Post originally by Derek Murphy at 2003-08-22 20:16:36
Converted from Phorums BB System

FYI, Jane's Guns Recognition Guide is a pocket version that only costs about $22.50. ISBN 0-00-470979-9. The book contains hundreds of weapons and is broken into chapters on pistols, revolvers, sub-machine guns, bolt action rifles, automatic rifles and machine guns. It is intended to be recognition manual for any weapon a law enforcement agent might encounter in the real world, and it contains lots of good info for modern RPG fans.

As for the .357, I can only say "Doh!" My comment on the timeframe was based on a lack of thought and a misprint in the glossary of "The Complete Encyclopedia of Pistols and Revolvers." I don't know why it didn't occur to me that "1985" should have been "1935," but there you go.

There are still cops who choose to carry .38s and .357s (including both my second cousin and my soon-to-be sister-in-law), primarily because revolvers tend to be more reliable and easier to maintain. Most of the DC cops I've seen seem to be carrying Glocks, now, admittedly.