Pre 28 Highway Patrolman

blackdeuce · #1 04-20-2012, 05:01 PM

Picked this up from a board member. Serial number is S113,xxx. I believe it is a 1st year model. It's not NIB, but it's pretty nice for a 1954 gun.

It looks like the Pre 28 was only made from 1954 to 1957 when they started numbering them as Model 28's. So, I'm guessing that there aren't a ton of nice ones out there.

The stocks aren't numbered to the gun, but they are 1954 vintage. I guess that's close enough.

The numbers on the barrel, cylinder, and frame match, so no barrel swapping on this one (unlike a pre-27 that I bought).

I didn't do a great job of wiping it down. It has some oil on it.

bananaman · #2 04-20-2012, 05:17 PM

I've gotta say, that it sure looks like a KEEPER!!! My 28 no dash, is a 1960 gun. Not a pre, I know. 6 incher, super clean, super shooter! Did I mention that it is my favorite Smith to date? Enjoy the new old girl! Bob

A10 · #3 04-20-2012, 05:18 PM

That one looks pretty darn good to me! I have S134XXX, a 1955 model. I have posted pics a couple times here, easiest to find is in the Ultimate Highway Patrolman thread, around the last page.....

I got home and to the computer I store my pics on. Here's mine

LOBO · #4 04-20-2012, 06:10 PM

That is a gorgeous pre-28!! Congrats!

Here is my contribution, S1154XX. It shipped on Sept. 3, 1954 to California Hardware Co. in Los Angeles, CA

VM · #5 04-20-2012, 06:10 PM

bd - this one is from from Summer of '54

4-Screw · #6 04-20-2012, 07:03 PM

I just sold this unfired first year 4" to a friend here on the Forum.

vrichard · #7 04-20-2012, 07:07 PM

Just got this one a wek ago,ser # s 134801.
Dick

Gunhacker · #8 04-20-2012, 07:17 PM

Pretty amazing how many Pre-28's are knocking about, I'd say we're all in good company.

4" bbl pre-28 is S1275xx, shipped 3/28/55 to Western Hoegee Co. in Los Angeles, CA

6" bbl pre-28 is S1346xx, shipped March 1956.

blackdeuce · #9 04-20-2012, 07:24 PM

Wow. Lots of nice pre 28's! Thanks for the posts!

Using Lobo's gun as a reference, mine probably shipped around August of 1954? Did you guys with dates get letters for your guns?

A10 · #10 04-20-2012, 11:27 PM

Mine's a guesstimate referencing SCSW....close enough for me!

bamabiker · #11 04-20-2012, 11:52 PM

S1113xx

Lefkiguy · #12 04-21-2012, 12:03 AM

Mine is S1134XX, shipped July 20, 1954, about 5 months before I "shipped". Grips number to gun as well. Shipped to Portland OR.

blackdeuce · #13 04-21-2012, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lefkiguy

Mine is S1134XX, shipped July 20, 1954, about 5 months before I "shipped". Grips number to gun as well. Shipped to Portland OR.

That's really close to mine. Mine is S1132XX. Guess that puts mine around a July ship date.

LOBO · #14 04-21-2012, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackdeuce

Wow. Lots of nice pre 28's! Thanks for the posts!

Using Lobo's gun as a reference, mine probably shipped around August of 1954? Did you guys with dates get letters for your guns?

Yeppers I did.

bigun · #15 04-21-2012, 01:43 AM

Mine is a first year pre-28 with serial number #111065. I don't know the shipping date though:

Bat Guano · #16 04-21-2012, 02:41 AM

Had two 4" 28s in past years, finally found a nice 99% one with box that I intend to keep. It has just the faintest hint of a turn line and that's it.

Since I shot the others, and reluctantly have to admit that it is one big, heavy gun, it's a safe queen and I shoot K frame sized guns. I view the 28 as a study in how well something can be made and still be affordable by the average man.

It's sort of the DC-3 of the gun world. The only replacement for a Model 28 is--another Model 28.

Gunhacker · #17 04-21-2012, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackdeuce

Wow. Lots of nice pre 28's! Thanks for the posts!

Using Lobo's gun as a reference, mine probably shipped around August of 1954? Did you guys with dates get letters for your guns?

