S&W Mod 28 Highway patrolman

[Lethemgo]

Grabbed this from the same buddy a few weeks ago. Don't think it's ever been fired maybe just cocked some. Debating rather or not to shoot it and going back and forth but right now thinking it needs to go boom. Any thoughts? Now something to reload for will have to cast up a batch of bullets tomorrow and get on it.Attachment 213291Attachment 213292Attachment 213293Attachment 213294Attachment 213295

[phonejack]

I have its twin. Mine is a -2. I took it for a spin last Monday. In your place I would shoot it.

[HATCH]

If truly it hasn't been fired and thats the original box then I wouldn't shoot it now.

There are two trains of thought on this matter.
1 - Guns were made to be shot. So go shoot it.
2 - It is rare to find a unfired weapon of that age in such shape with the original box.

I own two 28s. One is a 4 inch and one is a 6 inch
The 4 inch has the best action job of ALL of the S&W revolvers I have.

[Don Purcell]

Hatch, I have handled and shot several '28's and I've also noticed that it seemed like the 4 incher's had the best actions. Barrel length should not be a factor but I like the 4 inch tube the best.

[Skunk1]

Here’s their father. Grandpas collection handed down to me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[alamogunr]

I had two 28's. Both were 6" bbl's. One had a better action so I kept it original and sent the other one to Jim Stroh to convert to a .44Special. That one I don't treat like a .44Mag. Both guns now have a very good action.

[Pb Burner]

That is very nice, congratulations on getting it!
If I had another similar revolver(s) for a shooter, I might not shoot it. In my currant situation, it would be fired without a doubt. I would probably never shoot a "full" power load in it though, and probably never a j-word.

[Drm50]

I just bought a 6" 28-2, S prefix in presentation case/ tools off forum member. Not NIB but high
condition. I have had several 6" and 4" all 28-2s and find no difference in the actions. I prefer 6"
guns, I'm not into carry a 3lb gun for CCW. I either hunt or target shoot and find 6" easier for
me to shoot. There is no difference in accuracy of S&Ws based on barrel length. I have proven
this shooting from a rest.

[EMC45]

Beautiful 28. Saw one about 4 years back at my buddy's pawnshop. It was a 4in. with the finish being a dull grey in about 60-70%. The mechanics of the gun and lockup was about 98%! It was solid and tight with no play anywhere. Looked very worn, but was tight. He had $189.99 on the tag. I told him if it's there tomorrow I'll buy it. Guess what?....GONE!

[alamogunr]

He who hesitates is lost! I've experienced that very thing.

[Four-Sixty]

Watch Magnum Force, then tell us what you decide...

[Silver Jack Hammer]

What a beauty! If I owned it, I’d be shooting it. Maybe it’s a good thing I don’t own it. I’d send it in to be re-bored to .44 Special.

[mac60]

Oh, I'd absolutely shoot it. I couldn't resist. I'm a shooter - not a collector. If you're a collector - collect. If you're a shooter - shoot!

[HATCH]

What a beauty! If I owned it, I’d be shooting it. Maybe it’s a good thing I don’t own it. I’d send it in to be re-bored to .44 Special.

why?
you can buy 24s and 624s which are the same thing.
Heck i got a 624 that just sits in the safe.

[Hannibal]

I am of the opinion that if a firearm is 'too nice' to shoot, then it is too nice for me to own. I am not a collector, and see firearms as tools, not investments or items for display.

Not everyone agrees, and I respect contradictory views.

If it were ME, I'd either shoot it or sell it and buy a couple of 'shooters' in it's place.

Nice pistol, BTW.

[Hardcast416taylor]

A model 28 with a 4" barrel in used condition recently was sold in an on-line auction for $750 +10% commission and 6% sales tax.Robert

[dubber123]

I would shoot it. You aren't going to retire on it, and if kept clean, it will still be worth 90% as much in excellent used condition. I have an excellent condition 6" myself. They are strong if you care to load hot, the silly short cylinder is the only downfall to them. Good score

[GOPHER SLAYER]

`I have the same dilemma with a six inch S&W model 29, Colt Detective Special and four inch 22cal Colt Diamond back. At breakfast this morning my wife asked when I was going to shoot that pistol I bought about eight years ago? She was talking about the Colt Detective special. I said honey, it is worth too much money to shoot. None of the three pistols have a mark on the cylinder. I don't think she bought it. Of the three pistols the one I would most love to shoot is the Detective Special.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

The wise thing, would be to not shoot it.
But I would not be the one to ask, as I had bought a seemingly unfired Model 27 nickel finished with 5" barrel the correct presentation case with tools and paperwork, it is of similar or older vintage than your 28. The first thing I did when I got it, was to shoot it. I also bought a Model 57 (in presentation case) from the same seller. The seller was a FFL that was liquidating a collection of supposedly unfired S&W guns from a friend of his. I wish I had more money that day.

[eljefe]

As a dealer, I get this quite often. Unfired values are not that
much higher than an otherwise excellent condition firearm. You
might see it if you had a very rare or very collectible gun, but I
don't believe that to be the case with a model 28 smith. That was
my first centerfire revolver, coincidentally. It is a very nice revolver.
Bluebook says that the difference between 98 and 100 percent is
$95-$150.