***SEE POST #36 FOR UPDATE WITH PHOTOS OF LETTERS FROM ROY JINKS***
Purchased my 2nd WSP 38/44 recently from another member and wanted to share some of the differences.
The serial numbers are 45,619 apart
The later model with higher serial number sports a high polish blue while the earlier gun has a more matte finish.
You will also notice the later model has a small font for the "Washington State Patrol" roll-mark on the backstrap.
Both very nice condition guns with original S&W finish.
The earlier gun has an issue with hammer push-off and my feeling is someone set it up with a slightly lighter mainspring and did some fiddling with the sear to make is smoother/lighter in double action and went just a touch too far. Easily repairable issue though.
I do have the factory letter on S/N 155436 (1957) and will get one for the other HD soon......see post #2 below for a link to more information on this one.
