1985 Model 68 questions

[JustinL]

Earlier this year I bought a Model 68-2 which I am quite happy with. I also decided to obtain a letter for it, which only just arrived.

Given the contents of the letter I am actually surprised as the information detailed runs somewhat counter to both the Standard Catalog and what has been written about this model on this very forum.

1) If the California Highway Patrol only took deliveries of those models manufactured 1977-79, why does mine possess the CHP/OHB overstamp?

2) The letter makes no mention of the "CHP" stamping being factory inscribed, however, that seems to run counter to conventional wisdom. Which is correct?

3) If the original CHP stamp was not applied at factory & the CHP received no revolvers after 1979 why does mine bear that mark? More so, why was it then defaced?

4) Conventional wisdom holds that these were only purchased by the CHP and the LAPD Revolver & Athletic Club but letter details that 'various police departments' also received these. If so, why not mentioned before?

As you can see this letter opens up a small can of worms. Any help is appreciated.

 

[mtgianni]

As I read the letter the line " The California Highway Patrol purchased approximately 1614 of these revolvers for duty purposes between 1077 and 1979" does not preclude the CHP from purchasing this later. It also may not have been a duty gun but one of the special commemoratives, only CHP would know that.

 

[PHS327]

In any event, that is a beautiful revolver.

 

[ken158]

There is a lot of info here on the model 68 if you do a search. Your gun was over stamped with the O and B from the original CHP stamping. Evidently this was done by CHP prior to trading the department guns off so when they went to the next owner “they would not know it was a CHP gun”. Guns in circulation with CHP markings were purchased by retiring officers and therefore were not stamped. There were LAPD marked model 68 revolvers but those were never issued but could be purchased and used on duty by individual officers.

 

[CA Escapee]

I remember seeing the CHP Model 68's in a Southern California gun shop some time in the '90's (?) after they were overstamped and surplused. The revolvers in that lot were definitely carried and shot with the usual added "character." The overstamping was obvious; the overstamped letters just didn't line up exactly with the original letters. After all these weren't meant to be collectable.

Fast forward about 10 years and I saw another, cased, Model 68, an LAPD commemorative. (Obviously without the OHB overstamp.)

I'm going to play the devil's advocate here and say yours isn't an original CHP gun. The OHB looks like the original stamping, not an overstamp. Could someone have stamped yours with OHB when it came from another department?

 

[Sevens]

I'll add that it's interesting that the letter says it was shipped to The Davis Company, Inc in Oakland, CA

That leaves the door open to interpretation. Bill Davis was one of the (if not THE) most well-known top-tier revolversmiths of that era, he was also former CHP and custom PPC builder, amongst other gun offerings.

I believe his shop was Sacramento and not Oakland, but it's not far.

The fact that his name is extremely common makes this wholly unclear but it would be at least somewhat interesting if it had originally been shipped to him.

 

[JustinL]

As I read the letter the line " The California Highway Patrol purchased approximately 1614 of these revolvers for duty purposes between 1077 and 1979" does not preclude the CHP from purchasing this later

If that is true, why bother writing such a statement in the first place?

There is a lot of info here on the model 68 if you do a search

Yes, I know. Already done before I wrote my post. Hence the unanswered questions.

I'm going to play the devil's advocate here and say yours isn't an original CHP gun.

To the naked eye it is clearly 'overstamped.'

 

[sndbggr1484]

Here is one in it's original state. Sorry for the poor picture.

 

[KEN L]

Here is a picture of the marking on my gun. It was definitely overstamped by California Highway Patrol before being released to trade for replacement weapons. I believe they went to the Beretta 92 for issued weapons when replacing their revolvers. Officers were authorized to buy their weapons, which some did. Sometimes those guns will be encountered, which were not overstamped. It's kind of funny, when you think about it, they overstamped them so future owners would not know they were once owned by CHP. The reality is, EVERYONE into collecting Smiths knows their history.
I bought this about 9 years ago. Strangely, the day before I found this, a friend gave me a Safety Speed Holster which fit this gun like a glove. I believe CHP issued these holsters about the same time. Oddly, shortly after I bought the gun, I found a correct box and paperwork for a Model 68-2. These are even more rare than the guns themselves.

 

[dsf]

I'll add that it's interesting that the letter says it was shipped to The Davis Company, Inc in Oakland, CA

That leaves the door open to interpretation. Bill Davis was one of the (if not THE) most well-known top-tier revolversmiths of that era, he was also former CHP and custom PPC builder, amongst other gun offerings.

I believe his shop was Sacramento and not Oakland, but it's not far.

The fact that his name is extremely common makes this wholly unclear but it would be at least somewhat interesting if it had originally been shipped to him.

I wonder how many others, if any, were shipped direct to Davis? Perhaps noteworthy that 1985 was the production high water mark for the Model 68. I wonder if Davis bought a lot to turn them into his own product.

Or, to slick up for CHP higher ups or agency competition?

I'm assuming they came from Smith without a "CHP" stamp - can't imagine Davis ordering, for his own use, being so inscribed.

 

[JustinL]

Ken,

Curious to see that yours was originally stamped "C.H.P." whereas others were just stamped "CHP" instead.

I guess it is time to consult with the letter writers themselves and see if they can clearly tell us whether or not this guns were marked at the factory or by the CHP.

 

[KEN L]

I believe all were stamped either CHP or C.H.P. at the factory and shipped to California Highway Patrol most likely through a LE distributor. Possibly Davis had an exclusive distributorship with CHP. I can't find my letter right now, but I know mine originally shipped in 1977, went back to Smith and was later re-shipped in 1991, this is per Roy. If I find my letter I will post it here.

 

[adrianolsen]

Here is a picture of the marking on my gun. It was definitely overstamped by California Highway Patrol before being released to trade for replacement weapons. I believe they went to the Beretta 92 for issued weapons when replacing their revolvers. Officers were authorized to buy their weapons, which some did. Sometimes those guns will be encountered, which were not overstamped. It's kind of funny, when you think about it, they overstamped them so future owners would not know they were once owned by CHP. The reality is, EVERYONE into collecting Smiths knows their history.
I bought this about 9 years ago. Strangely, the day before I found this, a friend gave me a Safety Speed Holster which fit this gun like a glove. I believe CHP issued these holsters about the same time. Oddly, shortly after I bought the gun, I found a correct box and paperwork for a Model 68-2. These are even more rare than the guns themselves.

After the 67 and 68, they went to the 4006. But, they did do a beretta test