This is me saving a link to the page for requesting a letter from Smith & Wesson. For $30 S&W wlll research your S&W’s serial number and tell you exactly when the gun was produced and where it was originally shipped. Here’s a sample letter.
The information letters are thanks to the research of S&W company historian Roy Jinks. The Boston Globe has a surprsingly upbeat story about Jinks a few years ago. I guess it helps that S&W is a Massachusetts company.
I have an unusual S&W Model 64 revolver I want lettered. Model 64s are chambered in .38 Special, but this one is a .357 Magnum. According to the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson S&W made heavy barrelled Model 64s in .357 Magnum for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol in 1972. The guns had no special markings to indicate OHP use. There were 750 “Oklahoma Highway Patrol Commemorative” models made in 1973, and I’m guessing this was one of those.
In 1972 S&W startied offering that configuration as the Model 65. Mine is marked 64-1 under the crane amd the owner’s manual is for the “.38 Military and Police Stainless Revolver Model No. 64,” but has “.357 Magnum” on the side of the barrel. The pre-printed sticker on the box says 64, but the hand-written label says 65.
The gun is unfired, which is why I suspect it’s one of the Commemorative models – it’s hard to imagine an OHP not being fired. It has the original box and papers, and the serial numbers on the gun, box, and wooden grips all match. It’s the only gun I own that I don’t plan on firing.
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Are you interested in selling that OHP revolver? I have been searching for one for quite some time. If you are interested please feel free to contact me at dmccutcheon@earthlink.net
The OHP Comm. is the 64-1 it was specially made for the OHP and nobody else. Most of the ones that I have seen have a badge sketched on the side of the gun and Oklahoma Highway Patrol etched on the barrel. What is yours like?
This one doesn’t have any special markings for OHP. I wonder if it was an overrun. I guess the letter will settle it.
I have some pictures of the one that I purchased some time back, I am looking to purchase more for some trooper friends of mine. Anyways I can email you the pictures of the one that I have if you are interested. My gun came in a wooden case with the Oklahoma State Seal on the top. I am in the process right now of purchasing a gun from a gentleman that was an original issue in the first patrol school in 1937. Anyways if you would like to see my gun just give me a shout at the email addy in the first comment.
Have you sold the OHP Model 65 gun yet? I have been looking for one for my husband for almost 3 years now and cannot find one.He is an oklahoma state trooper. If you have sold it , do you have any idea where I would be able to find another one? I am not real good finding guns, I just have no idea where to start looking?
Thanks
The OHP commemorative model 64 came in a wooden box with the Oklahoma State seal engraved on the top. The revolver, a .357 magnum, had the OHP badge etched into the right side of the frame just above the hand grip. The right side of the barrel is engraved with “Oklahoma Highway Patrol” There is enough room on the badge to have an actual badge number engraved or etched in. More specific and interesting is that just inside the extractor rod / yoke area you will find the serial number which includes the the badge number of the State Trooper who originally received the pistol. My Dad’s badge number at that time was “364″ When my father, the late 2nd Lt. Bob Neely received his revolver back in 73/74, he told me at that time, that some of his fellow troopers were selling the revolver back to collectors for as much as $2000.00. My father retained his commemorative and I am giving it as a gift to one of his dear friends. Further research into establishing a current value for the gun has lead me to believe that the actual cash value for the revolver is closer to what you would pay for a current model, $600 to $800. The real value is in the sentimental aspect.
Good stuff, Mike. Thanks for posting that.
I have a 64-1 Smith and Wesson if interested please e mail me at alishamarie1986@yahoo.com .357 magnum
I have three OHP with the wooden boxes, two of the guns have been fired my Dad’s have not been fired I was wondering if?
1. How much are they worth
2. Would any one out there like to buy one?
Truett,
I am very interested in the guns that you have. Please email me at dmccutcheon22@yahoo.com