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SW PRE-28 Highway Patrolman grips

tone59tone59 Member Posts: 673 ✭✭
edited October 2013 in Ask the Experts
I have a SW Pre-28 Highway Patrolman SER#474xx,DOM 1955.It has plastic thumbrest TEN-O-GRIP grips on it.
The only other revolver I have seen with these type of grips was also a Pre-28 Highway Patrolman.
Can someone tell me if this model ever came from the factory with these type of grips?
My books have either magna style or target walnut grips with both having SW medallions and a diamond around the screw holes as being factory correct.
The gun was given to me in 1980 as a 21st B-day gift from my father.
Aside from a turn line the gun is like new and Id like to put the correct type of grips with it.
I would appreciate hearing from knowledgeable Smith guys.
Thank You.
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Comments

  • Riomouse911Riomouse911 Member Posts: 3,492 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Based on a S&W forum response to Fitz ten-o grips, they were used on medium and large frame S&W's for years....but they seem to have been popular add-ons as opposed to factory issue.
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  • nmyersnmyers Member Posts: 16,892 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You will need to post photos of your revolver for us, including a photo of the serial number on the bottom of the grip frame.

    Neal
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  • tone59tone59 Member Posts: 673 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Fitz...thank you.I could not figure out what those bubble style letters spelled.
    I will try to send some pictures when I get the chance(learn how).
    It is a 5 screw model.
    Has highway patrol written on the barrel.
    No model # behind the crane just a Ser# that matches the one on the bottom of the frame 474xx.
    The #s on the cyl and ejector rod shroud match but differ from the frame numbers.
    I called S&W they date it 1955 based on the bottom of the frame #.

    EDIT:Sorry guys.
    Took the grips off and the # on the bottom of the frame is S133xxx which matches the cyl and shroud #s.
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  • CapnMidnightCapnMidnight Member Posts: 8,038 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    S&W didn't change from name to numbers until 1957, that's when it became a model 28.
    W.D.
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  • cussedemguncussedemgun Member Posts: 985 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    tone59,

    The Highway Patrolman (pre M28) began production in 1954 with ser# S103500 in 1954.

    Smith & Wesson deleted the upper side plate screw in 1956 at about ser# S171584.

    Sir, your gun falls in this Serial No. range. The # you posted is an assembly # that means nothing once the gun has left the factory.

    Remove the stocks & look at the bottom of the grip frame. The complete & legal ser# is stamped there. The ser# will begin with the prefix S & it is a part of the serial no.

    Your gun was originally equipped with either wood diamond magna grips (that would have been ser# to the gun) or wood diamond target grips (that probably would not have had a ser#). The only way to know the exact configuration your gun left the factory is to contact Smith & Wesson's history dept. for a letter.

    Hope this helps, Jim
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  • tone59tone59 Member Posts: 673 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Jim...Thank you very much.
    I think the wood diamond target grips on my no dash 29 would be one of the 2 types that would be correct for an all original pre-28.
    When I can,I will post pics of the 29 along with the pre-28.

    You have been very helpful.thanks again.

    EDIT:Yes Jim.After removing the grips I see I was wrong.The # is S133xxx.
    I should have done this after reading nmyers post.
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  • tone59tone59 Member Posts: 673 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Jim or anyone else out there who may know.
    The style of grips I have seen that resemble the ones on my 29 no dash are sometimes referred to as cokes or coke bottle grips.
    Are the coke bottle style grips the same as the wood target diamond grips that are one of the factory correct types for a pre-28 highway patrolman(DOM 1955)?
    The magna diamond type are not a consideration for me due to thier serialization to the gun.

    Thank you.
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  • dcs shootersdcs shooters Member Posts: 10,870 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Here's what you need from 1956,

    $T2eC16hHJI!E9qSO-RyJBRzJsoNbiQ~~60_57.JPG
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  • tone59tone59 Member Posts: 673 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thank you dcs shooters...
    cussedemgun has stated that the magna diamond type grips I believe to be shown in your picture would have had a matching ser# to the gun.
    Where as the other type(walnut target diamond)that some pre-28s came with were not numbered.
    From what I have seen a nice set of walnut target diamond grips(cokes?)would cost over half as much as the guns value would be after putting them on.
    I think Ill just leave it the way dad gave it to me.
    There is a pretty set of rosewood no diamond grips here along with the fitz ten-o-grips.
    Thank you
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  • dfletcherdfletcher Member Posts: 8,179 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    As a "2nd best choice" perhaps you could put some mid-60's magnas with a Tyler T Grip? The diamond grips can be expensive, but once in a while they'll pop up cheap at a gun show. I picked up a pair for about $60.00 a few years back.
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