Elusive model 68

[4BODIDDLEY]

I had not seen this scarce model until this past week. Postings and recent information is also somewhat scarce. As I understand it, it is a model 66, recreated in 6" in 38 Special. The model 66 was a 4" 357 with that caliber being politically inappropriate. The shrouded barrel had to be more robust to handle the 'Treasury Load,' a hot 110 grain cartridge. That's the short version. The approx 6000 pieces were made at the request of the California Highway Patrol, and so marked. The 68 was an issued sidearm for the CHP with some going to the LAPD. A short few years later, CHP adopted the S&W 40 as their sidearm, leaving some 68s in inventory. As the demand diminished, that inventory was sold to a couple of distributors for resale (don't know which ones). Before release, the CHP was overstamped to read OHB. Most of this info is in the Catalog. With the wealth of knowledge on the forum, does anyone have more? I'm curious as to which distributors and what quantity? How many OHBs are there? And of course, would anyone guess a value?
This is one of the original 68 no dash. There was a 68-2 issued in the late 80s as a commemerative. Thanks to all for your input

 

[snw19_357]

This is one of the original 68 no dash. There was a 68-2 issued in the late 80s as a commemerative. Thanks to all for your input

The Model 68 was made for the CHP.
The Model 68-2 made in the mid-80's were made for the CHP, the LAPD and then also the CHP commemorative.

 

[PatriotX]

Your overstamping looks to be very well done!

Some were not so fortunate.

Beautiful gun.

 

[Bullet Bob]

"The shrouded barrel had to be more robust to handle the 'Treasury Load,' a hot 110 grain cartridge."

That's not a shrouded barrel, it's just the standard shrouded extractor rod of the standard model 66. The only real differences from a 66 are a slightly shorter cylinder, and not being chambered for the .357.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Model 68 is simply a 6-incn Model 66 with a shortened cylinder so that it was not long enough to ream out and chamber .357 Magnum cartridges. Obviously, the shorter cylinder required a longer barrel shank so that the proper barrel/cylinder gap could be maintained.

 

[mikeruns]

I had heard that….these were early on specifically wanted for motor officers, hence the stainless for outside elements….anyone heard this before?

 

[Bekeart]

How many OHBs are there? And of course, would anyone guess a value?

Recent discussion with a member - he wanted to pay around $1200 for a CHP marked one.
I think $1500 price is closer to a CHP marked one.
I think he will be looking for a long time.

I have no opinion for price for OHB marked ones.

Bekeart

 

[ralph7]

What does OHB stand for?
I'm guessing it was a sano way of getting rid of the CHP connotation only.

 

[Exchipy]

Model 68 is simply a 6-incn Model 66 with a shortened cylinder so that it was not long enough to ream out and chamber .357 Magnum cartridges. Obviously, the shorter cylinder required a longer barrel shank so that the proper barrel/cylinder gap could be maintained.

In 1977, while I was a member of the CHP State Pistol Team (the Blue Team), the four members of the Blue Team, along with the four alternate Gold Team members, were assigned for two weeks at the CHP Academy range to inspect, function test, test fire, and sight-in a few thousand 6” S&W Model 68s for issue to officers. As I recall, only a very few were rejected. I had no rejects. But, I sure had a sore trigger finger. It got to where I’d quickly open and close each gun a time or two, dry fire once around the cylinder, then adjust the rear sight to where it was centered and looked about right for elevation, skip load three rounds, and trigger six times at the 25 yard bullseye target. If no issues were detected and all three shots were in the black (the center was pretty much gone before long), I’d box it up, ready to go. Then, on to the next gun, and on, and on, and on. What a time that was.

We also previewed the pilot episode of CHiPs, while there on that assignment.

 

[Exchipy]

"The shrouded barrel had to be more robust to handle the 'Treasury Load,' a hot 110 grain cartridge."

That's not a shrouded barrel, it's just the standard shrouded extractor rod of the standard model 66. The only real differences from a 66 are a slightly shorter cylinder, and not being chambered for the .357.

The issue ammunition during my last few years on the CHP was the Winchester 110gr. JHP +P+ “Treasury Load.” It shot as well for me at 50 yards as did the Winchester match wadcutter ammo we used in matches (all 10s on a B-27 target, from prone). I may have been the first Officer to actually carry the stuff on road duty, very shortly after it was approved, because Bill Davis (then CHP Range Officer) slipped me a couple boxes left over from the initial test lot.

 

[4BODIDDLEY]

Thanks for the updates. First, of course it was the extractor rod shroud not the barrel. Oops.
My understanding is the OHP was only to differentiate it was not a CHP issue revolver. It doesn't stand for anything.
Thanks Exchipy for some real world info.

 

[lightstar_actual]

I had not seen this scarce model until this past week. Postings and recent information is also somewhat scarce. As I understand it, it is a model 66, recreated in 6" in 38 Special. The model 66 was a 4" 357 with that caliber being politically inappropriate. The shrouded barrel had to be more robust to handle the 'Treasury Load,' a hot 110 grain cartridge. That's the short version. The approx 6000 pieces were made at the request of the California Highway Patrol, and so marked. The 68 was an issued sidearm for the CHP with some going to the LAPD. A short few years later, CHP adopted the S&W 40 as their sidearm, leaving some 68s in inventory. As the demand diminished, that inventory was sold to a couple of distributors for resale (don't know which ones). Before release, the CHP was overstamped to read OHB. Most of this info is in the Catalog. With the wealth of knowledge on the forum, does anyone have more? I'm curious as to which distributors and what quantity? How many OHBs are there? And of course, would anyone guess a value?
This is one of the original 68 no dash. There was a 68-2 issued in the late 80s as a commemerative. Thanks to all for your input

The majority of those pieces went to Cheshire and Perez in Monrovia for resale. Cheshire and Perez were the West Coast distributor/ warranty repair facility for Smith. They were also the S&W LE distributor, and much of their business came from LE clientele. They did build some PPC guns, but it was sort of a side business for them, as an offshoot of their LE sales.

 

[Exchipy]

The issue ammunition during my last few years on the CHP was the Winchester 110gr. JHP +P+ “Treasury Load.” It shot as well for me at 50 yards as did the Winchester match wadcutter ammo we used in matches (all 10s on a B-27 target, from prone). I may have been the first Officer to actually carry the stuff on road duty, very shortly after it was approved, because Bill Davis (then CHP Range Officer) slipped me a couple boxes left over from the initial test lot.

My CHP duty revolver looked very much like this Model 15, except that it was all stainless steel and built on a Model 67, a couple years before the Model 68s appeared:


Once, a fleeing auto thief I’d taken out of the bushes at gunpoint, with my heavy barreled stainless steel S&W Model 67, asked me with eyes wide, “Is that a [f-ing] silencer?” “Yes, yes it is,” I lied. “Why you got a [f-ing] silencer?” “Well,” I replied, “if I should shoot you, even by accident, I can just walk away with no muss, no fuss and no reports.” He couldn’t have been more cooperative after that. I can only imagine what he might have told his new roomies later at the Grey Bar Hotel.