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05-25-2020, 11:22 AM
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Mystry Hwy Patrolman Nickel Plated
After a very long Spring of being"home bound and restricted to quarters" I decided to go thru my collection of shooters and see what I could find for my amusement. I am aware of the Florida Hwy Patrol guns that were factory ordered as plated service revolvers. However this Hwy Patrolman is out of any context that I can find in my research. It is nickel plated with traces of gold wash on the hammer and trigger. A number of factory stamps are on both sides of the grip frame and I need a translation of their meaning. This gun in MHO has never been buffed or refinished. The inside of the left grip has ink stamps and has been modified. Special order?? Your expert help is requested and thanks for your feedback!.
Last edited by delta-419; 05-26-2020 at 11:27 PM.
Reason: Correct Title Spelling
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05-25-2020, 11:31 AM
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Are you certain it has been nickel plated? It looks more like a bare metal finish.
The FHP guns were 5" and brush nickel finished.
Nothing of note on the right grip frame, probably assembler/fitter/inspector stamps. Anything on the left side? 
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05-25-2020, 11:32 AM
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No expert, but I think those stamps are just factory inspector marks. Looks like a non factory refinish and the gold wash on the hammer and trigger would pretty much confirm that in my mind. Looks like the previous owner really wanted a set of combat stocks. Bet it is a great shooter.
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05-25-2020, 11:35 AM
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Hwy Patrol More Photos
Here are more photos to help the experts in the assessment process.
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05-25-2020, 11:36 AM
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Looks like original blued finish has worn off.
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05-25-2020, 11:38 AM
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Based on those photos, that is an aftermarket nickel job.
The rear sight looks nickel and it would always be blue on a factory gun
The hammer and trigger have been plated instead of being color case hardened
Even the hammer nose looks plated
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05-25-2020, 11:40 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by murphydog
Are you certain it has been nickel plated? It looks more like a bare metal finish.
The FHP guns were 5" and brush nickel finished.
Nothing of note on the right grip frame, probably assembler/fitter/inspector stamps. Anything on the left side? |
I have a FHP stamped nickel plated Model 27 that is very polished nickel. No gold wash just case hardened trigger and hammer.
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Last edited by Minorcan; 05-25-2020 at 11:42 AM.
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05-25-2020, 11:51 AM
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I am not seeing any blue or nickel. I agree with murphydog that it is bare metal or in the white as some say.
Maybe somebody did a finish strip with naval jelly, muriatic acid or something similar. I say that only because of the gold wash left on the trigger an hammer where it would be hard to do without disassembly of the gun.
Looks like a great candidate for a refinish.
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05-25-2020, 12:02 PM
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The “.357” and “Highway” stamps on the barrel are fainter than the stamps below it which makes a past buffing job come to mind, but that might just be how the light’s hitting it. I really like guns that look like this yet are mechanically perfect.
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05-25-2020, 12:09 PM
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I’m with the “bare metal” crowd. If nothing else, I expect a nickel finish in this heavily worn and dulled condition to show some traces of flaking somewhere. I know this wouldn’t have happened, but in some photos it almost looks like the gun was assembled from parts in the white and never finished; the stampings are impressively sharp-edged.
Last edited by Absalom; 05-25-2020 at 12:10 PM.
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05-25-2020, 01:06 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by delta-419
... The inside of the left grip has ink stamps and has been modified. Special order?? …
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I doubt S&W modified the stocks like that. Are the ink stamps legible? If so, what do they say? I'm curious if it's a Month/Year or just possibly a serial number.
That serial number should put it circa 1972. It would be pretty hard to say what all's been done to it in the last 48 years. A letter would tell you when and where it shipped, and if the Target Stocks are original to it, in the unlikely event that you wanted to pay $100 to find out.
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05-25-2020, 01:34 PM
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The serial number of your Model 28-2 is in the same range as the fifty-four Model 28-2s with a 4-inch barrel S&W finished in brush nickel and shipped in 1972 (see photo below), but it is not one of those revolvers. It is impossible to say for certain how what happened to the 28-2 you have.
