Florida Highway Patrolman 28

lug1 · #1 11-11-2009, 03:20 PM

I found out about a gun in our family almost a year ago and this forum helped me get educated. So I am now just asking the question, Does anybody else out there own or ever owned a REAL LIVE FHP 28? This is a factory nickel finished 5" barrel .357. As I recall 25 were made. I am interested in real fhp 28 owners. Not the fabled salesman samples and so on. These guns were issued to Florida HP in I believe 1958. My father in laws, father, was a FHP and that is how we come to own this gun. Have only heard from one other person that has one and he bought his at auction. I am just curious how many of the other 23 have been accounted for. Would like to hear from you and your story if you got one. Don't care about values, this gun is priceless.
Thanks,
LUG

jframe · #2 11-11-2009, 03:37 PM

I'm curious about the exact same gun. I've never actually SEEN one in a picture or in person.

lug1 · #3 11-11-2009, 03:40 PM

click on the thumbnail above and you will be looking a fhp 28. it is the best pic i have right know i need to get a camera with better resolution. but this is the actual gun.
the tyler t's are aftermarket of course.

diamonback68 · #4 11-11-2009, 03:48 PM

WOW, LUG thanks for the picture, I'm a 28 HP fan and I copied it, if you don't mind.
That only 2 out of the 25 that have surfaced may not be that unusual, though I wished more would show up. To my knowledge only 11 of the 54 brushed nickel 28s from 1972 have been accounted for. The two runs comprised of 25 bright and 54 brushed are all of the known nickel 28s to exist, that's why they are so rare. Good luck, I hope you get some answers here.

Doc44 · #5 11-11-2009, 04:26 PM

Very nice Model 28. I owned one of the brushed nickel 28-2s, but never one of the polished nickel 28s with a 5-inch barrel. I did handle one several years ago, but it belongs to another member. The notes I have on these guns is they were shipped in 1959 and in the serial number range of S189071 to S192687. The were all stamped MOD-28 in the yoke cut. FHP 38 has serial number S190732. The revolvers were marked FHP 32-56. S192687 was shipped on 5/11/59. I can't remember the source of my data, so it may not be entirely correct.

Bill

lug1 · #6 11-11-2009, 04:30 PM

yes sir the s/n you have is the one my family owns. we talked earlier this year or last year. you were a great source of help to me. thanks again.

robbt · #7 11-11-2009, 05:05 PM

howdy , very intersting revolver , S&W blued there sight colt nickeled theres , great gun , robbt

jimmyj · #8 11-12-2009, 09:55 PM

Hi:
I am surprised that your FHP Model 28 does not have pearl grips. FHP seem to like fancy revolvers. My relative was a FHP Trooper and carried a Colt 6" Trooper .357 nickeled with pearl grips in a cross draw holster. Equipment belt was patent leather.
Jimmy

lug1 · #9 11-13-2009, 07:18 PM

well i might be showing my ingnorance and would be open to education but i would be surprised if the pearl grips were original. not a colt guy but wouldnt be surprised if they were add ons. ever had your gun appraised? just curious if the colts are as rare as the smiths.

Dave from Pa · #10 11-13-2009, 09:51 PM

Hello lug1,can`t add anything to your post regarding this truly unique Model 28.I would like to say thanks for sharing this revolver.Have you sent for a letter? Sometime in the future if you could post some closeups I know they would be appreciated.BTW welcome to the forum,quite an entrance if I may say so.

bmg60 · #11 11-14-2009, 01:47 AM

Hi
I have serial number S192687 shipped from the factory on May 11 1959
one of 25 shipped to the dept of public safety, Tallahassee Florida.
as documented by factory letter.
this one is all orginal with magna grips and 96% condition.
Jim Fisher
S&WCA 1491.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x...7677/FHP28.jpg

bgrafsr · #12 11-14-2009, 05:21 AM

bmg60, please post some pics of your gun.

lug1 · #13 11-14-2009, 09:57 PM

Holy Cow bmg60,
Great to hear from somebody else. Can you tell me how you acquired yours? I would love to hear the story. If we did not talk on here before then that would account for 3 of them. If you are the guy that messaged back and forth with me earlier this year in about april then that is still only 2. Please share your story feel free to p.m. if you like. I will try to get some better views of mine. I have had issues with flash glare and apparently a 6 MP camera is not good enough to really show it off. I am so glad to hear from you.
ANYONE ELSE?
thanks,
LUG

les.b · #14 10-23-2016, 09:13 PM

Have been reading a related HP thread, this needs to be resurrected!!

Best Regards, Les

bmg60 · #15 10-24-2016, 09:56 PM

Hi
I bought mine from a collector that was selling off some of his Rare Items in 2007.
Went I displayed it at a show in Washington a daughter of a FHP member that had one of the guns stoped by and thanked me for displaying it. When she got home she had a original patch from the FHP. She sent it to me to put with the display.
Jim Fisher

bmg60 · #16 10-24-2016, 10:14 PM

Here is a picture of mine it looks better in person then the picture. this one is FHP-56 the last one shipped.

