These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

Over the years I've had the pleasure of carrying a large number of handguns on duty and off duty, from S&W Models 28 & 29 to Series 80 Colt .45s. I have also had the pleasure of being the Sergeant Rangemaster to my department's 2,000+ officers, as well as its current EVOC Supervisor.

My three favorite handguns (as pictured) include my first-ever wheelgun and two semi-autos, all of which I still own.

At this point my department only allows the Sig Sauer semi-auto system to be carried, in .40, .45 and 9mm calibres (with the .380 reserved for Exec and Management Staff). Approved models include the P220, P226, P229 and P232.

Top:

Colt Python, .357 calibre, 4" bbl, blued

My favorite rollergun, I carried this weapon first as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff in 1975 for a number of years until I acquired the Chrome Bumper (no longer owned), which was a 6" bbl Colt Python slathered with liberal doses of pimp-chrome. Reserves were not supposed to carry a long-barreled handgun but, for whatever reason, no one objected. I also carried the 4" Python for a short time when I worked for the FBI.

Ah, memories: for years my department's officers only shot wadcutters for qualifications. One day in the late '70s a clear-thinking Rangemaster postulated: "Hey, since we shoot factory rounds in the street and not wadcutters, perhaps we should qualify with factory rounds?" Imagine the chagrin of some officers who lost their vision during night-quals due to the bloom from a Full Chat .357 round! Some officers who'd never had to fire a factory round in the street were shocked -- shocked -- that the Full Chat .357 round was a wrist-wrencher! Makes me giggle.

Middle:

Sig Sauer P220, .45 calibre, blued, Euro-release, single-stack mag

I carried this handgun the bulk of my time in Patrol. I had a double-mag pouch on my Sam Browne which meant I carried four magazines within immediate reach. A very light-framed handgun with a potent round, the P220 was balanced very well and shot accurately. It was hardy, durable and the large hole at the end caught many a person's attention.

Bottom:

Glock 17, 9mm calibre, blued, double-stack mag

For whatever reason, I shot best of all with this handgun. I also carried this for a time with the FBI. Called the "plastic gun," scuttlebutt at the beginning of its life included the falsehood that it could pass through metal detectors -- which it could not and still cannot do. The frame is a poured polymer, but the slide and various other critical parts are metal, plain and simple.

My department eliminated the weapon for optional carry because, for cleaning and stripping, you had to be smarter than the gun. That eliminated a certain number of personnel from my department -- those who managed to put a few holes in the cleaning shack adjacent Range 1. One must depress the trigger in order to release the slide (Glock, what were you thinking??) but, as any logical and safe gunhandler knows, you must first drop the magazine, lock back the slide and clear the well and throat. Heavy sigh. I miss my Glock.

Yes, these are a few of my favorite things. Yours?

BZ