Hello All -
Newbie here, but long time S & W collector. I have over 30 Smiths in my collection ranging from the #1 to the mighty 29. Last week I found a piece I am proud of. I am currently a Peace Officer in Texas and a former Texas Correctional Officer (death row) so it is special to me. The gun came with a stack of documents from the 1970s including a Roy Jinks letter stating the gun was shipped to Texas Prison in 1930 and a State Board of Control bid letter when it was discharged from service. The revolver is marked "Texas Prison". The documentation states only 23 of these revolvers are known to exist. I came across an old Texas Prison System badge to go with it. Happy viewing

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That looks really nice, especially with you having been on the 'right' side of the bars! Great history that you have put together. Enjoy.

Welcome to the forum. That is a nice pistol ya got there.

I fully understand the value to you. I myself am studying to become a Maine State Game Warden, a few months back I was at my LGS and came across a highway patrolman that was the 100th MSGS anniversary edition, with gold inlay, presentation box, silver hinges with velvet etc.

Wanted $850 for it but i bought it the next day just because it was a Game Warden Commemorative :-D

Great find!

Have a old 38 spl that my grand father was issued at the Carson City Nevada prison......................

Funny thing, the old original lock that I also have, that was used there is worth even MORE money than the gun !!

Never know.................

Way cool. Thanks for posting that.

I also appreciate agency-marked pistols.

Frank
SDMO/SDSO (ret)

I worked there in the very early '70s, and never saw one of those you have. It looks to be in really good condition compared to the ones I saw in those days. Those old revolvers were rode hard and put up wet, too many times.

What's the SN? Something like 626xxx is OK if you don't want to give the full number. Also, what's the exact shipping date given?

I love guns like that. I had a chance to buy a 44 HE 2nd that had ties to Joliet, but didn't have the funds.

SN 6141XX October 20, 1930

Hello,
Interesting piece. About the inscription on the side plate, was TEXAS PRISON stamped twice and once upside down? I'm having a hard time with your pic, not quite sure my old eyes are seeing it properly.

Sorry for the poor pics...Yes TEXAS PRISON is stamped twice, one is upside down. I pulled the grips off and the correct serial # is stamped on them.

Working for the system in Misery for 17+ years and well appreciate the old guns we have used. You have all the right paperwork too. A good find.

Sir,
Does the paperwork show which unit it went to?
Thanks

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Halfway and one more step

Yes Sir, the paperwork from the State of Texas is serial # specific, as well as the Roy Jinks letter stating the Texas Prison ordered this revolver, doing the math the revolver saw service for 42 years

I think I misunderstood your question, I thought you meant individual gun unit , but I think you were referring to which unit ie , eastham, goree, etc. No unfortunately it does not offer which unit. I guess you could see which units were active from 1930 to 1972 then talk to someone on the inside who might have access to old inventory records. The revolver has 2 different inventory numbers stamped on it. I remember being issued a revolver and ammunition by these numbers and returning it at the end of the shift, maybe the records were kept, was a long time ago, and was 13 years ago for me personally, I may check into it

It's interesting that the gun was shipped to Texas Prison in 1930...and then later you mention October of 1930.

Clyde Barrow entered the Texas prison system (Huntsville, I think) sometime around April of 1930 and was there for a couple of years. So who knows...your gun may have been in proximity to one of the most (in)famous outlaws who ever lived.