Pretty exciting! A envelope with letters for my S&W Highway Patrolman M28 and M15 Combat Masterpiece came in the mail yesterday. Gives a history of each model concluding with when my guns were was shipped from the factory and what gun store they were delivered and what particular features they had.

I bought my Highway Patrolman about 9 or 10 years ago in a gunshow at the George R. Brown center in Houston Texas (I think they guy I bought it from is a member of this forum and, if I recall, he even replied to my original post after I got the gun suspecting he had sold it to me). The gun, as it turns out, was shipped from S&W with target grips, 6 inch barrel, target trigger, target hammer to a hardware store in San Antonio, Texas on May 7, 1976. (Hard to believe hardware stores that sell screwdrivers, hammers and power drills used to commonly sell guns). Interesting that all the special features, the target hammer, grips and trigger were original that that gun.

My Model 15 is quite interesting too. I bought it also in a gunshow in Houston, TX at the Geo. R. Brown center about 8 years ago. A lot of holster wear but a good gun. What's interesting is that it was shipped from the factory on July 7, 1971 to a business in Kensington, MARYLAND. That gun has traveled a long way since 1971. My guess is one of the previous owners was a Maryland transplant that lives in Texas now.

Look at an old Sears & Roebuck catalog. They used to sell handguns, rifles, & shotguns via mail order.

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You're shy a few manners.

Before Bill Clinton declared war on gun dealers and tried to revoke as many FFLs as possible liquor stores, hardware stores, department stores and gas stations often sold guns and ammo.

A documented full target M28-2 (has to be a 28-2 if shipped in 1976) is a rare find.

You never know how far a gun will travel. I have a Highway Patrolman that was shipped to Seattle in 1954 and I bought it from a shop in Seattle 55 years later. Didn't go far.

I have a K22 Combat Masterpiece that shipped in 1951 to Hawaii. I bought it out of southern Illinois 10 years ago.

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No life story has happy end.

the Walgreens drug store by my house sold rifles and shotguns back in the 70's... next to the radios, cameras, FILM, batteries, cigarettes and beer... one stop shopping for the ATF...lol

A gun bought by a private individual may stay close to the point of sale but we are a highly mobile society so it could just as easily follow its owner around the country and get sold off at any stop along the way.

If it was sold to a police department, it could travel halfway around the world without any problem. This one went to Australia then back to the US (AZ) and now resides in MI.

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You're shy a few manners.

There was a business in the booming metropolis of Notasulga, Alabama, just west of Auburn University that was a S&W stocking dealer. It was Harris Hardware and they sold their Smiths at retail, even M29s, at the height of the Dirty Harry craze. I was on the waiting list, but never got one. I believe retail in the early '70s was $283.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

When did you mail SW the request? I'm curious as to the timing since I have a request pending.

I guess I'm getting old? ! ? I can remember when there was no such thing as an "FFL". My grand father bought a double barrel Remington with Prince Albert tobacco can coupons(I was told).
jcelect

I bought a Colt 45 ACP at MCAS Yuma AZ Base Exchange while stationed at Yuma Proving Grounds AZ in 1981. I still have it today. It has also been in CO, AL, TX, Germany and now in MI. I also Have a Ruger 10-22 I bought in 1983 in CO it has been to the above places also. As a Kid The local ACE Hardware sold guns.

The day I was commissioned in the USN I went out and bought a Colt .45 ACP Government Model at Penny's Hardware in Pensacola, FL. I bought the pistol, ammo, hearing protection, and targets and was on my way in minutes.

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No good deed goes unpunished.

Muley Gil, it's quite ironic that I grew up in Notasulga Alabama in 1992 to 1996. There's a hardware store still in the center of town.

Also Henry J automobiles

When I was 14 I saved up through the summer enough money to buy a Montgomery Wards .22 rifle. I walked into the store basement, put down my cash and walked out the door with it no questions asked. I later took it to school for show and tell.

OMG, what have we done to America?