**Update-Ok well I went to the range, fired 6 rounds, did pretty good, emptied the cylinder, put 6 more in and I ended up with a "2 shooter". After every two rounds it would bind. I could open the cylinder no problem. When I looked on the bench I found shavings from the bullets. Upon closer inspection I saw that one of the extractor pins from the back of the cylinder was missing (it was there when I bought it). The timing is off so I'm assuming that's the reason for the shavings. No idea though why it would bind after only two rounds-by that I mean the action would not cycle in either double or single though again I was able to open the cylinder just fine. In dry fire the gun cycles perfectly, hmm.

Today, Saturday, I was able to drop it off at a gunsmith I trust and that's done other work for me in the past on S&Ws. Didn't feel it'd be a big deal to get straightened out though the shop is a little busy right now. Probably be 2-3 weeks before I get it back. I'll update then, trying not to get too down about it. Hey the gun is almost 40 years old with an unknown use history so it's acceptable. The seller has agreed to pay for getting it fixed so we're all good.**



Well on a whim I went to the Tanner show outside of Denver today to just look around. I did see more older Smiths at this show than I have in the past-a few original 1917s, 66 no dash, 25." 66-2 and -4, a couple of early 15s and a few 19s from -3 up to -7.

I was going to back for a 22-4 when I spotted a friend that usually has nice things. He had the two 66 snubs, I was going to make a deal on the -2 when I noticed this big snub tucked in the corner of his display box. Hmm, short barrel, round butt 28-2 with what I think are Ahrends grips. He said he got it in a group of a few guns from a guy "up in the mountains" ahaha but on the hang tag it's marked "Jovino Custom". Well now I really had to look. I was almost drooling, to my untrained eye it has the "tells"-barrel profile, ball/detent on the crane so we made a deal. The ramp is definitely red, not as orange as it looks in the photos.

If any one can help with your more knowledgeable eyes I'd greatly appreciate it. Serial number is N5153XX. Here are few quick cell pics (the specks are just dust particles, it's almost flawless):

Wow! A pinned and recessed snub .44 Special. What more could you ask for. I used to drool over their Effectors in Shotgun News in the 1980s. But I never knew they did .44 Specials, too. Very nice gun, and better than a Lew Horton.

I looked in the SWSC 4th edition and no mention of a 28-2 in .44 Special,snubby or otherwise. Looks pretty cool!! Wow indeed!

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My Daddy was a pistol..

Thanks, though the cylinder isn't recessed-I assume (uh oh that word lol) it's a model 24 cylinder that was used. The caliber markings on the barrel look to my, again untrained, eye as factory. My friend has fired it, says it shoots great, looking forward to hitting the range maybe tomorrow to see how it shoots (I have some mild .44 factory cowboy loads for plinking in my 629).

Forgot to mention I also picked up a couple new in the package HKS speedloaders too.

Nice Catch, regardless of who did the work that is a beautiful revolver and being a Jovino would be icing on the cake.

BTW the weather isn't anywhere near as nice as yours but hopefully soon brother!

Beautiful gun. Looking at the cylinder to recoil shield gap it has to be a recessed cylinder.

Pretty nice!
And at Tanner,no less

Oops. It looked recessed in the picture. Don't matter. That's a great gun and another reminder of why I should have bought a Jovino way back when.

Regardless of who had it, where it came from, who built it or any other amenities, it is a winner.....good find.

That's a beautiful snub and anyone should be proud to own it! I am anxiously awaiting the results of your range trip.

Thanks all, and BigBoku not to rub it in but I indeed did just get back from a little outing on the bike, almost 80 in the Denver area today!!

arjay, you said it my friend. I allowed myself two hours because it is so nice out and there it was haha. That's the reason the range visit will have to wait. Though now we're gathering the family for breakfast tomorrow then out to the park with the grandmunchkin and the dogs so I may have to wait.

**Put on a set of old Pach Compacs for a round K and they fit perfect. The wood grips are definitely from Ahrends, stamped on the inside of the right panel.**

This^^^^^.
If it's not recessed I don't think you could load it.
Nice gun.

That's because .44 Special was not an option from the factory for the M28.

S&W quit making .44 Specials in the mid 1960s. There weren't many made post WW II. So the only way to obtain a .44 Special was to convert another N frame revolver. The M28 was easier to come by in the 1960 and '70s.

Skeeter Skelton wrote a number of articles in Shooting Times magazine about converting M28s to .44 Special and also to .45 Colt. Forum member tennexplorer and I haunted the stores in Auburn, Alabama that carried Shooting Times each month, hoping for a new Skeeter story on the big bore revolver conversions.

In 1976 I took the plunge and bought a 3 1/2" blue M27 and then found a 6 1/2" .44 Special from J&G Rifle Ranch out in Montana. I took the said items to a gunsmith in Selma, Alabama and had the barrel installed and the cylinder re-chambered. A few months later I had a fine shooting .44. I had it trimmed to 5" and re-blued in 2006. Still have it and it still shoots great.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I'm guessing this gun is from 1978 by the serial number, also I owe you all an apology for indeed the cylinder is recessed! I wonder if that means if the original cylinder was used and just bored to the new caliber?

