 was the standard issue duty weapon, the extra marks are CHP stampings, I believe they also had a slight relief machined in the lower portion of the grip housing to assist in removing a stuck magazine.

I owned a commercial one and received my Fathers CHP gun when he retired.

The only official CHP commemorative was a S&W .357 as far as I'm aware of, I also have my dads, each officer was allowed to purchase one.

[jben]

I have a S&W 1006 CHP commemorative. One of 650 according to the stamp. All my searching when I bought it lead me to believe it wasn't really anything special.

[benjamin101677]

Thanks for all the inputs; its really great to have something and know nothing about post a question and within a few hours have all these great feedback.

I am happy to have a great little revolver with some known history now.

Thanks again for all shared information

[Horsewright]

Yes the 4006 was the standard issue duty weapon, the extra marks are CHP stampings, I believe they also had a slight relief machined in the lower portion of the grip housing to assist in removing a stuck magazine.

I owned a commercial one and received my Fathers CHP gun when he retired.

The only official CHP commemorative was a S&W .357 as far as I'm aware of, I also have my dads, each officer was allowed to purchase one.

The commemoratives were put out by the Association not the Dept. There were the Smith Mod 19 in .357, A Ruger #1 in .357 and the Smith 1006 in 10mm.