Since there have been a number of threads lately about the older Smiths I thought I would share these two from my father.
The .38 M&P snubbie was his off-duty gun that he purchased in 1956 when he joined the Cincinnati Police Dept. He purchased it from a long ago closed LGS that sold guns to officers through the dept. Aside from some minor holster wear near the end of the barrel it is in very good condition. We believe that it probably has less than a box of ammo through it other than a few of my .38 reloads. Unfortunately he no longer has the box or papers other than a receipt.
The 65-2 was his last duty revolver that he carried up to his retirement in 1982. About the time he was retiring the dept. was transitioning to semi-autos and he was allowed to keep this one into retirement. Other than some of my .38 reloads and a few .357 rounds (.357s are brutal to shoot from it) he probably only fired it during quals. He says he never fired a gun on duty in 25 years in the force. One side is stamped C.P.D. below the cylinder.
We recently learned that at the age of 93 he is the second oldest living retired Cincinnati police officer. I'm hoping that the longevity of my parents and ancestors bodes well for me.