70olds98 · #17 01-16-2017, 12:17 AM

I believe I just bought a M-28 Florida Highway Patrol pistol. I paid too much for it but what the heck! Serial number S190710. I'll take some pictures when I receive it. I wasn't sure but I thought it had to be a rare pistol. 5" marked M-28 in the yoke. Front sight is exactly like the pictures above. It looks to be in about 80-85% condition. I shoot everything I own anyway. I won't feel bad taking it out.

410bore · #18 01-16-2017, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70olds98

I believe I just bought a M-28 Florida Highway Patrol pistol. I paid too much for it but what the heck! Serial number S190710. I'll take some pictures when I receive it. I wasn't sure but I thought it had to be a rare pistol. 5" marked M-28 in the yoke. Front sight is exactly like the pictures above. It looks to be in about 80-85% condition. I shoot everything I own anyway. I won't feel bad taking it out.

Congrats. I was bidding on it the entire time and was hoping no one would find it. It is a legit FHP, no worries there. It is a bit on the rough side but it's a rare gun

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Göring's S&W · #19 01-16-2017, 07:38 AM

Does the one from GB have the FHP markings? Apparently it should.

70olds98 · #20 01-17-2017, 12:38 AM

Thank you Kris for your comment. I woke up this morning wondering if I bought a blued gun someone had refinished. I tried to buy a FHP Colt Trooper a couple of years ago and didn't get it done. I had a NYSP M 28-2 that I just sold and needed another N frame. I have learned to really enjoy shooting N frame guns. The recoil is very manageable with any load.

Regards, Andy

lawman445 · #21 01-17-2017, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70olds98

I believe I just bought a M-28 Florida Highway Patrol pistol. I paid too much for it but what the heck!.

Don`t worry. If you start to have buyers remorse I am here to help you fix your mistake!

Can someone tell us where the FHP markings were located on these 28`s? I have a pair of FHP marked 5" nickel 27-2`s that are both stamped with FHP and a 4 digit # on the left side of the frame under the cylinder. I hadn`t seen this thread before so it`s nice to finally see pictures of these 5" nickel 28`s I`ve heard about all these years.

70olds98 · #22 04-26-2017, 04:22 PM

I finally received my pistol (long story)
and it is FHP #36 ; S190710. After I clean it up with some Mother's I'll post a picture or two.

Thanks, Andy

les.b · #23 04-26-2017, 07:25 PM

Before or after cleaning... We've been patiently waiting for four months!!

Best Regards, Les

70olds98 · #24 02-26-2018, 11:51 PM

Sorry folks, finally got around to taking some pictures. I couldn't find any 1959 grips but I used some grips from an old 28-2 stamped serial # 236234 that I believe are from 1962 (?) That and an old Tyler T grip made the gun look right in my opinion and similar to the beauty bmg60 and lug1 have shown above.

70olds98 · #25 02-26-2018, 11:59 PM

I need to get a hosting site to post clearer pictures, sorry, first time for this. I am going to sell this gun on S&W forum in a couple of weeks time when I come back from a trip. Hope I didn't break a rule by saying that. It's really only the outside of one half of the cylinder that has much wear through the finish. That and the usual holster wear around the inside edge of the barrel. Overall I'd say the gun is a solid 80% or better but that's very subjective. It shoots perfectly, timing is spot on. It didn't cycle right when I got it and some idiot had tried to fix it with a model K frame internal part. The gun smith I use, Don Dansby, is a master of S&W wheel guns. Put it back straight. Take care friends.

BobbyGman · #26 11-20-2018, 07:08 PM

I am an owner of a Model 28 FHP... It was given to me 19 yrs ago by the Trooper it was issued to... He has since passed.

Nightowl · #27 11-20-2018, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobbyGman

I am an owner of a Model 28 FHP... It was given to me 19 yrs ago by the Trooper it was issued to... He has since passed.

Welcome to the finest forum on Smith & Wesson firearms on the internet!

Those of us who frequent here like pictures and really get intrigued with the back story and history of Smith firearms, especially us revolver guys! So we would like to hear the story of the owner and how he came to give you this gun, along with the pictures.

UFGator · #28 08-02-2020, 03:59 PM

I wonder when they started acquiring the Model 27? I have one and apparently there are plenty out there. I also believe they had nickel Colt Troopers too. I've mentioned before when I was a DS in FL, all the troopers had nickel revolvers, carried in a cross-draw holster.

Valmet · #29 08-02-2020, 05:07 PM

Always heard about them, never actually seen one...very cool OP

Muley Gil · #30 08-02-2020, 07:05 PM

A former deputy investigator that I worked with left the SO and became a FHP trooper. When the sheriff died in 1979, several of us former deputies came back for the funeral. Robert was in his FHP uniform and was carrying a 5" nickel M27.