Colt Model M Collector's Information Police Department Marked Variations

M.P.C. - Metropolitan Police Commission (Boston PD)

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mpc112a.jpg (11072 bytes)

Model M .380 serial number 1869 factory inscribed "M.P.C. No. 112" on grip safety. One of the earliest known police marked examples shipped in late 1908/early 1909 with barrel bushing. This police contract is the earliest contract on record at Colt for the .380 caliber Model M pistols. MPC is believed to be the Metropolitan Police Commission (Boston PD). There were a total of 214 pistols sn 1328 - 14644 shipped 12/5/08 - 6/4/13.

Model M .380 serial number 14568 factory inscribed "M.P.C. No. 194" on grip safety. An example from near the end of the contract run with integrated barrel bushing Grips have been replaced with smooth walnut type. This police contract is the earliest contract on record at Colt for the .380 caliber Model M pistols. MPC is believed to be the Metropolitan Police Commission (Boston PD). There were a total of 214 pistols sn 1328 - 14644 shipped 12/5/08 - 6/4/13.

Model M .380 serial number 14568 factory inscribed "M.P.C. No. 194" on grip safety.

Model M .380 serial number 14568 factory inscribed "M.P.C. No. 194" right side.

Model M .380 serial number 14524 factory inscribed "M.P.C. No. 208" on grip safety. An example from near the end of the contract run with integrated barrel bushing This police contract is the earliest contract on record at Colt for the .380 caliber Model M pistols. MPC is believed to be the Metropolitan Police Commission (Boston PD). There were a total of 214 pistols sn 1328 - 14644 shipped 12/5/08 - 6/4/13.

Model M .380 serial number 14524 factory inscribed "M.P.C. No. 208" on grip safety.

G.P.D. - Gloversville, NY Police Department

Model M .32 ACP factory inscribed G.P.D. No. 2

Gloversville, NY Town View

Model M .32 with factory inscription "G.P.D. No. 2" engraved (not rollmarked) on the left side of the frame where the serial number is typically located. This was one of 13 guns shipped to the Gloversville, NY Police Department in the 1920s. It is interesting to note that in order to accommodate the location of the inscription, the serial number was factory engraved on the right side of the frame.

P.D.N.Y. - New York Police Department

Model M P.D.N.Y. Marked .380

Model M .380 with factory rollmark "P.D.N.Y. No. 171" on right side of frame above grip. Over 800 of these pistols were ordered by the New York City Police Department around 1915 for issue to detectives. Very few of these examples are known to have survived.

Model M .380 with factory rollmark "P.D.N.Y. No. 353" on right side of frame above grip. Over 800 of these pistols were ordered by the New York City Police Department around 1915 for issue to detectives.

Model M .380 serial number 15212 factory rollmarked "P.D.N.Y. No. 353" on right side of frame above grip..

Model M .380 serial number 15212 factory rollmarked "P.D.N.Y. No. 353" right side.

W.P.D. - Woonsocket, Rhode Island Police Department

Model M W.P.D. Marked .32

Model M .32 with factory rollmark "W.P.D. No. 18" on right side of frame above grip. This was one of 21 guns marked "W.P.D. No. 1-21" on the frame ordered by the Woonsocket, Rhode Island Police Department. Pistols with this marking were shipped between March 3, 1915 - March 6, 1919. Five .380 caliber Model M pistols marked "W.P.D. No. 1-5" sn 107889 - 108903 were shipped on March 13, 1930.

Woonsocket, RI Town View

Detroit Police - Detroit, Michigan Police Department

Photos courtesy of Emilio

Aftermarket inscribed Detroit Police Colt Model M .32 ACP serial number 832 with period shoulder holster - The contract for the Detroit Police Department guns numbered 50 guns that were shipped in 1912. This example has "Detroit Police 1388" inscribed on the grip safety. This number is higher than the highest number of the contract, but the serial number of the gun is way earlier than the contract. The Detroit PD may have picked these guns up on the second hand market and had it inscribed like the guns from the contract, to issue to an officer. It could also have been done independently by a Detroit PD employee.

L.P.D.

Photos courtesy of Frank Karl

Model M in .380 ACP caliber serial no 9398 - The back strap in engraved "LPD No.77". The previous owner attributes the inscription to the Lorain, Ohio Police Department.

Med P.D.

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