Police agency user of 686?

[RON in PA]

Just picked-up a used Smith 686 no dash with the M stamping made in 1985. The grips are wood Smith target grips. On the butt of the left grip is crudely scratched in N.C. 13304. I am speculating that this number is a police dept. property number and that the N.C. is possibly North Carolina.

Any of you folks know if North Carolina issued 686s to its troopers at one time or have an alternate possible explanation?

 

[Shear_stress]

The "C" could also stand for "county".

 

[gringolet]

Nc Hp

bet you can find the NC HP or DPS (dept of public safety) on the net and ask...in fact, may be able to tell you when and to whom issued..many states allow retired troopers to keep their sidearms...or perhaps the dept sold off the revolvers when it shifted to autopistols as the HP in my own state did...