I have been looking for the 'right' HP 4" for quite a long time... not a collector, but a nice condition shooter, the earlier the better.

Haggled with the same dealer at three gunshows over 18 months over a nice 5 screw. He wouldn't budge off his (ridiculous) price. Missed a birth year M28-2 on GB that someone wanted a little more than me. Lots of other GB auctions bringing big prices, but nothing I was willing to pay that much for. Numerous 6" guns have come into local shops over the last two years, but this one was the first 4" to land on a local shelf...

According to the Standard Catalog, a first year gun, 1954. Though I had told myself I wasn't going to buy any more guns this year, there was no way I was going to pass on this one.

Great catch. congratulations on that snag. thanks for sharing, oh i forgot, i'm jealous


krs/kenny

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Too good

Very nice. That one’s a keeper.

Very nice! The first HP was S103500. It shipped in April, 1954. Yours may not have been far behind.

My 4" HPs are my favorite revolvers to shoot.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Very nice... No, wait...
Beautiful example of a beautiful beast!

I really like that one, Rodan!
Thanks for sharing the story and "the find."

-Bill

Edit: Nothing as Nice as Yours, But I'm Always "On the Hunt!"



"https://i.ibb.co/4PqRvns/2237-E218-8960-441-B-96-F5-8-F3-B80327-C11.jpg"

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Veteran Paratrooper, '86-'90

Its not really a pretty or beautiful gun. I would say handsome. Somehow
I had a first year NIB HP fall in my lap at a gun show. Have not shot this one, but my other ones have been.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Love the early highway patrolman’s


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

WOW.

Very nice, sir.

Very nice. The heavy N Frames are really great guns!

Looks collectible enough to me....you better go buy one a little more used so yo can shoot it....

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

Wow, that is super nice! I bet it shoots like a dream.
Larry

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

Very nice early first year Highway Patrolman...one of the first produced. I was fortunate enough to pick this one up from a fellow Forum member earlier this year. For me it's not only a first year HP but a birth year gun, as well. It's a little later than yours...mine is S114481, and shipped July/August 1954. It just missed my September birth month! Great revolvers that are built like tanks. Enjoy!

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Very nice acquisition! Congrats.
This is S114081 shipped July 20, 1954 to Union Hardware in Los Angeles.
Highway Patrolman S114081.jpg HP S114081 7 20 54 box end.jpg HP 114081_D Wood 1954.jpg

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Tom in AZ
Respect the Dingbat

Very nice 1st year HP, with a very low SN. I am the proud caretaker of S111760 (4"), which was shipped to Evaluators Ltd in June of 54. Regardless of what they did with the gun they sure took good care of it. I had wondered what it and the letter would be worth today. Not that it matters, as it won't be for sale as long as I'm alive.

Very Nice!



....and I bet you stole it for $250 too right?

color me jealous

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On the Oak Savannah

Shown this picture before but here’s a couple of 1st year HP’s



The target stocks on the 6in number to the gun

And the stocks on the bottom gun are pre-War magnas...or Keith Brown replicas.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

Don't I wish!

$850 + tax, which I thought was quite reasonable in the current market.

It was.

Having said that, the most I ever paid for a 4" HP was $275. That was the last one I bought, but it was in 1995. My youngest son was 4 at the time. Now he's in his 30s.

I bought one brand new after I came back to the World from my second year in SE Asia. Cost me $137 including tax. Still have the receipt.

I suspect I now have as many of them as I want. I did pass one up at a local gun show a couple years ago. $750 was more than I wanted to spend, but was probably a good price at the time.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

I still think that you got a bargain at that price. That is one of the lowest serial numbered HP's that I have seen in a while.

Now, go out and shoot it, and tell us how great the 1950's craftsmanship is

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On the Oak Savannah

I'll be teaching the current class of academy recruits on the range on Wednesday. They'll get a little 'old school' demo.

Original to the NRM.

Very nice 28-2. I am a fan of HP 4" revolvers myself.

Rodan, Very nice pre 28!

Guys, Can anyone date a pre 28 serial S 117xxx?

Thanks,
Verde

Per SCSW, 4th: 1954-55

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

Guy, Can you narrow it down to the year, month without a letter?
Is it a first year gun?

Thanks,
Verde

I know grips are not correct. I have a set that's not relieved that should be age appropriate. It also came with diamond magnas, but wrong serial number.

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No. Sorry. Perhaps someone like JP@AK can get closer.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

Great catch! That looks like the “right one” to me.
I’ve been looking for the “right” 1954 4” HP myself.

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Rick
SWCA #2727 , SWHF #435

Yours is almost definitely a first year gun. Mine, s/n S114481, is July/Aug 1954. I would think that S117xxx would be only a couple of months later (Oct? Nov?). As Wiregrassguy said, a couple of our Forum experts may be able to narrow it down better for you.

Well, I said "no" but I do know when some nearby serials shipped. I can't guarantee that your gun shipped in the same time frame.

Pre-Mod. 28 serial S116959 shipped in September 1954.
Pre-Model 28 serial S118545 shipped in September 1954.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

HP shot great today!

Didn't have time to put it on paper, but rang steel from 25 to 100 yds. Was only 3/6 S/A at 100, so I think I need to verify the sights on paper. No problem running 6/6 D/A at 25-50 yards. I'll try to get it on paper soon.

Didn't get any pics of the HP out there, but here's the recruit class in action:

That Sir, is a swing and hit, well done from another '54.

Quick update... added a set of Ken's Elk stags and a Tyler grip adapter.

NICE!!!!!!!
Larry

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

Beautiful revolver, The one thing about a Highway Patrolman " there is no such thing as a bad one". I bought my first one in 1962 at the Wheelus Rod and Gun club. Just went and checked, it was a rod and gun club although I don't remember anyone going fishing the 3 years I was there. Over the years I bought but never sold a M-28. I think I have 5 or 6, all five screw and 2 police, M-28. I quit buying them when the price went over $250. The cop guns are well worn but shoot as well as my pristine collectible revolvers. They quit making them in '86 I think, they need to bring them back without the Hillary hole. I think they would sell like hot cakes.
SWCA 892

I bought a brand new 4” HP in 1970. As I remember, it was $120. It was one of the very few guns I bought new. I decided it wasn’t quite my style and sold it within a year. Probably should have kept it. It did keep me out of a potentially bad encounter with a couple of punks once just by its presence, which is the main reason I remember it.

Since, we're sharing, here are some previously posted HP's. Two 1st year guns and a 1967 model. Terrific revolvers.

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A very good friend of mine was with his uncle one day when they stopped in a local sporting goods store and his uncle bought this Model 28-2. I acquired it from the family and added the target stocks and a box that I relined. Very pleasing to my eye.

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