I can't help you with your question but that is a nice specimen. Looking at these never gets old!

 

Bravo! Beautiful Mod M and box

If that is a police precinct, it has to be from one of our largest cities. I'd guess it wound up in NYC.

* I can't tell you about the accuracy of these statements but some internet sources say NYC had between 73-76 precincts.
Chicago had 5 police districts each composed of 25 police stations.
From the current Los Angeles PD website, it appears that L.A. has 18 precincts divided amongst
4 bureaus.
The terminolgy appears to be variable.

 

As Malysh points out, it is likely a very large city. However, I have always understood that New York was anti-automatic until relatively recently. There were probably exceptions, of course. Get a letter and see where it was shipped. Such a high condition pistol warrants a letter even without the mystery of the notation.

 

NYC used DA revolvers exclusively for decades. That doesn't mean that a citizen couldn't turn in a Mod M to a precinct. Nor does it mean that the NYC cops couldn't secret a Mod M on their persons, although this gun was obviously lovingly preserved. Perhaps the 63rd precinct had a watch commander or shift sergeant that was also a gun collector (many cops are not), and the cop just took it home.
Many NYC cops carried non traceable throw-away guns even though it was prohibited. This one was definitely not a throw-away gun!
Nobody said the gun was purchased by the NYC police department or authorized by them, in fact I doubt it was. It appears that the gun was merely turned in to the authorities, for what reason, we will never know.

I seem to recall a Mod M that actually lettered to the NYPD shown on this forum awhile back but my memory could be wrong.

 

Absolutely beautiful gun!

 

Absolutely wonderful find. You must be thrilled. And maybe a great story to boot with a letter/some research.

 

Towards the beginning of the last century NYPD did issue Model M's to it's detectives for a short period of time. I'm pretty sure they were the .380 caliber, and they were marked New York Police. This was probably not long after T. Roosevelt as police commissioner had Colt New Police .32 revolvers issued to patrolmen as a standardized gun. That one looks like it just came out of a time machine. No way it was a cop's carry gun. I'm betting someone had a premises only permit and it was kept in a shop or apartment.

 

Great information!!!

 

As stated before NYPD was issued these guns. A letter would definitely be right for this weapon in such a shape. The lingo used is 100% referring to NYPD. The 63rd precinct is located at 1844 Brooklyn Ave. in Brooklyn. It is a middle & upper class one & two family residence near a national park. So chances are the Detective that was issued this pistol didn't see much action with it. My brother in law used to live there prior to moving to Florida. Great area very time trapped to how it looked back in the day. I recall sitting on his steps and people watching and taking in the scene it reminded me of the God Father with Robert Deniro sitting in the same spot holding Michael with the family. It was picturesque. Or the other solution can be it belonged to a detective like Columbo who never carried a gun. Good luck in tracing this down and just for the record I would buy that from you if your interested in selling it. Specially if you link it to NYPD. Being a law enforcement officer I collect firearms that are marked or linked to any PD. I have a NYPD colt police positive that was used by an officer in the early 70's or late 60's. I have to get a letter from colt for it. But that's not here nor there. Anyway great find.

 

Before you go crazy check the box to see if the serial number matches.

 

Thanks KMK and everyone! Good advice on any gun to check the serial on the box, but I did check and it does match.

 

They don't get better than that one, do they?
That is a stunning exanple of what those things were when they came out of the box. Museum, collector & trade value for sure.

 

The Notation mentioning a Permit Number, then, Returned to 63rd Precinct...kind of sounds as if someone had a Carry Permit for that Pistol, then, the Pistol and the Permit for whatever reason, were handed over to the Precinct, maybe the Permit Holder deceased and their family handed it and the Pistol in or...

 

I agree with Oyeboten but what do I know. Such an amazing pistol and im sure there is gonna be a cool story behind it; as to if you will ever find it out, who knows. good luck though

 

The 1903 makes my heart sing! I truly wish I owned that baby. Congrats