1954 was an interesting year. The Korean War had recently ended, and the Baby Boom was at its peak. Lots of innovative new products were being marketed to the public. For example, Ford Motor Co. introduced its Thunderbird (to compete with the '53 Corvette), and Fender Guitars released their Stratocaster. And perhaps most relevant to this Forum, S&W introduced its Highway Patrolman.
Elvis made and released his first recording in 1954, and quite a few famous and familiar folks were born- Jerry Seinfeld, Ron Howard, John Travolta, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jackie Chan, Jim Belushi, and Denzel Washington (I like to forget about Oprah!). Of course, most importantly to me, I was introduced to the world in Sept. 1954.
OK, I'll get to the point of this Post. I have a modest collection of S&W revolvers, many of them N-frames and magnums. What I didn't have was a birth year gun. I had a 1950 M&P .38 Spl, a 1952 Colt Detective Special, and a 1955 .357 Magnum. But no revolver from 1954. Until last week, that is. A kind and considerate Forum member saw that I was looking for a birth year gun, and contacted me about a couple of Highway Patrolman that he would consider selling to me. We worked out an equitable deal for one of them, and I now have a beautiful first year, 5-screw HP. From the research I've done on the Forum, my new HP (s/n S114481) should have shipped in July/August 1954...only a month or so before my birthday! Thank you Dave! It is an all matching revolver, including stocks and box, appears to have had only a few rounds down the pipe, finish is VG, and the case hardened hammer and trigger are bright. I'm very happy with it, and it's now a part of my HP stable. Here are a few pics.
Elvis made and released his first recording in 1954, and quite a few famous and familiar folks were born- Jerry Seinfeld, Ron Howard, John Travolta, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jackie Chan, Jim Belushi, and Denzel Washington (I like to forget about Oprah!). Of course, most importantly to me, I was introduced to the world in Sept. 1954.
OK, I'll get to the point of this Post. I have a modest collection of S&W revolvers, many of them N-frames and magnums. What I didn't have was a birth year gun. I had a 1950 M&P .38 Spl, a 1952 Colt Detective Special, and a 1955 .357 Magnum. But no revolver from 1954. Until last week, that is. A kind and considerate Forum member saw that I was looking for a birth year gun, and contacted me about a couple of Highway Patrolman that he would consider selling to me. We worked out an equitable deal for one of them, and I now have a beautiful first year, 5-screw HP. From the research I've done on the Forum, my new HP (s/n S114481) should have shipped in July/August 1954...only a month or so before my birthday! Thank you Dave! It is an all matching revolver, including stocks and box, appears to have had only a few rounds down the pipe, finish is VG, and the case hardened hammer and trigger are bright. I'm very happy with it, and it's now a part of my HP stable. Here are a few pics.