One of it's poorer kissing cousins lives in my safe.

An Astra Terminator by Jovino Customs.

It's a 44 magnum though...

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My M27 conversion is recessed, as was a M28 conversion that I had about 10 years ago. The original .357 cylinders on both were re-chambered to .44 Special.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Nice custom gun, congratulations!

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Even older, even crankier....

Nice catch and looks like it was well done. But, while the snubby conversion was certainly done in a similar style to the Jovino guns, I've never seen anything about the Jovino gun shop doing caliber conversions. There were any number of gunsmiths doing snubby conversions back in the day, with the Jovino gun shop and Austin Behlert being two of the best known. And, as mentioned, M28 big bore caliber conversions were common, heck, they're still being done, I have one out being turned into a 3" .41mag now. So, while it's obvious that it was a skilled gunsmith that did the work on that particular gun, it probably did not come out of the Jovino gun shop.

I'm also looking forward to your range report.

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

That is a very nice looking snubby. Congrats on the find. I just bought and yet to receive a M25-2 that was converted to a 44 mag with a 3 in. barrel, by an unknown gunsmith. Should get it in the mail this week.

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Regards
Lynn

Very cool find!!!

Now that's got me thinking about something cool to do with my 28-2, particularly WC145's comment about 41 mag...

I've gathered through reading of other's that have Jovino conversions that now the shop is unable/unwilling to help track down the history of possible conversions. I believe Behlert put some kind of marking on theirs to show they did the work, I haven't located any markings outside of the traditional forging numbers though I only took a quick peek at the grip frame when I swapped the grips. I'll do that later.

Doesn't look like I can get to the range today, babysitting for the 3 year old will take up most/all of the day-it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make

I'm unsure if it's worth lettering to see if it shipped to the Jovino shop, if any of you have other suggestions on tracking it down I'm listening.

Have a great day.

My M27 .44 Spl is also recessed and was converted from the original .357 cylinder.

I don't think I have ever seen Smith factory lettering on the barrel that close to the frame. Whether Jovino, or some other talent converted that one, it is well done and a real neat gun, and I wouldn't worry about who did it!

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

Jovino's has never been able to provide any records on their conversions. Also, any Behlert guns that were marked are signed on the barrel but I've only seen a couple of his revolvers that were. With the exception of the Jovino "Effector" guns and Mag-na-port's work, very few of the N frame snubby conversions are marked in any way. It makes identifying the gunsmiths responsible for the work almost impossible without original invoices and it often comes down to the story that comes with the gun.

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

Congratulations on your purchase, I've been looking at that one for the past few months. I've become interested in 2.5" K-frames lately and saw the two 66's there. There was a 2.5" model 19 on another table, too. I already have a PC model 67 Carry Comp though, and even saw one of those on a table.

There really were a lot of older S&W's.

Bill

That's what I thought too. I should have read this first before going into the safe and comparing frame lugs on recessed and non-recessed guns to your photo. Super cool, a P&R N-frame 44 special.

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Tony

Bump for an update

Wonderful gun. Not that I have any "need" for one, but I would buy in a heartbeat if I found one for sale!!

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Regardless of who did the work or how they did it, that is one sweet looking revolver. Congrats on a neat find. Be sure to give us a range report when you can and Thanks for sharing! Now I have one more revolver on my want list.

Another update-just heard from the gunsmith: basically the feeling is who ever reblued and reassembled the gun didn't get it quite right. He also had to repair the hand. The good news is everything is right with it and while it's still there I'm having the action smoothed up a little bit.

Glad it isn't anything serious. Looking forward to range report 2.0.

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

Glad to hear it is not a serious problem. I would be interested to know what the cause was.

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Regards
Lynn

From my short phone conversation it sounds like a combination of an older gun that saw very heavy use combined with it being re-assembled improperly by the person who did the re-blue. I'm picking it up Thursday morning, heading straight to the range for a quickie session and will report back my experiences. The guys at the shop were quite impressed with the conversion, especially the barrel work-as have some members here. The markings are perfectly centered and look factory.

I should have a work sheet and will also note what it says.

It works! Haha, picked up the little blaster this morning and immediately headed to the range. The pic is at 10 yards with Speer Gold Dot 200gr jhp standard velocity ammo. The two flyers up and right where when I rushed the shots after the target turned to me.

I did have one issue but it turned out to be an ammo problem (posted about it in the ammo section). Seemed to have a round without any powder in it haha.

I put the Pachs on it as every Jovino or Behlert gun from that time period I've seen had them. Not as pretty as the Ahrends grip but feels better to me. I'm much relieved and very happy.

The issues were indeed related to improper reassembly by the bluer and a worn hand. Extractor pin replaced and the action slicked up just a bit. Perfect timing and lock up, I think the only way I'd be happier was if it was free LOL. Now time to clean it up haha.

Looks like it shoots great! I have one similar in 45acp that is also wearing rubber stocks!

I kinda like the ALL BUSINESS Look