The Highway Patrolman...Getting Cooler All the Time

[RKmesa]

I love the classy high gloss finish and checkered top strap of the Model 27's and their predecessors... But, there is a functional "all business" aura that oozes from my HP's. And that matte finish has become all the rage again - case in point:

Matte Black Rolls Royce:

With that in mind, I revisited a few of my long neglected HP's and took a few of them out for a glamour photo shoot. This is the first N-Frame that I ever purchased (also my first GunBroker purchase). It cost me $290 and came with a set of beat up, miss-matched diamond PC stocks. They were removed and replaced with Grasshorn Elk Magnas (a touch of class to go with the raw functionality)...





... and with its current box:





After a morning spent with the HPs of my collection, I have to tell you that I now strongly believe that once again, S&W was way ahead of its time with the HP. Investment tip: I would purchase any nice HP you can, while you can as I expect that matte black finish to be all the rage in the Hollywood crowd - then you know what will happen to the prices...

Regardless if the HP's ever hit the big time, they will always have a place in my heart and collection.

Happy New Year and thanks for letting me share,

 

[Xfuzz]

I agree...not much on 6 inch Smiths...
1972 Vintage that was strapped with some
smooth factory target stocks which I peeled and replaced
with some magna's.
I have a couple pair of Grashorn's in my box so
I put these on.
Makes a nice lookin rig...

 

[bracebeemer]

Richard,I too am a big fan of the HP. They are all business and that matte finish is beautiful in it's own right. The 6" is a first year gun shipped to Harvan Sporting Goods Co. New York,NY in June 1954.The 4" 4-Screw was shipped to Abercrombie & Fitch in January 1961.
Bill

 

[RKmesa]

Richard,I too am a big fan of the HP. They are all business and that matte finish is beautiful in it's own right.
Bill

Why does that not surprise me. I have always appreciated your taste in revolvers...

As I had all of my HP's out of the safe yesterday, here's a group shot of most of them basking in the AZ sunshine (you know... working on their tan...):



Left Column detail:



Right Column detail:

 

[ditrina]

Yup... Matte Black IS all the rage!!
I love your HP's

2015 Harley..

 

[mr.jbk79]

That is just a spectacular collection of HPs! Don't forget to flip them over for equal exposure.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Currently only have one HP...... I transitioned to L-frames 25 years ago for full bore .357s because the K/L grip frame suits me better...... but had always had at least one 6 inch ..but .. currently it's a 4" wearing a set of Grashorn stags like your's with an old Pachmyar T-grip...... it's a keeper.

 

[series guy]

I like the matte finish of my Highway Patrolmen.

 

[series guy]

But I like my Rolls to shine!

 

[BAM-BAM]

But I like my Rolls to shine!

LOL have the same bicentennial plates on the front of my BMW 328ix coup and Subaru Forester...... my Dad got them in 76.

Funny story my Wife works for the State and has gotten waved through into reserved parking in the Beamer.... because of the plate. ( she had passes to show) at least twice..... first time she stopped..... to show the pass..... the attendant... said "I saw your plate"..... next time she just rolled on through.

 

[retiredbadge8091]

I remember in the early seventies standing at the glass counter of my local gun store staring at the new Model 28's and wondering who would buy one of those when you could have a 27 for a couple of hundred bucks more. Of course at the time I couldn't afford either.

Now I've come to appreciate that subdued look of the Highway Patrolman and still wonder if I'll ever be able to afford to pick up a Model 27...

 

[Art Doc]

Some guys prefer the plain Jane finish on the HP. OK, I get that. Practical...businesslike...yeah, yeah. What I don't get is how the HP has risen in price to rival and sometimes even exceed the far superior 27. Actually saw a 4" 28 on table at a show next to a 3.5" 27 and the 28 was tagged $50 higher.

In the late 1970s I picked up a 28 somewhere for $150. Had finger groove S&W stocks which I hated. Sold it to a friend.

