Red Ramp on a 5 screw Highway Patrolman

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Shotgunner

Shotgunner

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Lawrenceville, PA, USA
I bought a 4" Highway Patrolman recently. Other than the modern grips, it is a very nice, mid 90% gun. It has a target trigger and hammer, along with a red ramp front sight. I know that the sight was used during that time period, but have never seen one before, not on a Highway Patrolman or even a 28-2. It is more common that I am thinking? And, buy the way, this did happen and I am not posting a picture. In addition, the gun wants to shoot, I put the 1st 6 shots from it into a 1 1/4" group at 20 yards, from a rest.
 
Shotgunner said:
I bought a 4" Highway Patrolman recently. Other than the modern grips, it is a very nice, mid 90% gun. It has a target trigger and hammer, along with a red ramp front sight. I know that the sight was used during that time period, but have never seen one before, not on a Highway Patrolman or even a 28-2. It is more common that I am thinking? And, buy the way, this did happen and I am not posting a picture. In addition, the gun wants to shoot, I put the 1st 6 shots from it into a 1 1/4" group at 20 yards, from a rest.
Click to expand...
Since the HP front sights are forged integral with the barrel there is a very good chance the red insert was done after-market by either a gunsmith or talented prior owner. From the factory most guns that came with the red ramp sights were ones that had the sight pinned to the barrel or sight ramp.
 
I put a RR-WO sights........Target grips----Ranger trigger-----Target hammer on my old 28..........long ago when it was newer..........Didi it myself.........Back then S&W would do all manner of upgrades to your revolver.........Like sending my 18 back to have it nickleled when it was blue..........In the 70's.

You have a nice gun.........Enjoy it!
 
Love the sound of this HP, especially about how well it shoots - congratulations!

I have a 28-2 to which a prior owner (or the factory but it seems more likely an owner) installed a yellow ramp front sight. The gun also has the Target hammer and trigger and was even reblued at some point along the line. While it exhibited an unfortunate “skipping” issue intermittently (a situation currently awaiting correction by Nelson Ford), it also proved to be one heck of a solid shooter otherwise.

1761334816593.webp
 
Shotgunner said:
It has the matching white outline rear sight, it all looks like factory work. I guess that without a letter it would be hard to know.
Click to expand...
A skilled gunsmith could modify the front sight and make it look like factory work. It's also possible that it was sent back to S&W to have the sight modified. A letter might be the only way to know for certain.
 
Shotgunner said:
I bought a 4" Highway Patrolman recently. Other than the modern grips, it is a very nice, mid 90% gun. It has a target trigger and hammer, along with a red ramp front sight. I know that the sight was used during that time period, but have never seen one before, not on a Highway Patrolman or even a 28-2. It is more common that I am thinking? And, buy the way, this did happen and I am not posting a picture. In addition, the gun wants to shoot, I put the 1st 6 shots from it into a 1 1/4" group at 20 yards, from a rest.A lot of the NYSP marked Highway Patrolman Revolvers ja
Click to expand...
If I recall correctly, a lot of the NYSP marked HPs had red ramp inserts... This is another one that I had in my collection at one time.



 
I once had (and wish I still did) an early Highway Patrolman with a red insert. In those days the HP came in 4 & 6" barrels with NO other options offered. It came with a factory letter that said the factory insert would not letter, as Roy personally walked it through the service department for a local police officer.

Bob
 
red9 said:
I once had (and wish I still did) an early Highway Patrolman with a red insert. In those days the HP came in 4 & 6" barrels with NO other options offered. It came with a factory letter that said the factory insert would not letter, as Roy personally walked it through the service department for a local police officer.

Bob
Click to expand...
I also owned a NYSP Model 28-2 that had a red ramp front sight and white outlined rear sight.

Jerry
 
red9 said:
I once had (and wish I still did) an early Highway Patrolman with a red insert. In those days the HP came in 4 & 6" barrels with NO other options offered. It came with a factory letter that said the factory insert would not letter, as Roy personally walked it through the service department for a local police officer.

Bob
Click to expand...
I have both 4" and 6" model 28-2s. Neither has the red insert on the front sight. I realize these aren't the early model guns, but they are both marked Highway Patrolman on the barrel, so I'm happy!
 
Shotgunner said:
I bought a 4" Highway Patrolman recently. Other than the modern grips, it is a very nice, mid 90% gun. It has a target trigger and hammer, along with a red ramp front sight. I know that the sight was used during that time period, but have never seen one before, not on a Highway Patrolman or even a 28-2. It is more common that I am thinking? And, buy the way, this did happen and I am not posting a picture. In addition, the gun wants to shoot, I put the 1st 6 shots from it into a 1 1/4" group at 20 yards, from a rest.
Click to expand...
I got the factory letter on this gun back yesterday. It is a 1st year gun, and it was shipped to MA. The target hammer and trigger were original, no record of the red ramp / white outline. It was suggested that it was returned to the factory for these but there is no work order for it.
 
Shotgunner said:
I bought a 4" Highway Patrolman recently. Other than the modern grips, it is a very nice, mid 90% gun. It has a target trigger and hammer, along with a red ramp front sight. I know that the sight was used during that time period, but have never seen one before, not on a Highway Patrolman or even a 28-2. It is more common that I am thinking? And, buy the way, this did happen and I am not posting a picture. In addition, the gun wants to shoot, I put the 1st 6 shots from it into a 1 1/4" group at 20 yards, from a rest.
Click to expand...
Why not post a picture? You KNOW how much everyone here likes to see other addicts stash! :eek: :love:

I did not know the HP could be ordered with target hammers & triggers. I thought barrel length and grip style were the only options.

My HP circa 1969
13044.webp
 
Last edited:
As a follow-up to my earlier post in this thread (see Post # 5), I’ve had the yellow-ramp front sight 28-2 back from Nelson Ford for some months now and it’s an excellent revolver, shot and carried regularly.

It is currently sporting Culina “Cokes” as shown on the right (posed with another 28-2 to the left that is wearing Tyler Gun Works Bear Hugs).

1783140783219.webp
 
SixgunFife said:
As a follow-up to my earlier post in this thread (see Post # 5), I’ve had the yellow-ramp front sight 28-2 back from Nelson Ford for some months now and it’s an excellent revolver, shot and carried regularly.

It is currently sporting Culina “Cokes” as shown on the right (posed with another 28-2 to the left that is wearing Tyler Gun Works Bear Hugs).

View attachment 891989
Click to expand...
I have K frame Bubinga grips from Culina. I'm currently in the process of ordering N frame cokes. Yours look great
 
Alk8944 said:
Since the HP front sights are forged integral with the barrel there is a very good chance the red insert was done after-market by either a gunsmith or talented prior owner. From the factory most guns that came with the red ramp sights were ones that had the sight pinned to the barrel or sight ramp.
Click to expand...
Interesting, my first year HP has a pinned front sight. I was always under the impression that the HP is essentially the same as .357 Magnum with the exception of a checkered top strap and the spartan finish.

Mike20240410_204458(1).webp
 
Last edited:
spin132, I have seen other HP's with the "blended" or polished front sight pins as on yor gun. I've never seen pins that were "proud" on the sight rib or ramp of an HP. Although the proud pins are often encountered on model 27's.
 
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