Old Time Law Enforcement

[Burnston]

This is cross-posted on another forum, but it is too unique of an encounter not to circulate a bit more. 


I was travelling through a new town with a load of client's cattle when the red and blue lights showed in my mirrors. Aside from the Smith on my hip I had a Ruger hanging from the head rest, and made these things known to the older looking officer. The conversation went something like this;



"Is that an Old Model .44 flat-top hanging in that belt?"



"Yes sir."



"You're a little too young for that. Must have been your grandpa's?"



"Yes sir. He traded some mechanic work for it years ago."



"Ever shot anything with it?"



"Just the basics; whitetail and hogs."



"Mind if I see it?"



Normally I'm not keen on turning over my guns, even to a friendly LEO, but he had an Eagle, Globe, and Anchor on his forearm. I carefully unloaded it and he fondled the pistol like a guy whose used one before. But here is the kicker;



"There's a Texan named Zane Thompson who would set you up with a nice set of stocks for this beauty."



I told him they're already wearing a set of Zane's mesquite burl. Talk about a small world, this encounter being in southwest Missouri. He handed it back to me, told me to have a good day, and left. He never mentioned why I was pulled over. By and large, my experience with law enforcement has always been respectful and positive. Still yet, you don't run in to old timers like that very often anymore.

[aciera]

There is hope for the world……thanks for sharing this.

[coltfan]

There’s hope. I’ve been a LEO for over 31 years and there’s some good kids coming into the field, lots of former military. Not as many gun guys as there used to be so that’s quite a change from the days when I started.

Hang in there, we ain’t all bad.

[contender]

This post made me smile. Good to know that a guy like that is out there on patrol.


That could have been my son as the LEO. He was raised around guns,, has a fair collection, and knows more than many in his dept about such things.

[x101airborne]

HA! I have a belt and holster on my driver's seat just like that! It currently has my Cimarron Bad Boy in it and half the belt is 44 Specials. The other half is 44 snake shot and a few 44 Magnum rounds. I love the cotton belt. I have always wanted one to call my "summer" rig. Where did you get that one?

BTW... You dont have NEAR enough crap in your back seat. You could have half of mine if I didn't need it. That is JD Hydraulic oil in the 5 gallon buckets isn't it? 

[bigbrowndog]

A few years ago I was speeding my way north through the panhandle of Texas on my way to Raton NM. I was just south of Hereford, when a state trooper passed me southbound. I knew I was speeding and when he braked and turned around, I pulled over to a county road and stopped and waited. Sat in the car with my carry permit and arms out the window. When he approached I asked if I could exit the car for both his and my safety. His reply was why!?!?……because I have a lot of guns in the car besides my carry gun,……..sure step on out. Took my license and permit asked where the carry gun was, I replied in the passenger seat.

Where you headed, he asked…….Raton NM, for a shooting competition.
Oh, you going to the NRA Whittington ctr???……..Yes sir, there is a 3 gun match there this weekend.
What kind of guns do you use???……. Well I shoot for JP rifles so I have a JP LRP07 in 308, and I’m a member of Team Benelli so I also have a Benelli Nova shotgun.
What’s you third gun???…….Handgun, it’s an STI HiCap 45acp.
You’re shooting big guns!!!…….Yes sir the division is called Heavy Metal.
Mind if I look at’em???……..Not at all, so I proceed to spend 15-30 minutes pulling guns out on a side county road, and he is swinging them around and working actions.
After awhile he says, you be careful driving and watch your speed,….have fun.

Trapr

[markwell]

Had a trooper show up when we were evacuating a climber from Seneca Rocks quite a few years ago. Had my old Toyota pickup parked on the access road with my 5" Models 29 in a Tanker rig hanging from the head rest. This was long before We had constitutional carry or even easily available CCW permits here. As the ambulance drove away, the trooper asked, "whose truck is this?" That's when I remembered the gun! I told him it was mine and he asked what the revolver was. Told him it was a 5" S&W .44 mag and he replied that he'd never seen a 5-incher before. Asked him if he'd like to see it and, thankfully, all was well, as he was a "gun guy" and a very practical Law enforcement officer. Things could have been worse.

[Burnston]

Mar 7, 2024 8:52:30 GMT -5 x101airborne said:

HA! I have a belt and holster on my driver's seat just like that! It currently has my Cimarron Bad Boy in it and half the belt is 44 Specials. The other half is 44 snake shot and a few 44 Magnum rounds. I love the cotton belt. I have always wanted one to call my "summer" rig. Where did you get that one?

BTW... You dont have NEAR enough crap in your back seat. You could have half of mine if I didn't need it. That is JD Hydraulic oil in the 5 gallon buckets isn't it? 

You know it is. As for the space in my back seat, had I panned the camera south just a tad you'd see a car seat. My top paid hand likes to come along on the hauls and he needs space for his saddlebags full of tractors, books, spare snap-cap ammo,  and snacks. 

I'll have to get back to you on the belt. I know exactly where I got it years ago and the place is still in business but I cannot for the life of me recall the name. I'll check my receipt records when I get home. He caters to the cowboy action crowd, and a little towards the safari guys. Since using canvas as a work rig I've stopped using all my leather belts. They don't look as good, but its incomparable as far as I'm concerned. 

[gnappi]

Mar 7, 2024 8:52:30 GMT -5 x101airborne said:

HA! I have a belt and holster on my driver's seat just like that! It currently has my Cimarron Bad Boy in it and half the belt is 44 Specials. The other half is 44 snake shot and a few 44 Magnum rounds. I love the cotton belt. I have always wanted one to call my "summer" rig. Where did you get that one?

BTW... You dont have NEAR enough crap in your back seat. You could have half of mine if I didn't need it. That is JD Hydraulic oil in the 5 gallon buckets isn't it? 

 :-) The back seat in my 4 door Silverado hasn't been seen in a long time. 

[markwell]

I removed the rear seat from my Chevy 2500 on the first day and built a dog bench the height of the front center console. Dogs can see out AND THERE'S LOTS OF COVERED STROAGE underneath.