Pre-Model 28 Highway Patrolman S/N range

[PeteC]

Is there a cutoff (end) serial number for the first year Highway Patrolman serial number range? It would be cool if mine was a first-year of manufacture gun. I already know that S&W did not ship in serial number order, but I am wondering if they made a consecutively numbered production run, or if the serial numbers were randomly mixed with other N frame guns made concurrently.

Mine is serial number 113xxx, which falls into 1954~55. The SCSW lists starting serial number S103500, and total first year production of ~8,400, which ads up to 111900, or less than 113000. However, the same SCSW edition mentions two Model 27 guns with serial numbers of 124726 and 124727 that were recorded as also shipping sometime in 1954, which is another 11,000 serial numbers (!) ...

Pics below, for people who like such things more than numbers and dates,

 

[Truckman]

Ooohhh!...That's a nice one......Ben

 

[The Gila Bender]

I would think your S113xxx is a first-year HP.
S114081 is a 4" HP lettered as shipped 7/20/54 to Union Hardware, Los Angeles, CA.

 

[Retired W4]

That is an interesting question especially as it relates to the two 357 Magnums mentioned. As a point of reference, S 111760 (HP) shipped June 9, 1954.

 

[PeteC]

Thanks! It looks like this serial number falls between the two posted above that shipped in mid-1954, so it is reasonable to assume that this one did too.

For that year the SCSW lists a possible range of serial numbers between 103000 and 139000, a total of 36,000 possible numbers, which also puts this gun somewhere in the middle. Apparently the retail price was $85 that year. Adjusted for inflation, about $860 today...

 

[CHARLIE699]

PeteC, Yours is a real gem! While I never bothered to letter this one, It bears Ser# S1111xx. I'm very comfortable with the early-mid 1954 age. It falls right into group of lettered revolvers in that time frame.
I found her in the Columbus, Ohio area. She was wearing a perfect set of 1980's Targets. I looked for a period correct set of Diamond magna's but settled on these Targets .