Bill
Last edited by Doc44; 05-25-2020 at 01:38 PM.
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05-25-2020, 02:00 PM
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M28-2 Nickel
This is mine and it's not one of the rare ones I'm sure..... 
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05-25-2020, 02:37 PM
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28s generally left the factory with Magna service stocks, not targets. Of course, they could have been added later. Given its condition, I wouldn't spend anything on it. Best used as a DIY project gun if anything.
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05-25-2020, 02:53 PM
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Looks like all the original blue finish has been removed leaving bare metal. That explains why corrosion is occurring all over the gun. Every once in a while you see a S&W revolver with gold hammer and trigger but there is no doubt it was applied by a former owner who wanted some bling. Not Colt SAAs were sometimes made with gold plated H&T but they were dressy commemorative models.
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05-25-2020, 03:36 PM
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Hwy Patrol More Photos
The gun is in excellent mechanical condition ant is very tight with shine in the bore abd chambers, no rust.
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05-25-2020, 03:51 PM
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Polish it up and try a little cold blue. Ir it takes, it’s not nickel😉
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05-25-2020, 09:22 PM
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Can someone decipher the ink stamp inside the stock? Certainly not a serial number.
Target stocks were one of the very few factory options S&W offered on the M28. If I recall, it should have been < $15 extra in 1972 so it's not like it was a lot of money if you really wanted them.
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05-26-2020, 01:08 AM
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The stamping appears to be "NT-38" on the first line. That was the factory designation for the Outdoorsman meaning N-frame Target 38 caliber. I think that was the standard designation used for all N-frame target stocks of that era. (Could be wrong on that nut i don't ever remember seeing any stamped NT-430, etc.) The second line "5826" is the old S&W four digit part number.
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05-26-2020, 08:20 AM
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N-frame target stocks made of American walnut were often stamped NT-38, whereas, N-frame target stocks made of Goncalo alves were often stamped NT-430 (regardless of what model the stocks were put on). As mentioned above, the four digit number is the part number for the stock panel.
Bill
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05-26-2020, 05:04 PM
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Hwy Patrolman Metal
I took a really close look at this old shooter yesterday after reading all the forum comments and it was an eye opener. The ejector rod knob has been gold plated as well as the cylinder thumb release. I do believe that the finish is polished steel, however, there looks like some areas seem to have a brushed look. It prompted me to go to my shop and find the Mothers Mag. It is producing some outstanding results and there may be a new S&W under the weathered finish. This work will probably take me a few days but I will post photos when the job is done. As I said, this S&W functions like a new gun and will demand a new set of grips, stag being my all time favorite!
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05-26-2020, 07:53 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Doc44
N-frame target stocks made of American walnut were often stamped NT-38, whereas, N-frame target stocks made of Goncalo alves were often stamped NT-430 (regardless of what model the stocks were put on). As mentioned above, the four digit number is the part number for the stock panel.
Bill
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Learn something every day! Thanks!
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05-26-2020, 10:39 PM
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I agree with murphydog and Art Doc, the finish has been removed leaving bare metal.
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06-14-2020, 09:20 AM
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Hwy Patrolman Revisited Update
I contacted the previous owner of this old M28 and learned that he ordered a letter on the gun a number of years ago and had misplaced it. It shipped to a small town in Texas and he remembers it was lettered as leaving the factory as a blue gun. Is it possible to get a copy of the letter out of the files? The gun is in the "white" and has not seen a buffering wheel. Gold trim is evident on the hammer, trigger, cylinder release, and ejector rod. There are traces of nickel in the grooves of the back strap. It appears that the surface in places have a slight bead blast prep on the upper part of the frame. I think this is a Texas LEO gun and the previous owner had hoped to link it to the Texas Rangers (a real long shot!). I know that this type finish was popular amongst Texas LEOs in years past. Appreciate your help.
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06-14-2020, 09:35 AM
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Letters are not kept on file so if you want a new letter on your Model 28-2 you will have to request one and pay for it.
Bill
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