Unloved HP finds a new home

[bruner1981]

Yep, another one followed me home. I was trying to decide what I wanted to buy with my tax return and kept coming across this one. It had been on gunbroker for about a month and a half and no one ever bid. It is a little rough and was a little high priced, but I bought it for a carry gun and since I live in CA, I can't import any HP that isn't at least 50 years old so this one was the one I went for.

Serial number is S113347 so it dates from somewhere around 1954-1955. Does anyone have a better idea of when it might have been made/shipped? This one is a 4" and it shoots beautifully. First time I shot it happened to be shooting it to qualify it for my CCW permit and got some light primer strikes, which made the rapid fire shooting interesting. Double action pull feels a little light so it may need a new mainspring. I'll probably swap out mainsprings with my 28-2 to make it shoot more reliably for the time being. Enough of my rambling though, here's some pictures for all of you. Sorry I'm not that great at taking pictures.

Here it is at the range after I shot it. Top target is shooting single action, and the bottom is shooting double action. Can't figure out why I shoot better in double action than single action, but I'm not complaining.

And here it is pictured with its younger brother, a 28-2.

 

[kennicka]

There is one at my LGS similar to yours (4", S-Prefix, fairly worn) that keeps calling to me. It would go well with my S-Prefix 6" Guess I will have to look at it some more!

 

[bruner1981]

There is one at my LGS similar to yours (4", S-Prefix, fairly worn) that keeps calling to me. It would go well with my S-Prefix 6" Guess I will have to look at it some more!

Do it! You know you want to.

 

[Art Doc]

I think that's a very early one. IIRC the first HP was in the S113,000 range. My S116XXX (forget the last 3 digits) shipped 10/54.

 

[bruner1981]

I think that's a very early one. IIRC the first HP was in the S113,000 range. My S116XXX (forget the last 3 digits) shipped 10/54.

Interesting. Here I was guessing it was probably from 1955. I should probably get this one lettered at some point. It's got a fair amount of holster wear, and when I took off the grips I noticed someone at some point scratched A.Q. onto the grip frame. I highly doubt a letter would be able to tell me anything regarding the marking, but if it could tell me for sure it's a first year HP, it may be worth it. Thanks for the input!

 

[retiredbadge8091]

And here I thought I was the only one who had a Pre 28 Highway Patrolman... Dang it.

 

[r3captain]

I think that's a very early one. IIRC the first HP was in the S113,000 range. My S116XXX (forget the last 3 digits) shipped 10/54.

I've read that the earliest HP's were S103500 or S107500 and began shipping in mid April 1954. Good to know your S116XXX was shipped in the first year since my HP S1146xx must have been too. Funny thing is my 5" pre-27 S123XXX was shipped 10/22/54 to a dealer that was less than 5 miles from where I was born 3 months earlier.

 

[DCWilson]

HPs with serial numbers near the one in the first post were shipping in June and July of 1954. Unless this one got stuck on a back shelf in inventory, it probably shipped about that time as well.

 

[BUFF]

I have S113940, 4 incher, excellent in box, shipped in July, 1954.

I usually use Pachmayrs on Magnum K, N and L frames with Magnum ammo.

I have had probably 10 or 12 Highway Patrolmen over the years. Back in the 1970's, I would buy them when I could get a real good deal, clean the dickens out of them inside and out, touch up the usually shiny front sights with cold blue, add a white outline rear sight blade and a red insert in the front sight blade. S&W was selling accessories like target hammers and triggers, stocks of all kinds, moon clips, rear sight assemblies and all sorts of things on bubble-pack cards on revolving wire display racks in gun and sporting goods stores. I would add target hammer and trigger and usually some nice figured goncalo alves target stocks, then sell or trade for a higher grade gun.

These are solid, tank-like guns with a smooth mechanism. You can shoot one with hot but in-spec ammo for years without disappointment and wear.

