So I'm going to pick your collected brains out there.
A question was asked of me what handgun did the CIA issue to their officers in the 1950's?
.38 snub noses, PP or PPKs, M1911A1?

Any help would be great.

Dave

Trick question. The CIA doesn't issue handguns.

An official issue handgun would be a glaring sign screaming "I'M CIA".
When needed a firearm appropriate to where the agent was working would be used.
Remember too, CIA agents aren't themselves spy's.  They recruit and run spy's.  CIA agents are typically posing as diplomatic officials with diplomatic immunity.  As such a gun is not needed, and would be actually a danger to the agent.

With that said, individual CIA personnel had a "thing" for the Walther PPK in the 50's and 60's.
One former official said that the diplomatic bag from Germany was usually full of new Walther PPK pistols requested by Washington CIA personnel.

Thanks for the replies.
So the CIA does not issue weapons, officers just pick up/request what they need?
I did not know this.

Dave

FBI and Hoover, 38 chiefs special maybe?

CIA field operatives, the the terms of what most folks think of as "a spy" are either guys posing as foreign service officers doing embassy work while working local assets (Case Officers), in which case weapons are not warranted or allowed, or they are Special Activities Officers who are true paramilitary assets doing nasty things to (generally) nasty people. These are the guys that are usually former very high-speed low-drag military types, they use generally available weapons in the area of operation because they are deniable.

Uncle had a Mauser HSc.  Had issues with it and went to a Walther PPK.

rongorongo

First issue for the FBI was Colt Official Police.  Smith Model 10 four inch followed.  Then the Model 13 three inch.  If memory serves they were allowed personal revolvers as well.

For a period of time, the "in" pistol at the FBI was a 2 1/2" Colt Python.
If you remember the old TV show about the FBI, star Efrem Zembalist carried a Python.

I was an intelligence officer for 22 years and had many dealings with the CIA. They didnt issue any common handguns but the one pistol  I encountered more than any other was the Browning Hi Power. Of course this was mostly back in the 80s and 90s and I cant speak for today.