Good Morning All! While at a local show this weekend, a Gentleman had several S&W's (always does). Among them were a pair of 28's. A four inch satin blue (pretty nice) and a STUNNING six inch in nickel.
The six inch bore ser# N38xx (1969?). Hammer, trigger case-colored w/ blued ejector. Rear of cylinder had "H" stamped on it. It wore a later set of magna grips.
I know 28's in ORIGINAL FACTORY nickel are rare birds. This finish was so nice, was S&W known to Re-Finish customer revolvers? If so, how/where were they marked??
Sorry, No Pics. Show rules.
Thanks in advance for your input. C.J.

Welcome to the Forum.

It is highly unlikely that M28 was refinished in nickel by S&W. It takes a lot of polishing to prep for plating. It should have markings under the grips to show a factory return for service.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Thanks for the insight. Revolver exhibited none of the usual signs of any re-finish. No blurred marking or edges. Did not remove stocks for markings. Drawn to the early 4-digit "N" range#. 28-2 marked. The "H" marked cylinder was a question though.
Not really certain WHAT I would do with it. Almost too handsome to shoot.
Longtime reader, short time member & mostly lurker. Spending my retirement (self-unemployed) converting long & square arms back to the "round" ones I sold/traded away.

The big question for me is how much did he want for it? You don't want to pay collector price for a refinished gun but if you can get it at a good price I'd go for it.
I have a 4" and it is a favorite shooter. The nickel cleans up nicely.

In my (bank)book, I would say high @a "negotiable" $750. asking. Had a 4" (w/box) priced same. Lots of others too. But,,,, he had most of those at the Fall show too.

At that price he would have it at the next show also.

How certain are you about that H ? Might it have been an N ? , if so that would certainly add some credence to the originality of the finish I believe.
It would certainly support my decision to buy as they bought sound nice if the price is right.

Factory nickles had a "N" under the barrel. My 10-5 also has one on the frame grip.

upload pic

photo sharing

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

If you notice at the bottom of the page there are a couple of threads that talk about Nickle Model 28's. According to the 3rd edition of the SCS&W there weren't many made at the factory. The Florida Highway Patrol had 25 made with 5" barrels and reportedly five (5) were made with satin nickle as samples for Adolph Blaick Inc.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

Highly unlikely to be an original, or factory refinished, model 28. The "H" on the rear cylinder face may have been stamped to indicate the part was meant for a "H"ighway Patrolman, as in "don't polish it too much".

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

For years, up into the 1980's when the M-28 had been discontinued, S&W catalogs had the notation, "No change of finish offered for the Highway Patrolman." Or something close to that.

If you had the serial number range, someone here could speak to the likelihood of the finish being original. Were the hammer and trigger nickel or case hardened?

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Even older, even crankier....

It is probably not a factory Nickel revolver and the only way to be sure is a factory letter that confirms it as such. This comes up here on a semi regular basis and the sellers are usually claiming something that isn't true.

Their was a few salesmen sample guns in a satin nickle of some type , I saw a 4 in years ago .

"The six inch bore ser# N38xx (1969?). Hammer, trigger case-colored w/ blued ejector."

Doc44 has posted several times that the highest one was in the N59000 range, and by report they were not stamped with the N.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

The nickel 28s weren't polished to the level of other models, were they? Didn't they appear similar to satin nickel?

Top of barrel & frame (backstrap, butt ect) were frosted (satin). Sides & cylinder were bright nickel, almost like a 27 would look. With the case hammer & trigger and blued ejector, if it's not factory??. No wavy edges or blurred marking. If it IS a re-finish, the man doing it knew his trade.
I may need to track this down & look again.
If anything comes of it, I'll post again. Thanks All!

Charlie, why not get a Factory Letter or just call Mr. Jinks?
Im sure he will speak you. Best

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

One must also remember that S&W often did things that were not within the norm and unless uncovered in the reams of shipping data may still yet be undiscovered. S&W was in the business to do business and if a customer wanted 6 nickle HP's and was willing to pay the price, I am sure that the company would oblige.

Doesn't mean it became a cataloged item but merely existed.

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James Redfield
LM #497

M28-2
Don't think is S&W Nickel.
Use it while deer or Elk hunting.
imagur

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears