Pre 28 not stamped Highway Patrolman

[rgm36]

I just found an early highway patrolman without Highway Patrolman stamped on the barrel
All numbers matching. 1954-1955 . Is not knurled on the top so it is not a pre-27. Mat blue not bright. The rear sight is flat also like a highway patrolman.
Was told it came from a government agency of some sort???
Is this so early that they had not yet stamped the barrel with highway patrolman. Right side is .357 magnum left side is stamped Smith and Wesson

 

[two-bit cowboy]

The HP experts would need a full serial number to be of much help to you.

 

[gmborkovic]

Ditto on Sn. and barrel side pics.

 

[Alk8944]

What is marked on the right side of the barrel? A photo would be interesting, as would the serial number. The very earliest guns, test production, were simply marked "Patrolman", and should be in S103,000 SN range per SCSW. The book doesn't indicate any guns so marked were ever marketed however.

 

[rgm36]

Right side of barrel is stamped .357 Magnum
Left side of barrel is stamped Smith&Wesson.
Serial number puts it late 1954 to early 1955.
This is a highway patrolman in its build form except is not stamped highway patrolman.

 

[Wrangler Rich]

Pictures would be a marvelous addition.

WR

 

[gmborkovic]

MR. 39, need Sn. off the butt of the frame and is there a Sn. in the barrel shroud? By the extractor rod? Are you sure this is an N frame gun? Me thinks you got a re-barrel. Or a pre-mod 19.

 

[rgm36]

Yes an N frame. Yes an S infront of the serial number.
S121xxx

 

[rgm36]

All numbers matching. No factory rework marks. Mat finish, no knurling on barrel and has flat rear sight leaf. Everything as a highway patrolman except not stamped so.
Diamond targets came on it when i bought it. Obviously that is not standard unless special ordered that way.

 

[rgm36]

I found out that this was issued to a Conservation Officer from Lacrosse Wi.
Perhaps the very early government issued guns that didn't go to the police weren't stamped highway patrolman.
This has to be scarce.
Anyone know anything more about these early so called patrolmans?

 

[mchom]

The SCSW indicates early test version marked Patrolman
And states that that Mrs. Florence Van Orden of The Evaluators LTD suggested the name change

 

[rgm36]

I saw that too, but this is not named Patrolman or Highway Patrolman.
Could this one be even earlier than that, that it has no name at all?

 

[Muley Gil]

SCSW4 says beginning SN S103500, 8427 mfg. 1954. Your number about 18,000 later would not seem to be an early gun. Unless several N frame models using the same SN sequence?

All of the other N frames are included in that 18,000 gap.

I wonder if S&W could have mis-stamped the barrel with the .357 Magnum (pre M27) stamp?

 

[rgm36]

Perhaps this was part of a special build for the State of Wisconsin for their Conservation Officers.
I thought long before buying it. The fact that the barrel, cylinder and frame are matching numbers and that there are no factory rework marks tells me this gun was built by S&W this way. The barrel cannot be from a pre-27 because it it has no knurling on it and is flat like the highway patrolman.
I am convinced this is original. It must be early before they named it or custom built this way for a government special order.

 

[lkabug]

Worth a letter ?

 

[paplinker]

The barrel cannot be from a pre-27 because it it has no knurling on it and is flat like the highway patrolman.

Were pre 27 bbls forged with the knurling or was it milled in after the forge?

Is it possible its a legit HP but early ones used a pre 27 bbl?

 

[Masterpiece]

Worth a letter ?

rgm36,

Given the above quote...Since no concrete info other than speculation has been presented so far...Most definitely time to submit a "Research Letter Request" to the Historical Foundation!! I've posted the Link below for you to do so!!

Letter Request Form

Also...Since Your Revolver looks to be a Legit Pre-Model 28 (Highway Patrolman)...Other than the Mis-Marked Barrel...This is definitely the only way you're going to find the back story on Your Revolver!! And if you're really lucky...A Factory Invoice will be found during their search to let you know how it came to exist & who ordered it...Good Luck!!

 

[steelslaver]

Guy at the barrel roll marking machine ran the barrel through before he remembered to change the dies

 

[S-W4EVER]

The SCSW indicates early test version marked Patrolman
And states that that Mrs. Florence Van Orden of The Evaluators LTD suggested the name change

I didn't know that but I'm sure glad they listened to her. Even though I was a State Patrolman, I still thought having Highway Patrolman on the bareel of my service revolver was pretty cool. I shot Master in the Academy with that revolver (& thereafter).

 

[stansdds]

Steelslaver may have nailed it, a mistake with the roll marking on the assembly line. It would not be the first time a S&W revolver was mismarked in some fashion.