Greetings!
I've had this in the safe for years. It didn't come with original grips so I slapped on a set of 520 grips I had put aside on it just because. It's mechanically OK, but rough. Endshake, a little loose. A little pitting but nothing terrible.

I grabbed it up just because it was a pre model number Highway Patrolman and those weren't made that long.

I am considering sending it to Bowen's shop if they will take it and making a nice .44 Special shooter out of it. I reload .44 special and have tons and tons of brass and favorite loads.

Would it be a sacrilege?

Attached Images

Pre 28.jpg (65.6 KB, 331 views)

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Straight shootin'
SWCA#2439

OK, you see rough, I see a handsome old work horse. But Im old. Best

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

I think it's a good Idea.....One where you will enjoy your gun.

You won't hurt value either IMHO

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

Four-inch pre-28s aren't that easy to come by. I think I'd leave it alone. Or sell it if you don't want it as it is. I just about guarantee you if you put it up for sale here, it'd be gone in about an hour or so. Less than that if I saw it first.

If you are hard-over on having an N-frame revolver in .44 Special, why not just find a shooter-condition Model 29-x? You'd probably save lots of $$, in addition to not destroying a pre-28. About all I shoot in my 29-3 is .44 Special handloads.

Sir, you have a pristine example, the one I found was nickle plated, including the hammer & trigger. But now it has a 5" barrel with TH, TT and TS and a bright blue. Forgot the McGivern Gold Bead front and a White outline rear sight. The factory performed the upgrades back in the mid 60's and its one of my favorites. If you want an ultimate shooter revolver you have the perfect point from which to start. IMHO

Edited to add: This is a June 1954 shipped revolver which, if memory serves is a first year revolver but not that it makes any difference.

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Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198

Thanks for the replies.
Kinda confirms the reason I have never done anything with it.
I just didn't feel 100% right to have it redone, yet at the same time I have never been 100% attached to it either. It'll stay in the safe.

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Straight shootin'
SWCA#2439

I do have an extra 4 5/8's NM .357 Blackhawk that isn't doing anything but sitting there either. I will ponder on that, not quite so collectible.

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Straight shootin'
SWCA#2439

I think you answered your own question right here. There are many old 29's out there that need a good home, and for the cost of the project you're thinking about you could buy one. Since you said that you already load .44 special , I'm guessing you already have a gun in that caliber, so this would be a spare ( unless you already have more than one ) . The gun to me looks like it's been used, but not beat on, and shows it's history well . I'd say let it be.

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1st smiles,lies.Last,gunfire.

What would this job at Bowen's cost? I've got a very similar ("highly customized") 38/44 OD that I think needs to just be a 44.

I would recommend you sell the HP and buy a M24-3, a M624 or a M629 Mountain Gun.

Back in 1976, the S&W .44 Specials had been out of production for 10 years. I took a M27-2 3 1/2" and a factory .44 Special 6 1/2" target barrel and had a .44 Special built. 30 years later I had it cut to 5" and re-blued. It was worth every penny. But, I wouldn't do it today.

Now, I have had Alan Harton in Houston convert 2 OM .357 Blackhawks to .44 Special. Both were very nice. Since Ruger never built an OM
.44 Special, this is the only way to go. Plus, Ruger wasn't making .44 Specials when I had these conversions done.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

In this case, I would keep the revolver and leave the cannolis. You have a great revolver that needs some TLC. I would put the money into it to making it whole again mechanically, leave the finish alone and enjoy it. You'll save a ton of money and have a true classic to enjoy for a long time. You can always find a beater of later vintage (and value) to convert, but an older model 29 should satisfy your desire for a .44. Good luck.

A sacrilege? Probably not. But it sounds like you'd spend a lot of money to gain...well, I don't know what you'd gain. You could likely by a 44 for less that what the conversion would cost. What's wrong with a 357?

BTW- There are guys needing correct 58 or 520 stocks dying at the sight of the Modified Magnas on that HP.

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No life story has happy end.

Another problem you would have in converting it to .44 Special is you would have to find a barrel. The company Bowen used is no longer in business.

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S&WCA 1729

I love them. I have two sets, one set on my 38/44 with Tyler Tgrips and one set on this one.

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Straight shootin'
SWCA#2439

Your not alone Dusty.....I told you I was with you.

Also on a Patrolman

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

Bowen doesn't like working on "well worn" guns with any pitting. He will probably tell you that you will be far ahead to start with a gun in better cosmetic condition. I sent him what I thought was a fair .38-44 for a .45 Colt conversion, and he talked me out of it.

You would be looking at a year-plus wait and a $1,200 bill at least.

I have to agree with those responses indicating that you would be money ahead just to buy a .44 Magnum and shoot Specials in it if so desired.

I could only see value in converting a fixed-sight N-Frame to .44 Special, if that is something you just have to have. Even then it would cost too much, but sometimes we want something enough to pay the price.

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You're shy a few manners.