Found a 28-2 in the local pawn shop and need some input. It appears to be a satin stainless 4" marked highway patrolman. The finish is what concernes me. It has a good bit of rust specks on it. Is this the proper finish on this gun? how would one get the specks off of it? I can't tell if there is any pitting, looks like surface rust. the grips are of different shades and appear to have been revarnished. Asking price is 299. might get it for less. Good buy or walk on by? If purchased I might use it in USPSA for fun, mostly fun gun, I like the way it feels in hand. Help!!!

A very few of them were made in a satin nickle finish for a state highway patrol -- Florida? Many more (and sadly, probably yours) have been refinished and electroless-nickel plated, which takes away all collector value but certainly doesn't hurt them as shooters. Some of the expert collectors here can probably confirm for you what you have.

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Pisgah

$299 for a shooter ain't bad.

You are right, Pisgah. Only a few were produced in nickel for Florida Highway Patrol. 25 guns with 5" bbl and nickel finish marked FHP # 32 through # 56 shipped in 1959. Serial # S189071-S192687. If it's not one of these, it's a refinish, and a shooter. Still not bad for $ 300. Bill

It's definitely not stainless, no 28s were built in stainless steel. Most likely a refinish with one of the aftermarket processes, such as hard chrome, that were made to simulate stainless steel. That being said, $299 for a 28 in almost any condition is a steal!

Are the hammer and trigger plated also? If so it's bumper chrome... And most mistaken stainless is hard chrome which is a very tough good plating but not factory at all.

Decent price for a shooter. Maybe toss dealer a lower offer?
Explain your dislike with the refinish.

Trigger and hammer had a case-hardened look. Might have been nickel plated with some deterioration of finish. The spots looked like it had been put away without being wiped down. What could be used to clean it up? Flitz, navel jelly, needs TLC. Clean up is my only holdup. Could spend my $ elsewhere if it wont take a cleaning.

If you pass on this one, post up what local store has it, someone here will snap it up.

There were also a small number of satin nickel 4" M28s made later and often spoken of as "salesman's samples". The SN range for these guns is also known (but not by me). I concur that $299 for a shooter is a decent price and if it turns out to actually be factory by some lucky chance, it is an outstanding price.

The hammer and trigger should be case hardened on this (and any other blue or nickle S&W) revolver.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

If it's all there and functional I'd low ball the dealer and grab it for whatever I could. $299 is a deal if it shoots and anything less is a steal!

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

You got that right. Under $300 for a Highway Patrolman? As long as it's safe to shoot I'd take that. Finish/sminish. The finish on it now isn't original so there's no collector value. Buy it and shoot it. Or let me buy it and shoot it.

There were also a small number of satin nickel 4" M28s made later and often spoken of as "salesman's samples". The SN range for these guns is also known (but not by me). I concur that $299 for a shooter is a decent price and if it turns out to actually be factory by some lucky chance, it is an outstanding price.

The hammer and trigger should be case hardened on this (and any other blue or nickle S&W) revolver.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

I'm sure it's a refinish and not a factory nickel 28-2 but if the timing is Ok and it's safe to shoot then that price is a steal and you should jump all over it.

I would buy it for that price to a truck gun living under the front seat for the rest of it's days.

It would sure make a good carry revolver.

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You're shy a few manners.