 

[Bill Bates]

I have to disagree with the thread title starting "Unloved HP". I look at that fine old Highway Patrolman and see a gun that appears it spent a lot time being used but it doesn't appear abused. That looks like good honest wear on a gun loved and carried by someone for many years. You have to appreciate a old work horse like that gun. I'm glad to see the OP plans to continue using it as a carry gun.

Before you change that main spring double check the strain screw is tight.

 

[bruner1981]

I have to disagree with the thread title starting "Unloved HP". I look at that fine old Highway Patrolman and see a gun that appears it spent a lot time being used but it doesn't appear abused. That looks like good honest wear on a gun loved and carried by someone for many years. You have to appreciate a old work horse like that gun. I'm glad to see the OP plans to continue using it as a carry gun.

Before you change that main spring double check the strain screw is tight.

Yeah I only said "unloved" because no one was bidding on it for the month and a half that I saw it on gunbroker, who knows how long it was up before I saw it. It was definitely used and loved by its previous owners, and it will continue to be used and loved by me.

I have checked the strain screw. Pulled off the hogue grips that came on it to check it once I noticed the light primer strikes at the range. That screw is as tight as it can be.

 

[bananaman]

Good job! I wouldn't mind a 4" 28 myself. It is not a high priority, but would be neat. I do have a no dash from 1960. (6") It was my 1st G.B. purchase some years back. Enjoy your HP's! Bob

 

[Rhetorician]

Question for the masses?

Yep, another one followed me home. I was trying to decide what I wanted to buy with my tax return and kept coming across this one. It had been on gunbroker for about a month and a half and no one ever bid. It is a little rough and was a little high priced, but I bought it for a carry gun and since I live in CA, I can't import any HP that isn't at least 50 years old so this one was the one I went for.

Serial number is S113347 so it dates from somewhere around 1954-1955. Does anyone have a better idea of when it might have been made/shipped? This one is a 4" and it shoots beautifully. First time I shot it happened to be shooting it to qualify it for my CCW permit and got some light primer strikes, which made the rapid fire shooting interesting. Double action pull feels a little light so it may need a new mainspring. I'll probably swap out mainsprings with my 28-2 to make it shoot more reliably for the time being. Enough of my rambling though, here's some pictures for all of you. Sorry I'm not that great at taking pictures.

Here it is at the range after I shot it. Top target is shooting single action, and the bottom is shooting double action. Can't figure out why I shoot better in double action than single action, but I'm not complaining.

And here it is pictured with its younger brother, a 28-2.

[/QUOTE

Hello all,

For those of us who are not in the know, what is the "HP" designation?

Thanks and please do not flame me in my ignorance.

rd

 

[bruner1981]

Yep, another one followed me home. I was trying to decide what I wanted to buy with my tax return and kept coming across this one. It had been on gunbroker for about a month and a half and no one ever bid. It is a little rough and was a little high priced, but I bought it for a carry gun and since I live in CA, I can't import any HP that isn't at least 50 years old so this one was the one I went for.

Serial number is S113347 so it dates from somewhere around 1954-1955. Does anyone have a better idea of when it might have been made/shipped? This one is a 4" and it shoots beautifully. First time I shot it happened to be shooting it to qualify it for my CCW permit and got some light primer strikes, which made the rapid fire shooting interesting. Double action pull feels a little light so it may need a new mainspring. I'll probably swap out mainsprings with my 28-2 to make it shoot more reliably for the time being. Enough of my rambling though, here's some pictures for all of you. Sorry I'm not that great at taking pictures.

Here it is at the range after I shot it. Top target is shooting single action, and the bottom is shooting double action. Can't figure out why I shoot better in double action than single action, but I'm not complaining.

And here it is pictured with its younger brother, a 28-2.

[/QUOTE

Hello all,

For those of us who are not in the know, what is the "HP" designation?

Thanks and please do not flame me in my ignorance.

rd

No worries, we all had to learn at some point!

HP stands for Highway Patrolman, the utility version of The 357 Magnum