I lettered one of them, the 4" bbl one, to get the exact date and where it was shipped.

My other S&W revovlers... I'm a member of the S&WCA and one of the benefits of membership is having access to S&W historian Roy Jinks who will look up a serial number given to him and furnish the ship date. If I want to satisfy my curiosity more, then I'll spring for the cost of a letter.

I have a particular fondness for the Highway Patrolman/M28, it was my first handgun (and S&W) that I bought when I reached the legal age to own one here in CA.

keith44spl · #18 04-21-2012, 02:06 PM

Nice bunch of Highway Patrolmans!

Su Amigo,
Dave

DCWilson · #19 04-21-2012, 03:28 PM

The Highway Patrolman seems to have been an in-demand model almost from the moment it was introduced. While there are far more model-marked guns than the Pre-28 variety, there always seems to be a Pre-28 available somewhere.

This one came to me a couple of years ago. Shipped May 1955, so not quite in the first 12 months if you count from introduction to ship date. S127225.

It had its original box with severely faded label.

By comparing with other contemporary boxes, I deciphered the label to read

SMITH & WESSON
HIGHWAY PATROLMAN
6 INCH BLUED.

jhvaughan2 · #20 04-21-2012, 06:49 PM

I picked this up this year. I feel I got a good deal at ~$450 shipped #11133xx (Auction Photo)

mkk41 · #21 04-21-2012, 07:45 PM

My oft-posted 6in 5-screw.

There's another one in exc cond at a shop near me , 116,xxx range. If I didn't let my C&R expire , I'd have it.

Reddog · #22 04-21-2012, 07:55 PM

I now have nine Highway Patroleman, but only one pre-28. I almost had ten, total, but had to send the last one I bought back because when I rceived it, it wasn't in very good shape! Still looking for more!
S133389 from 1955. The stocks aren't original.
Dick

weatherby · #23 04-21-2012, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VM

bd - this one is from from Summer of '54

any chance you could get a close up of those stocks VM ?

NFrameFred · #24 04-21-2012, 09:37 PM

I'll play . . . both from 1955 . . . the 6 inch isn't as nice as many I've seen here, but it'll do 'til a better one comes along !

Bill Bates · #25 04-22-2012, 10:19 AM

Here is S129107. It looks much better at 57 than I do.

Retired W4 · #26 04-22-2012, 11:11 PM

Her is a link to my 1st year Highway Patrolman (Pre-28). It's not my prettiest HP, but a really nice one w/ all matching #'s. Pics don't do the gun justice, but oh well, it is a fine firearm.

1st year Highway Patrolman

There are some great examples on this thread and I have enjoyed looking at them. Thanks.

azmick · #27 04-23-2012, 07:53 AM

HP and it's 28-2 brother, but then there is the 28 and the 28-3 too. Favoriteone,,, the 28

Jack Flash · #28 04-23-2012, 01:10 PM

The fact that the HP in the OP has "correct" stocks which do not number to the gun makes me think this may have been an LE gun. When these went in for service, likely that the LE armorer did not worry about keeping all the numbers straight. However, it sure doesn't look like it spent much time in a holster.

Here's one with more wear on it (S127xxx). When I bought it, it had Pachs (

) so I acquired some magnas that are correct enough for me.

fyimo · #29 04-23-2012, 01:38 PM

Congtaulations on buying that nice pre 28 as I love the Model 28. I have three 28-2's with one with a 6 inch barrel and two S serial numbered 4 inch barrelled revolvers.The 6 inch is one of the 357 magnums I shoot along with a Model 27-2 with 3.5 inch barrel.

blackdeuce · #30 04-23-2012, 02:37 PM

Thanks for the replies! Lots of nice HP's within the forum.

I spoke to the seller of my gun and the gun came to him with target grips. He somehow happen to have 1954 grips for it. He thinks the gun spent most of its life in storage and doesn't think it was a LE gun. The LE theory could have explained the grips, though.

Oregon45 · #31 04-24-2012, 11:52 PM

I like mine; nicely balanced and wonderfully accurate. I've had a few 28-2's and they're nice guns but I like the 5-screw Highway Patrolman better: