3 1/2" Highway Patrolman??

[jspick]

I went tot a gun show yesterday and saw lots Smiths for sale.
The one that caught my eye was a Highway Patrolman. At first I thought it was a poorly refinished 27 but I asked to see it and looked it over. It was marked on the barrel highway patrolman. Found a tape measure and measured the barrel. It measured 3 1/2". The sight HAD NOT been cut off and repinned. It was a factory, to the best of my knowledge, 3 1/2" highway patrolman. The grips also matched the frame. Not a factory reblue. Everything looked right for a highway patrolman. The dealer knew nothing about it. $600 is what he wanted but I didn't have it as I had already spent my money. It was a 3 screw but pinned and recessed gun. No box or anything, just the gun.

Anyone what to venture a guess? I know from what I have read here that HP's only came with 4 and 6" barrels.

John

 

[pharmer]

4". Measure from cylinder face to barrel end. Unless someone put a 3 1/2" 27 barrel on it. joe

 

[diamonback68]

As Joe said it's probably a 4". You have to measure from the front of the cylinder to the muzzle end. A replaced 3 1/2" 27 barrel wouldn't have Highway Patrolman stamped on it. They never made a 3 1/2" HP. They did however make 25 5" bright nickel 28s for the Florida Highway Patrol.

 

[jspick]

The barrel was measured from the front of the cylinder to the end of the barrel. Right at 3 1/2". The barrel rib was not checkered so not a 27 barrel. I have a a 27-2, RM and a 627 model of 1989 so I know what a 27 barrel looks like. The barrel has the same matte finish as the rest of the gun like 28's do. Ramped front sight. Marked 28 on the yoke.

I know they never made 3 1/2" 28's. That is why I have posted it here. I wish I could have taken a picture of it but I didn't bring my camera and they don't allow camers or videos in the show.

I did take the time to look it over some, but that is what I saw.

John

 

[Scary Gary]

You can find some strange things at gun shows.

 

[SW357Addict]

Perhaps a custom ordered Highway Patrolman from the factory?

 

[jspick]

I am not saying it is factory, but it sure looked it.
Just was hoping to hear something more than what I know.

But it was at a "gun show". The thing that really made me look twice at it was when the guy said he took it on trade and knew nothing about it. NO claim to J.Edger or anything!!

But I did see a set of K frame diamond targets with no relief cut out. The finish was gone and the grips screw and extursions were gone. The big thing was there was a hole in the middle of the bottom of the grips. The dealer said these came on the RCMP guns!

John

 

[Doc44]

The HP could have been a special order, as a 3 1/2-inch barrel originally intended for a 27-2 could have been diverted and made into a barrel for a 28-2. S&W did not do a lot of specials after the 50s, but they did do some for individuals or distributors with the right connections.

I owned a 25-2 that lettered with a 3 1/2-inch barrel that was made in the late 60s for a chief of police.

Bill

 

[Art Doc]

I would have given him the $600 provided he agreed to guarantee it would letter. Odds are the barrel was chopped due to damage at the muzzle. But if it looked that good, I would gamble (as long as the seller signed an agreement to refund if it letters as a 4" which I suspect is the case).

 

[jspick]

I suspected a 4" cut down too. But the sight had not been pinned into the barrel like the factory does it. It didn't show any pinning although I know the factory did it. It has a very good finish on the barrel ramp area. I do wish I had been able to photograph the gun and you experts could make the definative answer.

John

 

[JSR III]

Not trying to be insulting or rude but where did you measure from? Tip of barrel to where?

 

[CQB27]

Not trying to be insulting or rude but where did you measure from? Tip of barrel to where?

He answered in post #4,

"The barrel was measured from the front of the cylinder to the end of the barrel. Right at 3 1/2".

 

[jspick]

I didn't take it as rude being asked again where I measured the barrel from. I find it totally bewildering how a 28 has a 3 1/2" barrel.

It either, as has been suggested, a special order gun or there is more to the story than can been seen at a gun show spending about 15 minutes looking at it.
I am fishing here for probalble answers.

John

 

[JSR III]

Sorry, my bad for speed reading. Well it is either a cut down or a special order. If the later, then I would think it a rare bird. I would spend the $50 on a letter. For the price of 2 30 packs, you may have found a one of.

 

[357larry]

Even if it wasn't a factory job it would make a cool shooter. Been looking for a beater mod 27 with a 3 1/2 inch barrel so I can change it to a RB and Armoloy it for a truck piece.

Too bad you didn't get it. It would have been worth a letter.

 

[jspick]

Well thanks to you guys I at least knew what I was looking at. Well sort of! ha ha If it is a "one of" then I at least had a reason of no money left as why I didn't get it.

At least I had some money when I bought a RM a couple of years ago for $329, BUT I really didn't know what I had until I posted it here. Then I learned a lot fast.

There is a gun show in Missoula next weekend. Maybe I'll go there and see if the guy shows up and really look it over better. I know he goes to most of the shows on that circuit.

John

 

[BUFF]

It would be very interesting to know. One would think that the cost of a Highway Patrolman plus expense of a special order, or return to the factory for the work, would have been at least as much, if not more, than the cost of a standard length Model 27. I know which one I would have rather had!

 

[Doc44]

In the early late 60s to early 70s, S&W forged the ramp with the barrel and pinned the sight blade to the ramp with a single pin. If the the 3 1/2-inch barrel was this type, it would not have been possible to make it from a 4-inch barrel as the ramp would have been destroyed in the process.

As for special orders, S&W built three of the guns shown below in 1974. The 44 Magnum has a 3 1/4-inch barrel, fixed sights, a thinned trigger guard and a custom round butt and stocks. If I described this revolver in a thread as having seen it at a gun show, most eveyone would think it was a custom job that was not factory original. However...

Bill

 

[bamabiker]

To the OP, I would have took a serious look at that HP and done some fast talking/trading if I thought it's original.
To Doc44, wow, just wow what a beauty.

 

[Gary7]

In the early late 60s to early 70s, S&W forged the ramp with the barrel and pinned the sight blade to the ramp with a single pin. If the the 3 1/2-inch barrel was this type, it would not have been possible to make it from a 4-inch barrel as the ramp would have been destroyed in the process.

I thought the sight blade was forged with the ramp?