1st year Highway Patrolman

[Rodan]

I have been looking for the 'right' HP 4" for quite a long time... not a collector, but a nice condition shooter, the earlier the better.

Haggled with the same dealer at three gunshows over 18 months over a nice 5 screw. He wouldn't budge off his (ridiculous) price. Missed a birth year M28-2 on GB that someone wanted a little more than me. Lots of other GB auctions bringing big prices, but nothing I was willing to pay that much for. Numerous 6" guns have come into local shops over the last two years, but this one was the first 4" to land on a local shelf...

According to the Standard Catalog, a first year gun, 1954. Though I had told myself I wasn't going to buy any more guns this year, there was no way I was going to pass on this one.

 

[krsmith58]

Great catch. congratulations on that snag. thanks for sharing, oh i forgot, i'm jealous


krs/kenny

 

[series guy]

Very nice. That one's a keeper.

 

[JP@AK]

Very nice! The first HP was S103500. It shipped in April, 1954. Yours may not have been far behind.

My 4" HPs are my favorite revolvers to shoot.

 

[bill-in-texas]

Very nice... No, wait...
Beautiful example of a beautiful beast!

I really like that one, Rodan!
Thanks for sharing the story and "the find."

-Bill

Edit: Nothing as Nice as Yours, But I'm Always "On the Hunt!"



"https://i.ibb.co/4PqRvns/2237-E218-8960-441-B-96-F5-8-F3-B80327-C11.jpg"

 

[gmborkovic]

Its not really a pretty or beautiful gun. I would say handsome. Somehow
I had a first year NIB HP fall in my lap at a gun show. Have not shot this one, but my other ones have been.

 

[younggun22]

Love the early highway patrolman's


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Pef]

WOW.

Very nice, sir.

 

[amarin]

Very nice. The heavy N Frames are really great guns!

 

[raljr1]

Looks collectible enough to me....you better go buy one a little more used so yo can shoot it....

 

[boykinlp]

Wow, that is super nice! I bet it shoots like a dream.
Larry

 

[Hawg Rider]

Very nice early first year Highway Patrolman...one of the first produced. I was fortunate enough to pick this one up from a fellow Forum member earlier this year. For me it's not only a first year HP but a birth year gun, as well. It's a little later than yours...mine is S114481, and shipped July/August 1954. It just missed my September birth month! Great revolvers that are built like tanks. Enjoy!

 

[The Gila Bender]

Very nice acquisition! Congrats.
This is S114081 shipped July 20, 1954 to Union Hardware in Los Angeles.

 

[Retired W4]

Very nice 1st year HP, with a very low SN. I am the proud caretaker of S111760 (4"), which was shipped to Evaluators Ltd in June of 54. Regardless of what they did with the gun they sure took good care of it. I had wondered what it and the letter would be worth today. Not that it matters, as it won't be for sale as long as I'm alive.

 

[SAFireman]

Very Nice!



....and I bet you stole it for $250 too right?

color me jealous

 

[younggun22]

Shown this picture before but here's a couple of 1st year HP's

The target stocks on the 6in number to the gun

 

[Wiregrassguy]

And the stocks on the bottom gun are pre-War magnas...or Keith Brown replicas.

 

[Rodan]

....and I bet you stole it for $250 too right?

Don't I wish!

$850 + tax, which I thought was quite reasonable in the current market.

 

[JP@AK]

$850 + tax, which I thought was quite reasonable in the current market.

It was.

Having said that, the most I ever paid for a 4" HP was $275. That was the last one I bought, but it was in 1995. My youngest son was 4 at the time. Now he's in his 30s.

I bought one brand new after I came back to the World from my second year in SE Asia. Cost me $137 including tax. Still have the receipt.

I suspect I now have as many of them as I want. I did pass one up at a local gun show a couple years ago. $750 was more than I wanted to spend, but was probably a good price at the time.

 

[SAFireman]

Don't I wish!

$850 + tax, which I thought was quite reasonable in the current market.

I still think that you got a bargain at that price. That is one of the lowest serial numbered HP's that I have seen in a while.

Now, go out and shoot it, and tell us how great the 1950's craftsmanship is