postal inspector's gun?

[wolffire99]

I recently purchased this unfired speed six. The serial # date's it to 1974-75. The seller said it was a government issue postal inspector's gun but there are no markings anywhere that would suggest such. Anyway, I was wondering if there was any other way to verify this. I'm just as happy with it either way, but wouldn't mind knowing it's history as well.

 

[Lost Sheep]

I recently purchased this unfired speed six. The serial # date's it to 1974-75. The seller said it was a government issue postal inspector's gun but there are no markings anywhere that would suggest such. Anyway, I was wondering if there was any other way to verify this. I'm just as happy with it either way, but wouldn't mind knowing it's history as well.

I have read that, indeed, Ruger's Six series of guns were purchased by the USPS, and perhaps that is what the seller meant. That "these guns were government issued to the USPS", but not necessarily that particular gun. A bit of intentional or unintentional obsfuscation?

So, bottom line. Rugers like yours were issued by the USPS. If yours was not, it is just virtually identical to it. Smile, you have a great gun.

Check out this thread. It has pictures.

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=440829&sid=522082b5e7c13a3dbc5dd5a4534f78ea

Lost Sheep

 

[eveled]

Nice gun wolffire99.

. Thanks for the link to a great old post Lost Sheep. There are probably a lot of nice old posts like that buried in the archives but usually the pictures are gone. Ed

 

[lfpiii]

Guns issued to the USPS have some markings on them. In the late 1980s I had a friend in Buffalo that carried one. His gun was marked with the USPS logo and government property.

Later contracts were for stainless steel guns. What may suprise some is that several of these guns are still in service. Marine postal carriers and others are still issued these guns. My father-in-law retired from USPS last year and recalled one of his guys transferred to Death Valley area in 2003. He was issued a revolver, they had yet received a supply of Glocks.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Guns issued to the USPS have some markings on them. In the late 1980s I had a friend in Buffalo that carried one. His gun was marked with the USPS logo and government property.

Later contracts were for stainless steel guns. What may suprise some is that several of these guns are still in service. Marine postal carriers and others are still issued these guns. My father-in-law retired from USPS last year and recalled one of his guys transferred to Death Valley area in 2003. He was issued a revolver, they had yet received a supply of Glocks.

Do you recall where the markings were? Left side, right side, barrel, grip frame?

I tried looking at the pictures I found on the internet, but could not see any. Of course, all the pictures are right side.

Thanks

 

[Mike Armstrong]

Postal inspector or not, I'd take that Speed Six to any Glock ever--molded (?)!

 

[lfpiii]

Everything was on the right side. The serial number had been moved foward closer to the front of the frame to allow for the markings. Every once in a while you will find one with markings also on the back strap. Some locations issued guns as needed and gave them rack numbers. I will see if my father-in-law has pictures of the gun he was issued.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Everything was on the right side. The serial number had been moved foward closer to the front of the frame to allow for the markings. Every once in a while you will find one with markings also on the back strap. Some locations issued guns as needed and gave them rack numbers. I will see if my father-in-law has pictures of the gun he was issued.

The O.P.'s (wolffire99) photograph does not have markings that I can see.

wolffire99? could you look on the backstrap and elsewhere, please? I note that in your original post you said there were no markings, so we have a mystery here. The serial numbers on my Security sixes are on the bottom of the grip frame, so maybe the government markings are there.

Lost Sheep

 

[RedlegM109A1]

Nice looking revolver. How does it shoot?

 

[pisgah]

One distinguishing mark of the Postal Service revolvers -- a full 3" barrel, as opposed to the usual 2.75". Not all are marked with any special mark.

 

[TexasFed]

As a now-retired Postal Inspector who was a Division Firearms Coordinator for 14 yrs, I can hopefully clarify a few points.

In 1986, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service contracted with Ruger to build a stainless steel .357 magnum revolver with a 3 inch barrel exclusively for use by Postal Inspectors. Although the Post Office Department had a long history of firearm purchases over the past 200+ years, ranging from shotguns & revolvers to submachine guns, this Ruger “Speed Six” Model GS33-PS (Government Service - Postal Service) represented the first (and last) time a handgun was manufactured to specific U.S. Post Office specifications.

After Ruger made delivery in 1987, this weapon was assigned to all Postal Inspectors and Postal Police Officers. Approximately 3000 were manufactured, all bearing a serial number prefix of 162 followed by a 5-digit number up to 23446. There are no special markings on the weapon such as a badge or the letters USPIS or USPS. However, included in the Ruger box with each of these revolvers was an owner's manual that showed the Postal Inspector badge on the cover. On the inside page was a letter from the Chief Postal Inspector (dated 3/15/1987), identifying it as the offical weapon of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Approx 5 yrs later these revolvers were replaced with a semi auto pistol. Inspectors were then allowed to purchase 1 of these Rugers for personal use. As a result, some have since been re-sold to the public.

