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.213291213292213293213294213295

[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.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180203/b47643c87e170939658c9afb6a090070.jpg


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[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.

[sixshot]

I really love the model 28's! Bought a NIB 4" in 1967 or 68 for $93 in Sherman, Texas when I was in the service & I shot a whole bunch of Keith bullets out of it using 38 special brass. Had a set of Herretts stocks on it & turtle's, frogs, rabbits, snakes, armadillos, alligator gar, carp, possums, raccoons, badgers, rock chucks, ground squirrels & one fox hated it! The raccoon almost got me before I got him!

Dick

[skeettx]

Love the guns
I use the J frames in 2 inch
the K frames in 4 inch
and the N frames in 6 or 6 1/2 inch
What fun
Mike

p.s. mostly :)
The K-22 and K-22 Mags, and the K-22 K-Chuck have 6 inch barrels

[Texas by God]

I'd shoot it. A lot!

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[Moonie]

Had a buddy that had one, shot great for me, not for him lol. He's always been recoil shy though. Still regret not buying it from him when he sold it.

[azrednek]

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

Agree 100% I've stepped away from gun show finds, gone back a short time later and it's gone.

[Silver Jack Hammer]

Hey, Smith M24’s come out with oversized cylinder throats and shallow lands and grooves. Custom Clements or Stroh make a .44 revolver unlike what a factory can produce. Like one ‘smith said: Nothing is straight on a Smith. I’ve shot a custom M28 converted to .44 Special. Custom quality is superior to factory products.

[silhouette_shooter]

Shoot it! That way you can perform an operational test and make sure it working correctly, plus, you need to find it's favorite load.

[arlon]

I think I really do have it's twin. Mine is an unfired 28-2 S prefix in it's original box, wrapping paper and tool kit. I have often wanted to shoot it but I just always seem to grab something else that's already broken in. Have a 4" that in as new condition too but no box.

[tazman]

I don't buy guns for an investment. I buy them to shoot.
They were built to go bang so I use them that way.

[Drm50]

I don't buy guns for an investment. I buy them to shoot.
They were built to go bang so I use them that way.

When I started out back in early 60s, everything I bought or traded was for hunting. I cared not
about NIBs, boxes cases and such. When I started slowing down on hunting I somehow slipped
into "collecting" and target shooting. Just recently I decided to off the safe queens, If I can't
shoot it why keep them. I'm not going to pull the trigger on a NIB when I have shooters in same
gun. They are solid investment but everything tops out. I think a lot of guys are buying NIBs
because interest on savings is so low that buying these NIB safe queens is a better deal than
putting money in the bank.

[alamogunr]

Hey, Smith M24’s come out with oversized cylinder throats and shallow lands and grooves. Custom Clements or Stroh make a .44 revolver unlike what a factory can produce. Like one ‘smith said: Nothing is straight on a Smith. I’ve shot a custom M28 converted to .44 Special. Custom quality is superior to factory products.

+1 Except Jim Stroh retired a few years ago. There will be no more Stroh customs.

[Texas by God]

My Smith is straight. So is my wife's Smith. They should marry & have children.

[curioushooter]

I am somewhat amazed at how these have appreciated in value. I bought a mint 28-2 (well made, P&Red) with a 4" barrel for $450 in 2011 or so so the guy could buy himself a Glock! It's always been my favorite revolver, and the envy of my Father in law who has a rubbishy 28-3. I tried to buy a nice (but fired) 28-2 with a 6" barrel from a pawn shop and the guy won't budge from $900!

I wouldn't fire it if you are looking for investment, but then again, I don't buy guns for that reason, I buy them to shoot.

[rintinglen]

213462213463
This is mine, with her new grips made in Siam and a new holster. This is my shooting 357. I have others, but this is the one that spends the most time at the range with me.

[hpbear101]

This one was my first duty weapon when I went to work for the patrol. It was "well used" when I got it, but it still shoots great. When we transitioned to auto's in the 90's we could buy our old issue weapons. 213465

[azrednek]

I've accumulated a handful of S&W's including two 28-2's preying on the young'uns that have inherited dad or grandpa's old fashion what they often refer to as cowboy guns. The young guys just can't resist a modern Plastic Fantastic Wonder Nine and will jump on an opportunity to trade. For investment if I stumble across a Tupperware 9 cheap. I jump on it hoping to find another trade deal for a S&W revolver.

[azrednek]

213462213463
This is mine, with her new grips made in Siam and a new holster. e.

I've had good luck with the Siamese grips. Fit well, look good but from the hard core collectors on the S&W forum satisfaction seems mixed. All my S&W's are shooters, none are mint or pristine, usually have some holster wear but I'm a happy camper with each new every one. The current mfd grips from S&W are UGLY!!

[flint45]

Shoot it! So you keep it in a safe because they are pretty? and no one has used the gun for what it was made for?Soit stays in your safe and it gains more $ value? Then you die and you never got to enjoy it does not make sense to me shooooooot it!!!

[Drm50]

I have noticed in just the last year that S&W N frames have topped out and movement on them is
slowed way down. Nice hi condition shooters are around $1K on average. Just about the time this
occurred the 28s started to come up in price. I follow S&W on daily bases and have watched 28s
come up from $500 to$800 for nice P&Rs. And unlike the top of line N frames they seem to be
selling. Guys that are into $1000 shooter Ns find that they are not being snapped up at $1000
let alone a couple hundred more bucks they thought they would get. Like the stock market I
believe the S&W N market has topped out, at least for now. This doesn't include NIB pieces that
are collectors items.

[TCFAN]

I have a 28-2 that was given to me that I think was unfired. If it had been shot it was very little.It came with the box and papers tools and the sales receipt when it was first sold in July 1964.

https://i.imgur.com/M6UcE5Y.jpg

I put new grips on and shot it the day I got it. I then set it up in my Lee Pistol Machine rest to see what kind of loads it liked.

https://i.imgur.com/U42cNSP.jpg

It shot pretty good with about any cast load I tried.The 28-2's shoot to well to be safe queens.

[Char-Gar]

If it were mine, I would shoot it. Buying guns for reasons other than shooting them, has never made much sense to me.

[Texas by God]

If it were mine, I would shoot it. Buying guns for reasons other than shooting them, has never made much sense to me.Amen brother! Even my old SxS NR Davis 12 gauge comes down from the mantle once a year for some clay or feathered birds.

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[alamogunr]

I guess I might as well bump the post count. A few years ago I had an opportunity to buy an unfired John Linebaugh .475 L . Can't say it was cheap but sure was pretty. It stayed unfired for about a week after I picked it up at the FFl's. I don't shoot full bore loads in it but not because I'm trying to save it for anything. I'm just too old to handle those types of loads. Low to mid-range suit me fine.

I do have some milsurps that I have never shot but I will get around to it someday.

[LAH]

I'd keep it as an investment & purchase a shooter. Plenty of 28's out there.