Early 5-screw Highway Patrolman

[Shotguncoach]

This wandered into range earlier this month and was just too neat to pass up. Any 5-screw N-frame gets my attention.....combining that with non-relieved diamond target stocks and a reasonable price tag resulted in yet another addition to the Home for Wayward Smith's.

The serial number is S110968, which may make it a 'first year' gun. The LOA request is already sitting in Mike's inbox....

 

[Shotguncoach]

I'm going to say that this one spent quite a bit of time going into harms way in a right-handed holster. The left side shows very little wear except for the usual holster wear at the muzzle. The right side though....we've got scrapes, scratches, and some big blotches of old cold blue on the sideplate, frame, and barrel.

 

[Shotguncoach]

The real opportunity for me is that it feels like the action hasn't been messed with at all. Hopefully that's what I'll find when I open it up. I've been looking for an N-frame from the early 50's that was still original inside to use for a side-by-side comparison with the 1950 Target I acquired a while ago that was shipped with the "minimum safe trigger pull" according to the invoice. I plan on doing a piece by piece comparison to find out as much as I can about what the factory did to that one. Stay tuned and keep an eye on the 'smithing forum next month.

 

[larryofcc]

My pre M28 Highway Patrolman. 5 screw. # S127112, shipped 3-1956. Looks like a Safe Queen and still is. Box numbered to the gun.

 

[wbraswell]

I have Highway Patrolman #118529, also a 6" barrel, and also with non- relieved target stocks. It shipped in Sept. of 1954, so yours should easily be a 1954 gun. I think they would have been fast movers back then.

 

[Tijeras_Slim]

I had S114706, but parted with it a ways back. Partial trade for a Weatherby XXII with the factory scope in minty shape. You know, the gun you asked your parents for in 1973, but they bought you a Marlin 60 instead.

 

[The Gila Bender]

I have S114081, blue 4" with magnas shipped 7/20/54 to Union Hardware in Los Angeles. I'd say yours is an early first year example.

 

[MarkHayden]

My 6” is S110545. My first pre-28 came to me in 1967. I wish I still had it; traded it for a Model 58 .41 Magnun. Damn…

 

[Hair Trigger]

This wandered into range earlier this month and was just too neat to pass up. Any 5-screw N-frame gets my attention.....combining that with non-relieved diamond target stocks and a reasonable price tag resulted in yet another addition to the Home for Wayward Smith's.

The serial number is S110968, which may make it a 'first year' gun. The LOA request is already sitting in Mike's inbox....

SCSW says they started at S103500, so yours is way back there. Nice find.

 

[Retired W4]

First year for sure. I would letter that one just to see if it was ordered with those period correct NRT's.

BTW, S111760 shipped June 9, 1954...two months after introduction.

 

[Hawg Rider]

I have S114081, blue 4" with magnas shipped 7/20/54 to Union Hardware in Los Angeles. I'd say yours is an early first year example.

View attachment 713796 View attachment 713795

Very nice Highway Patrolman, Shotguncoach. Definitely a first year revolver, although the target stocks are probably not original to the gun but could have been an option at the time of purchase. It could very well have been an LEO revolver.

My first year HP (S114481) probably shipped about the same time as yours, Gila Bender...supposedly July/August 1954. Mine is in VG condition except for the front sight base "corrosion" condition from the bluing salts S&W used around that time. It is a birth year gun for me, and almost a birth year/birth month gun (September 1954)! Enjoy!

 

[The Gila Bender]

Funny, I have "birth year" N-frames for my older brothers and sister. 1951, 1952, 1954. I have yet to find a 1960 and 1963 N-frame for myself and my brother (hint).

 

[TLflag]

Model 28

I know my Model 28 is a first year gun 104040

 

[dobegrant]

Very cool find, I have a 4” from the 60’s, neat old guns

 

[Shotguncoach]

Shipped June 11, 1954 to Rochester NY as part of a 30 gun shipment: 20 with 6" barrels, 10 with 4" barrels. And....shipped with target stocks. <insert big grin here>

 

[Gun Relics]

Shipped June 11, 1954 to Rochester NY as part of a 30 gun shipment: 20 with 6" barrels, 10 with 4" barrels. And....shipped with target stocks. <insert big grin here>

Very cool news. I've been looking for the early blue box for a 6" but have no luck so far. I have 121,XXX - guess it's time to letter it as well.

 

[A10]

Looking at the finish under the grips my guess is that it wore Goodyears for a while and got some moisture under there.

That is a really cool find btw! No doubt is spent some hours in a patrol car.

 

[younggun22]

I really love the Pre-28’s there is just something about them!

I have had a few over the years and managed to keep the nicest 4in and 6in examples.

Both came to me wearing non-relieved target stocks. Interstingly enough he 6in stocks actually number to the gun, which is the only set of targets stocks I’ve ever seen stamped with the S/N

I believe both are first year guns.

 

[sodacan]

Here's a photo of my 1st year example. The proud pins on the front sight are not commonly seen on this model.