Model 28 Magna Grip Id

[keithsacane]

My Dad had a Highway Patrolman he picked up years ago at the factory. Around 20 years ago it was stolen, and since my Dad had changed the grips out, he still had the grips. I'm trying to ID them since I don't have the gun. There are a couple numbers stamped on the inside. At the bottom is 224568. In the middle of the grip is 143 over 689. They are diamond Magnas. Which set of numbers would be the serial number? He had always said it was made before they used model numbers, but that may not be correct if the long number is the serial number.

 

[Mike C2]

Weird that their are two sets of numbers?

Assuming that 224568 is the serial #: in 1969 they went to the N prefix, but the diamonds were gone at that point. With that in mind, those grips would have been off a circa '62-'63 S serial # gun.

If 143689 was the serial #, that would make it a 1955 and it would have been a pre-model Highway Patrolman if that the case. My ***-umption at this point since you said Model 28 that it is an early 60's -2 gun.

 

[keithsacane]

He always just referred to it as a Highway Patrolman, and I never did look at the frame before it was stolen. I kind of use model 28 and Highway Patrolman interchangeably. I know he had it before he went to Vietnam in 1967.

 

[Alk8944]

The explanation I have seen in the past is the number in the middle of the stock reverse is the number of the gun the stocks were originally fit to. A revolver with target stocks was ordered, and if there was none in stock at time a gun with Magnas was pulled, the stocks replaced with Targets and shipped. The previously stampe0d stocks would be returned to stock for later use in production.


Later, when the previously stamped stocks were installed on another gun the new frame number would be stamped up-side down parallel to the butt of the right stock. I believe one of my K-frame revolvers is double-stamped, just as you picture.

 

[Art Doc]

In my non expert opinion the serial was S 143689 and was likely made 1955 or very early 1956 making it a pre-model as suggested.

Since nobody was certain of the serial I assume it was not provided to police at the time of the theft meaning zero chance of recovery. I would contact local cops and tell them you want to amend the original police report because you determined the serial and give it to them. I had a stolen gun recovered after 17 years. You dad's HP may be still floating around out there. Or perhaps sitting in a property room.

 

[keithsacane]

Cool. That's a great idea. I would love to have that gun back. It was a great gun.