 

[Lost Sheep]

As a now-retired Postal Inspector who was a Division Firearms Coordinator for 14 yrs, I can hopefully clarify a few points.

In 1986, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service contracted with Ruger to build a stainless steel .357 magnum revolver with a 3 inch barrel exclusively for use by Postal Inspectors. Although the Post Office Department had a long history of firearm purchases over the past 200+ years, ranging from shotguns & revolvers to submachine guns, this Ruger “Speed Six” Model GS33-PS (Government Service - Postal Service) represented the first (and last) time a handgun was manufactured to specific U.S. Post Office specifications.

After Ruger made delivery in 1987, this weapon was assigned to all Postal Inspectors and Postal Police Officers. Approximately 3000 were manufactured, all bearing a serial number prefix of 162 followed by a 5-digit number up to 23446. There are no special markings on the weapon such as a badge or the letters USPIS or USPS. However, included in the Ruger box with each of these revolvers was an owner's manual that showed the Postal Inspector badge on the cover. On the inside page was a letter from the Chief Postal Inspector (dated 3/15/1987), identifying it as the offical weapon of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Approx 5 yrs later these revolvers were replaced with a semi auto pistol. Inspectors were then allowed to purchase 1 of these Rugers for personal use. As a result, some have since been re-sold to the public.

Welcome to the forum, TexasFed.

I suspect you may now hold the record for the degree of helpfulness of an initial post. Thank you very much.

Lost Sheep

 

[mohavesam]

I like the history and structure of the info!

I am now officially on the hunt for a 3" Speed-Six! Being a series 162-xxxx and 1987-ish manufacture, I'd guess they all had the scalloped recoil shield also?

 

[lfpiii]

TexasFed

Welcome to the forum. Didn't USPS have a special production of 2 & 3 inch S&W model 36s with lanyards?

 

[TexasFed]

The best answer I can give is "probably not." A few months before Postal Inspectors rec'd their Speed Six's, a couple dozen Inspectors, including me, went to the Ruger factory for a week of amorer training. While at this training a Deputy Chief Inspector told us how this weapon was specially built to specs provided by the Postal Inspection Service. The 3" barrel, for example. There were other features but I don't recall what they were. He stated this was the first time this had been done in postal history and was a significant event. But no one thought to ask him how he learned this info, or maybe we all just knew better than to question the veracity of a top level manager. Regardless, he did speak like he was darned certain of it and I've never found any info to dispute the claim.

Over the years I've seen a wide assortment of Post Office weapons, some with POD (Post Office Dept) stamped on the frame. These weapons were all purchased by the POD but were not exclusively manufactured or specifically designed for the POD. The S&W Mdl 36 and the Colt Mdl 1911 are two quick examples of such weapons that found their way into POD inventories but were not specifically made for the POD. I hope this clarifies.

 

[mohavesam]

Keep it coming! Forums such as this thrive on first hand knowledge!

 

[deingy]

These used Postal Service Rugers were advertised in Shotgun News and were gone before I could find my FFL buddy. I would have bought 2 but they were gone in a flash.

 

[BearBiologist]

All of my "issue" guns had markings designating so: S & W & Colt 1917s, Victory S & W (US Property and Bavarian Border Police), Lockheed Air Corp ("Skunk works") Detective Special, M-1 Garand, Adams Express Co., M-1 Carbine, Krags and others. I have seen Dept of Corrections, banks (1920s-30s), other postal inspectors, etc.

 

[weaselmeatgravy]

This an ancient thread that got bumped, but I can add the following:

They don't have any special markings but were stainless 3" barrel Speed Sixes with Ruger medallion Pachmayr finger groove grips and a factory letter will confirm it as a model GS-33PS and they all appear in the 161 & 162 serial number prefix.

 

[the_leper_colony]

... I have seen Dept of Corrections, banks (1920s-30s), other postal inspectors, etc.

I once purchased some used P-series 9mm mags (later model with polymer floor plate) that had been rather crudely marked "BOP". I did a little research and learned (IIRC) that the federal Bureau of Prisons had at one time purchased & issued P94s. I don't know if the handguns were marked, but apparently some of the mags were, perhaps by individual armorers.

As always FWIW, IMHO, YMMV, IIRC, etc., etc.

 

[Watertender]

In the 1940's my late cousin worked for the Post Office as a Railway Post Office clerk in the mail car. His issued handgun was a Colt Bankers Special in .38 Colt New Police.

 

[hittman]

The Ruger verification letter will tell you which post office it was shipped to as well.

 

[Randyzzz]

A 1960 Single Six Magnum came up on GB the other day. Label on the box said “property of Coroner”. There was an officer name and I’m guessing badge number too. I tried to research from the info given and came up with nothing. They only accepted cashiers checks/money orders…I am not comfortable with a payment method without recourse. It went for $430. Would have lived to know the story behind that one…