Update on 38 M&P Missouri Hiway Patrol gun.

[Mbrgr1]

This one rolled in awhile back and I began my research. I talked to the MO HWP historian and dug around on the interwebs. This is what I found......

# 34 was one of the first 25 guns in the same configuration that were ordered for the first graduating class of the newly founded Missouri HWP in 1931.

#34 was assigned to Mr. Paul Mills Inman (see pics), he was 24 years old. According to the historian, he had the same badge number until he retired in 1962.

According to her, you had to be at least 6'1 to join the HWP at the start.

Included is a 1940 census that shows Mr. Inman and his family, look at the total yearly pay.



All in all an interesting look back, I only hope someone cleans up his grave, I'm sure he deserves that at least, I'll take care of his gun.

 

[Mbrgr1]

 

[SS336]

Nice M&P with a great history to match. Very cool.

 

[quinn]

And THAT, boys and girls, is what provenance is all abount in my book! Outstanding research on a great gun. Aren't we thankful when an LEO organization has a historian and made a serious attempt to preserve the agency's history! Congratulations on both the steel and the paper.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Since the first class to graduate in 1931 had 50 members, I wonder what date the remaining 25 revolvers were shipped. Great work on the history of this revolver. Clearly well taken care of over the years. This pretty well explains how MSHP came to like 5 inch guns. There were the initial 1905/4th (the revolver in this thread is one of them), later the 5 inch 38/44s, then the 5 inch Combat Masterpiece revolvers. S&W puts its foot down later, and MSHP bought 4 inch Combat Masterpiece revolvers as the numbers of troopers increased. They always bought Dehner's holsters for 5 inch revolvers for uniformity. They were still using the 5 inch and the 4 inch Combat Masterpiece revolvers when they went to the 4 inch Model 66 revolvers for all troopers in the 1970s. This is excellent work finding one of these and getting the research and sharing it. Good show!

 

[handejector]

Way cool.
Three things jump out at me-
He made Capt....
He died at 60.....
The invoice says: 25 guns, stamped "Mo.S.H.P." and "numbered from 1 up" and this gun is No. 34 ????? Is that the new math again?

 

[Mbrgr1]

Way cool.
Three things jump out at me-
He made Capt....
He died at 60.....
The invoice says: 25 guns, stamped "Mo.S.H.P." and "numbered from 1 up" and this gun is No. 34 ????? Is that the new math again?

I wondered the same thing, if it had said
"numbered 1-25" it would be an issue, I'm guessing the badge numbers were not 1-25 but perhaps 1-3-6-8 etc all the way up to 50?


There do appear to be 50 guys in the pic, just a thought.

 

[murphydog]

Way cool.
Three things jump out at me-
He made Capt....
He died at 60.....
The invoice says: 25 guns, stamped "Mo.S.H.P." and "numbered from 1 up" and this gun is No. 34 ????? Is that the new math again?

Guess no one at the MoHP specified the 25 guns had to be numbered 'consecutively'. Or maybe someone had to drop out of the class for being only 6 feet tall?

 

[murphydog]

Way cool.
Three things jump out at me-
He made Capt....
He died at 60.....
The invoice says: 25 guns, stamped "Mo.S.H.P." and "numbered from 1 up" and this gun is No. 34 ????? Is that the new math again?

Guess no one at the MSHP specified the 25 guns had to be numbered 'consecutively'. Or maybe someone had to drop out of the class for being only 6 feet tall?