I recently purchased a 28-2 from a retired Detroit police officer. It was part of an order the Detroit PD made years ago. I'm not going to hold my breath that its an original nickel finish, but I did send out a letter to Mr. Jinks today. I cannot find any signs of refinish and he claimed that it was the way he purchased it. The sn range is n99xxx which falls outside the known range but after speaking to Mr. Jinks on Friday, he confirmed it was a 1972 ship date so I took the risk. Roy said that they did special runs for law enforcement and the surplus were sold on the civilian market. Here's to hoping!!

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I'm not aware of any bright nickle 28s. Looks like the hammer and trigger are case color. Check the ejector star. Is it nickle? Is there an N on the grip froame when you remove the grips?

The hammer and trigger are case colored. The ejector is not nickeled. I'll post a few more pictures.

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It's been said here before that very few m28's were done in nickel.

Yes sir. Very few were made but I don't have a lot into it. It was worth a chance at least. I could not see any evidence of a refinish and the Leo was selling it as just a normal 28-2, so I had nothing to lose really. It looks to be original in all respects and it has a slight bit of holster wear. I'm going to buy his story until I get the letter from Roy at least.

Look like this one?

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

I purchased a 28-2 from a friend of mine who used to carry it
when he was a LEO. His was hard chromed. Perhaps the one
you have is also.

Stu

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NRA Benefactor/Cert Instructor

Ok you adressed the hammer and trigger as well as the ejector star. What about the grip frame?

That I can't say for certain. I'll have to look at mine tonight when I get home. It has the slight gold/yellow hue in natural light, so I'm pretty certain its nickel. The question is if its original. I guess in a couple months or more I'll know.

OR you could take the grips off and look at the grip frame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The revolver doesn't have an n or h stamped anywhere on it.

The revolver doesn't have an n or h stamped anywhere on it. I would at least know. Most of the blued that I've seen at least have an h on the cylinder.

Here is a picture of the serial with a couple numbers blacked out.

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I can post more pictures if anyone is interested in seeing them. I know the chances are slim but I can hope. If you watch the video on you tube where an authentic one was found and lettered, there is a neat letter in the update video sent to the gun shop owner. The shop owner sent a letter to Roy asking why he received 2 nickel finished 28-2. Roy responded that they were overruns from police contracts that were sold to the civilian market. It gave me a bit of hope. If not, its still a gorgeous smith and I'm proud to own it.

I got this one from a local pawn shop a few years ago. It's the gun that got me back into S&Ws and while it was probably nickeled after the fact I love this gun. Shoots like a lazer and looks good doing it.
With these grips and holster it's my BBQ HP.
Good luck on the letter.
Oh, by the way, I seem to remember reading on here that some of the known nickel HPs did not have the N stamp on the frame.

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If I recall 54 were made in 4" brushed nickel and 25 5 " in bright nickel for the Fl. HP. Every week or so a new member asks about his nickel 28. Haven't had a genuine one yet.

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I know its a big shot in the dark guys, I did enough reading before getting it. I just thought since the story does check out, who knows. I even asked Roy about the number made and he told me that no one truly knows. According to our conversation, they would make them nickel if it was a big enough contact for a PD or such. I'm fighting its been redone just so I'm not heartbroken if it comes back that it was blued originally. However if I did happen to stumble on one you'll be able to hear me anywhere within 100 miles!! Either way I'll post an update in how many ever weeks it takes to get the letter back.

I don't mean to break your heart, but I can only repeat what I already said. The number of genuine nickel 28s is incredibly small. To the best of my knowledge no 4" 28s were made in bright nickel. Is it possible someone ordered a one of a kind nickel 28? Sure. But why would anyone do that?

The nickel 28 falls into the same category as a 5" M29. I don't buy it without the letter confirming its original configuration. Anyone offering a rare and unique S&W for sale should have the letter to prove its worth. No letter...I am not interested.

I have seen at least 100 nickel 28s in my life. I have yet to see a genuine one.

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No life story has happy end.

I'm definitely telling myself its a refinish. I guess the only reason I'm having it lettered is because I know a couple of retired Detroit PD leos that served during the time period. They did tend to carry nickel revolvers but that doesn't mean this is authentic. Its only a small sliver of hope that it could be. Either way I don't have much into the purchase so I'm still happy. If I could see any obvious signs of refinish, I wouldn't have bothered spending $50.

If DPD would have ordered the gun it would have Detroit Police Department engraved on the back strap with a four or five digit inventory number.
Their standard issue guns where 5 inch nickel 10s or Colt OP in 38spl. until they got the Glocks.
I know that S&W sent a few of the model 39s to the DPD brass for evaluation but I really can't see them sending one single gun as a test sample although never say never. It looks nice.
I had a six incher done the same way, polished on the sides and left matte on the top strap, back and under edges, wish I still had it.
Good luck. Maybe our ex mayor special ordered a shiny one before he went up the river.

Just a quick update, I took the smith into a local gunsmith to have it looked at. Now of course he cannot confirm if its an original 28-2 nickel, only Roy Jinks can do that. However, he did confirm that it is satin nickel and in his opinion is the original finish. I know it means nothing without the factory letter but this guy is our smith and Wesson guru and I definitely respect his knowledge. I won't know what to do if Roy confirms it. I'm not sure if I'd want a collector piece or just sell it to buy something for the range.

How about for the same reason anyone orders any sort of custom gun? To have something unique, maybe. To have something no one else has, or simply because they want one? All sound like valid reasons to me.