I have a 5-Screw Pre-M29 that was shipped to Sargent Sowell Co. in Grand Prairie, Texas on July 13, 1956. I was wondering if anybody has heard of this shipping destination before. I can't seem to find any info on them.

Welcome to the forum!

If Doc44 sees your post, Im sure he will respond. He would be the man who would be able to answer you if anyone can.

I have a 38/44 that shipped to that dealer in 1960. I asked about it long ago and was told it was either a police supply shop or a shop that also supplied a number of regional police agencies. Unlikely a cop would pack a 29 so they likely also ordered sporting guns for customers.

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No life story has happy end.

Saxon--Thanks for the info., I did a search on e-bay for Sargeant Sowell, and came up with a mid 50's advertising booklet for police related equipment, but as you said, I doubt a L.E.O. would carry a 6 1/2" large frame, and have it remain in nearly mint condition for over 50 years.

Sargent Sowell Co. was a police supply dealer in the industrial area of north Grand Prairie, just south of DFW Airport. In the 1970's, individual police officers could walk in, talk to a sales person and walk out with a handgun, at the lowest price around for new S&W's. I bought a Model 29 4" there in 1976, I forget what I paid for it, but I remember that I made money on it when I sold it after the Dirty Harry boom in M29's. Wish I still had it!

They were still in business in the early 80's, when I bought a 3" Model 64 there. Wish I still had that one, too!

See the trend here? In my later years, I'm getting better about keeping the great guns I have!

Ordered a Model 27 5" from that Police Supply house in 1975. They sent their mail order catalog to police agencies throughout the United States.

I was still in college (1976) when I started at my first department in Illinois and i remember the S-S catalog. An individual officer could buy from S-S on department letterhead and they shipped to the gun to the department. A number of us carried S&Ws, mostly Model 66s and Model 59s. S-S was one of the few places, Ray O'Herron in Danville, Illinois was another, that had a good stock of desireable S&W guns.

Hi:
When I started in Law Enforcement in 1962 this was the Police Equipment Supply that I ordered my equipment from. The Agency furnished uniforms and badges only. Starting salary was $2600.00 a year.
Jimmy

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My Daddy was the purchasing agent for the county we live in back in the late 50s/early 60s. He would bring the old "Sa-So" catalogs home. I would drool over the pictures of the S&W revolvers. I remember they advertised the complete line of revolvers in the book. I took the catalogs to school with me in fourth and fifth grades. I remember getting strange looks from some teachers, but none of them said anything. Besides the revolvers, the neatest thing I remember seeing in the books was the bigger-than-life metal school zone police officers, complete with Sam Browne belt, extended gloved hand, brimmed cap, and a friendly, yet authoritative smile. The three-handled shovels for use during ground breaking ceremonies were pretty cool, too.

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Georgia On My Mind

Sargent Sowell Co. was a police equipment company and they also sold guns and related products. The company did business as SA-SO, if memory serves. I used to get their catalogs, and they were the same sort of company as was W.S. Darley, if you remember that company.

SA-SO is a different sort of company now, selling safety supplies, traffic signs and so forth, but they are still in business.

SA-SO Traffic Signs and Facility Signs

Sa-So was a great source for S&W's. I bought a M-36 and Bianchi ankle rig as my first back-up in 79. They would ship directly to your agency. $139.00 as I recall...

I wonder if this company is still in business, if it would be possible to get record of the original sale--53 years ago--Did they have to record sales then?

I just bought a Model 40 that shipped to SA-SO and then sold in 1973.