for the S&W experts...

BUCKAWHO

Hi....I have a pre-model 28 Highway Patrolman in an unusual configuration. And stamped on the frame, where there normally is an assembly number, is "X 100". The "letter" from the S&W Historical Foundation suggests that this revolver and two others were possibly "samples" exhibited at the Camp Perry trials in late 1954. So, I'm wondering if anyone out there may have any more information concerning this particular Highway Patrolman and it's mates. BT

BUCKAWHO

WOW ! Seems like I've hit a dead end. Anybody have any info about a Jesse E. Harpe, a gunsmith of Tampa, Florida? He may have had something to do with this S&W. BT

Hawk Carse

I have heard of Mr Harpe. From what I google, the Highway Patrolman came along pretty late in his career.

I sure don't know anything more than what the SWHF told you.

What is its "unusual configuration" other than the X100?

nmyers

You might get a little more help here if you would post photos of your gun, including ALL markings & the serial number.

Neal

rufe-snow

Before the Second World War, the mid winter pistol matches in Tampa FL. Were the major draw for Bullseye pistol shooters, second only to Camp Perry.

This was well before air travel was common. Most went to Tampa by train, if they weren't driving.

According to the article I read years ago in the Rifleman. Harpe was a retired engineer, who set up in Tampa. To pursue gunsmithing. Specifically to take advantage, of all the Bullseye shooters that went to the mid winter matches.

The article went into detail, on the work he did specifically to accurize 1911's. Don't recall anything about S & W revolvers.

As this was during the mid 1930's. And he was a retiree, doubt that he would have been active gunsmithing as late as the mid 50's.

BUCKAWHO

Thanks for the replies. My pre model 28 HP(and two others) were delivered personally to Mr. Harpe at the Camp Perry matches in Sept. 1954 by an assistant S&W sales manager. The Historical Fdn. believes they were displayed samples there, as they were new models at that time. My example doesn't fit all the details described by the letter, and has very unusual features for a HP. The serial number dates it to Sept. 1954. The frame is polished blue. The barrel and cylinder are matte blue, and the cylinder serial number matches the frame. The frame topstrap and rear sight are finely checkered, as is the barrel rib, much like a model 27. Frame fore and backstrap each have six grooves. Target hammer and target trigger are each .500 in width, at odds with Nahas and Supica. Stocks are checkered target with diamond at the escutchen, with no football depression or cutout. And the most unusual feature is a 4 3/4 inch long barrel(cyl to mzl) with the usual .357 ctg and Highway Patrolman stamp on the right side, and Smith & Wesson on the left side. These stamps are correctly positioned. There is no red insert on the ramp front sight. And as I mentioned earlier, there is "X 100" stamped where normally one would find assembly numbers on the frame. I and my gunsmith dealer can find no evidence of any tampering, and also no sign of any alterations by S&W, or anyone else. The seller also made no mention of any of these features in the auction description on GB. The "letter" also makes no mention of any of these unusual features, except to say this revolver was shipped with a six inch barrel and target grips, as were the other two samples. That's about all the information that I can supply at this time. I also have no camera to supply pics, but I knew the barrel was different from looking at the auction pictures(4). This weapon was quite a surprise when it arrived, for sure! Thanks for your interest...and any information that you can add...BT
P.S. My own opinion is that those three Smith HPs were probably all different in their features, and that the one that I have represents the many ways that S&W could fashion and build revolvers according to a buyer's wishes. Finishes, checkering, barrel lengths, hammers and triggers, grips, sights, and calibers all had variables available. Money talks, you know! And Smith and Wesson listened! BT

rufe-snow

quote:Originally posted by BUCKAWHO
Thanks for the replies. My pre model 28 HP(and two others) were delivered personally to Mr. Harpe at the Camp Perry matches in Sept. 1954 by an assistant S&W sales manager. The Historical Fdn. believes they were displayed samples there, as they were new models at that time. My example doesn't fit all the details described by the letter, and has very unusual features for a HP. The serial number dates it to Sept. 1954. The frame is polished blue. The barrel and cylinder are matte blue, and the cylinder serial number matches the frame. The frame topstrap and rear sight are finely checkered, as is the barrel rib, much like a model 27. Frame fore and backstrap each have six grooves. Target hammer and target trigger are each .500 in width, at odds with Nahas and Supica. Stocks are checkered target with diamond at the escutchen, with no football depression or cutout. And the most unusual feature is a 4 3/4 inch long barrel(cyl to mzl) with the usual .357 ctg and Highway Patrolman stamp on the right side, and Smith & Wesson on the left side. These stamps are correctly positioned. There is no red insert on the ramp front sight. And as I mentioned earlier, there is "X 100" stamped where normally one would find assembly numbers on the frame. I and my gunsmith dealer can find no evidence of any tampering, and also no sign of any alterations by S&W, or anyone else. The seller also made no mention of any of these features in the auction description on GB. The "letter" also makes no mention of any of these unusual features, except to say this revolver was shipped with a six inch barrel and target grips, as were the other two samples. That's about all the information that I can supply at this time. I also have no camera to supply pics, but I knew the barrel was different from looking at the auction pictures(4). This weapon was quite a surprise when it arrived, for sure! Thanks for your interest...and any information that you can add...BT
P.S. My own opinion is that those three Smith HPs were probably all different in their features, and that the one that I have represents the many ways that S&W could fashion and build revolvers according to a buyer's wishes. Finishes, checkering, barrel lengths, hammers and triggers, grips, sights, and calibers all had variables available. Money talks, you know! And Smith and Wesson listened! BT




I could see if Smith made an error in the letter, concerning the barrel length. If it was a standard 4" barrel. The odd size is very mystifying? Other wise from your description, it seems that the revolver has a lot of Model 27 features. Almost if they or somebody else, rebarreled a Model 27 with a 28 barrel. But the odd barrel length, doesn't reflect that. Some few 27's, had 5" barrels. Any possible chance that the barrel is of a similar length?

BUCKAWHO

Rufe, you said the odd barrel length is mystifying. To me, the whole piece is mystifying! The polished frame seems to be a 27 frame, but the serial number puts it squarely in the Highway Patrolman series of 1954, exactly at September 9th. The top strap checkering exactly matches the barrel rib checkering; the stamped lettering is positioned correctly for the barrel length, so the barrel doesn't appear to be a shortened six inch barrel. The "X 100" frame stamping is of the correct size that one would expect the assembly numbers to be. The blueing differences are very obvious between the frame, barrel and cylinder, yet the serial number on the cylinder matches the frame number. There is also an "H" stamped on the cylinder indicating the matte blue finish. To me, this whole body of work appears genuinely to be that of Smith and Wesson, and there is no frame stamp star to indicate this was reworked by S&W or anyone else.
As I said before, this HP appears to be an example of the different ways that S&W could manufacture a revolver to suit a buyer's wishes.
I have two model 28s and four model 27s, all of which display normal configurations of finishes, sights, grips, hammers and triggers, and barrel lengths. This one is a mystery. BT

BUCKAWHO

Hi....For those following this thread, I forgot to mention that the serial number on the barrel underlug, where the ejector rod locks, does match the serial numbers on both the cylinder and frame. And none of the frame screws show any attempts at removal. Just two more things that convince me that this is a genuine S&W product, though a strange one. The serial number is S 109xxx (Sep. 1954). BT