Want to buy or sell something? Check the classifieds
  • The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

F.B.I. fedora circa 1938

Hatsquad

New in Town
Messages
40
Location
Huntsville, Ontario, Canada
This is F.B.I. Special Agent Jerry Campbell circa 1938 at Quantico. He was a colleague of Melvin Purvis and other gang-busters in the turbulent thirties.

Man, those guys knew how to dress!

<a href="http://s304.photobucket.com/albums/nn179/Maxadur/?action=view&current=Campbell.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn179/Maxadur/Campbell.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
D

demian

Guest
Great photo.

My father is a career FBI Agent...now retired.

They had strict rules under hoover.

They were not allowed to run when chasing a suspect.

They were not allowed to drink coffee.

They had strict weight and appearance guidelines.

Everyone always used to carry a handkerchief when standing in line after graduating to shake Hoover's hand as he hated wet/sweaty handshakes.

Sometimes dismissing them on appearance alone.
Nut.

Ciao
 

D.W. Suratt

One of the Regulars
Messages
183
Location
South Carolina
handlebar bart said:
Yep, thanks for the great picture. He's sportin a great look and really not a hard one to copy minus the Tommie gun.[huh]


Really great photo! Auto-Ordnance still makes a semi auto version of the Tommy Gun. they are fun shoot.
 

Dixon Cannon

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,157
Location
Sonoran Desert Hideaway
Hatsquad said:
This is F.B.I. Special Agent Jerry Campbell circa 1938 at Quantico. He was a colleague of Melvin Purvis and other gang-busters in the turbulent thirties.

Man, those guys knew how to dress!

<a href="http://s304.photobucket.com/albums/nn179/Maxadur/?action=view&current=Campbell.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn179/Maxadur/Campbell.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

This one looks like my Dad's Marathon from the era!

-dixon cannon
 

cookie

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,927
Location
Sydney Australia
Spade or Philly or Detroit Soled Shoes

Hatsquad said:
This is F.B.I. Special Agent Jerry Campbell circa 1938 at Quantico. He was a colleague of Melvin Purvis and other gang-busters in the turbulent thirties.

Man, those guys knew how to dress!

<a href="http://s304.photobucket.com/albums/nn179/Maxadur/?action=view&current=Campbell.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn179/Maxadur/Campbell.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Check out the wonderful spade soled shoes!:eusa_clap
 

Mr. Paladin

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,133
Location
North Texas
bburtner@moran said:
Ok, all of you gun nuts out there,what pistol is in that holster?

The FBI began to use or allow use of the S & W Model 27 .357 magnum revolver shortly after its development in 1935 because of the lack of effectiveness of the .38 Special against automobiles. They had found themselves in several running gun battles with the new mobile multi-state bank robbers and quickly discovered the .38 was not effective against the solidly built vehicles. The Model 27 allowed had a 3 1/2 inch barrel and was often carried with the larger, Magna stocks shown on that model in the photo, and often with a grip adaptor to fill in the gap behind the trigger guard. I do not believe those stocks were developed for use on the smaller K frame M & P models at that time, so that is my best guess from the photo evidence.

Since it also had a high velocity and a solid jacketed projectile, they also allowed the use of the .38 Super Colt 1911 (semi-automatic pistol) for the same reason--increased penetration to get rounds into heavy cover. I believe Mr. Purvis carried one of these autos.

While very large and bulky by today's standards for a .357 revolver, it was the state of the art at that time. It is still an excellent revolver but no longer carried in that configuration by Smith and Wesson.

I typed this while wearing my new eBay find so as to maintain the hat connection in this thread!!!
 

Hatsquad

New in Town
Messages
40
Location
Huntsville, Ontario, Canada
Paladin is mostly correct. The revolver at that time was just called "the .357 magnum" because Smith and Wesson hadn't adopted model numbers yet. Also, the guns were given a production number in addition to the serial number, and so were called "Registered Magnums". Also now called "pre-27's".
Hoover was presented with RM #1, and it's whereabouts is presently unknown (except to the owner). A very valuable collectable!

<a href="http://s304.photobucket.com/albums/nn179/Maxadur/?action=view&current=pre27.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn179/Maxadur/pre27.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

This is S.A Jelly Bryce, F.B.I. gunfighter extraordinaire, showing off his Registered Magnum:


<a href="http://s304.photobucket.com/albums/nn179/Maxadur/?action=view&current=bryce-vi.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn179/Maxadur/bryce-vi.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


Regards, Gerry
 

Forum statistics

Threads
109,281
Messages
3,077,853
Members
54,238
Latest member
LeonardasDream
Top