Lot 223

M.G. Julien Hatcher's Smith & Wesson Highway Patrolman Revolver

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M.G. Julien Hatcher's Smith & Wesson Highway Patrolman Revolver

Estimate: $4,500 - $6,500

Starting Bid: $4,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 21, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Smith & Wesson Highway Patrolman (Pre-Model 28) Double Action Revolver Documented as Shipped to Major General Julian S. Hatcher with Factory Letter Manufactured in 1955, this is an excellent example of Smith & Wesson's .357 Highway Patrolman revolver, also known as the Pre-Model 28, that is documented as having been shipped to Major General Julian S. Hatcher (1888-1963), famed firearms expert and author of "Hatcher's Notebook" among many others. The included factory letter lists the revolver with a 4 inch barrel, brushed blue finish, and select checkered grips when shipped to Major General Julian S. Hatcher, National Rifle Association, Washington, D.C. on 14 November 1955. Hatcher graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with honors in 1909 but quickly transferred out of the navy due to chronic sea sickness, being assigned to the coastal artillery in the U.S. Army. In 1916, he began his career as a weapons expert for the army when he was sent to solve operational issues with the M1909 Hotchkiss machine gun, discovering that the issue appeared to be improper training, and helped to establish the army's first machine gun school. In 1919, he was named the commanding officer of Springfield Armory and was instrumental in solving the issue of brittle receivers on the early production M1903 rifles, with part of the solution being a vent hole that became known as a "Hatcher hole". Prior to and during the early years of World War II, Hatcher was Chief of the Small Arms Division in the United States Army Ordnance Department and the Assistant Commandant of the Ordnance School, playing a pivotal role in trouble shooting and overcoming early production issues with the legendary M1 Garand, before retiring from the military in 1946. In 1947, two of Hatcher's most prominent books were published, those being "Hatcher's Notebook: A Standard Reference Book for Shooters, Gunsmiths, Ballisticians, Historians, Hunters, and Collectors" and "Hatcher's Book of the Garand", both of which remain highly regarded to this day. After retiring from the military he also served as the technical director of the National Rifle Association's magazine "American Rifleman", and he died in 1963. This revolver has the standard Smith & Wesson markings as well as the matching serial number on the butt, in the ejector rod shroud, the rear face of the cylinder, the front face of the ejector star, and stamped inside the right grip panel. It is fitted with a serrated ramped blade front sight, an adjustable notch rear sight, and a pair of checkered walnut magna grips with "S&W" monogram medallions.

Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson

Model: 357 Highway Patrolman

BBL: 4 inch solid rib

Gauge: 357 Magnum

Finish: blue

Grips: walnut

Serial NumberS126528

Class: Curio & Relic Handgun

  • Condition: Excellent, retains 97% plus of the original blue finish and 95% of the original case colors on the hammer and trigger with some light holster and handling type wear and a light cylinder turn line. The grips are also excellent with a few light handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000