Why does Andy still carry a .38 pistol?
While most cops in the NYPD, as well as every other major American law-enforcement agency, have shifted over to more modern semi-automatic weapons that fire more shots, with greater range and accuracy, Andy still clings to his old-fashioned police special. That’s because the NYPD has a grandfather clause allowing veteran cops to continue using the older, smaller weapon if they so choose. I don’t know how many real-life cops actually choose to take advantage of that, but for the show, the use of the .38 special is one of many signifiers that Sipowicz is an old-school cop in almost every way.