About 10 years ago I bought a 4" 28-2 for $190 off Gunbroker. A lot of holster wear. While waiting for it to arrive a forum member contacted me and offered me a 4" 1954 HP for the same $190. I bought it. After a couple years I figured I didn't need 2 and sold the model marked gun on Gunbroker for $450.

The older one lettered as shipped to the town where I was born 9 months before my birthday. Weird. Shows some wear at muzzle and high points but works fine. Stocks also show some wear (worn pretty smooth, actually) but are original to the gun. This is one I think about selling when I occasionally contemplate thinning the herd some, but so far it has stuck around.

 

[RKmesa]

Matte Black with silver highlights (a well-used model marked 4-screw)! These guns that were used always spark my imagination...This one has spent a lot of time in someone's holster





... and no, the stocks do not number to the gun (even though they are almost a perfect fit).

 

[JSR III]

What I don't get is how the HP has risen in price to rival and sometimes even exceed the far superior 27

SP, I have responded to this same question in several threads. IMHO, it is because when the 27's became so popular S&W decided to come out with a working mans gun with less frills and for less money. They didn't make as many and therefore it has become a supply and demand issue. There is almost a cult following for these guns. Since fewer were made, the demand for them has driven up the price. It is the same for the model 41 and its cheaper version the model 46 with plastic stocks. The smaller supply has driven up the price and a model 46 will sometimes exceed the price of the 41. Simple economics.

It's not function or finish but more a matter of collectibility.

 

[rjm6120]

I have decreed my goal for this year is to get a 4 inch model 28, when my slush fund sufficiently accumulates again....might take a couple-3 more months but I'll get there. I'm pretty satisfied with the handguns I have obtained but I really want that N frame.

 

[beagleye]

I have decreed my goal for this year is to get a 4 inch model 28, when my slush fund sufficiently accumulates again....might take a couple-3 more months but I'll get there. I'm pretty satisfied with the handguns I have obtained but I really want that N frame.

It's the next one on my list too: 4", shooter grade, 5 screw, must have.

 

[Watchdog]

What I don't get is how the HP has risen in price to rival and sometimes even exceed the far superior 27.

Other than the finish and the fancy checkering on top, what is it that makes the 27 "far superior" to the 28?

They're the same gun. That pretty boy finish isn't going to make them shoot any better than a 28.

 

[series guy]

I'm sure some here will tell a different story but all three of my 28s have arrived with a pretty stout S/A and D/A pull. A little spring and stone work and all were to my liking but my Model 27s all have come with pretty darn nice actions. The 28-2 that's wearing the optic in my photo had a particularly rough trigger. when I removed the side plate and internals I found some really coarse tool marks on the hammer/trigger/rebound slide cavity. It took a good bit of stoning and polishing to make the trigger what it should have been. It's one of my best shooting guns.

 

[RKmesa]

Some guys prefer the plain Jane finish on the HP. OK, I get that. Practical...businesslike...yeah, yeah. What I don't get is how the HP has risen in price to rival and sometimes even exceed the far superior 27...

SP: I would have to answer that the reason is due to the HP having the coolest barrel roll mark on any S&W ...



... other than that, I'm going back to the "trend setting matte black" finish...

 

[alwslate]

Some guys prefer the plain Jane finish on the HP. OK, I get that. Practical...businesslike...yeah, yeah. What I don't get is how the HP has risen in price to rival and sometimes even exceed the far superior 27.

Far superior 27? Maybe the price has risen on the HP to rival
the 27 because people realize that the only difference
between the two is the finish. And with the price of 28s being
relatively modest and the price of 27s being excessive there
was a significant increase in the demand for 28s. Which of
course led to a significant increase in the price of 28s. Ever
heard of the pendulum swing? Going forward the average
price of 27s will exceed the average price of 28s but the
difference will be far more realistic than the days of the mad
rush to grab a 27 at any cost.