I went to the pawnshop today to pick up a SW Topbreak .32 that was due to clear pawn today but the manager who turned me onto it was on a short vacation...so before I left I saw this M28-2 calling my name from the gun case...it was super clean, no marks, excellent bluing, minor blemish on the stocks...4 digit serial number N40XX. Looks to be from 1969-70 vintage...it came home with me....as I was holding it I could see a slight gap between the frame and the ejector rod housing....it closes tight and you cannot see light when the crane is closed... dont remember seeing this gap in my other Smiths...barrel is not bent....bad fit??? Every other seam lines up...

This should be OK, I happened to have my model 29-2 handy when I read your thread and my barrel lug or shroud is the like yours. There is a space between the back end and the frame. Frankly, I never noticed it before. I went to my safe and checked my (L Frame) 586-1 and it has a slight gap but none of my K Frame magnum revolvers (19s) have a gap. I'm wondering if this is a common thing on the L and larger frames? Anyway, I'm sure you've started something here and we'll hear from the real experts on this subject.

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Ed

I have seen pictures before of other model 28 with the slight gap under the barrel. Should be no cause to alarm. Just the fit and finish on the highway parolmans not up to the high standards like the 27s. You should post some pictures of it. I would like to see it. They are getting hard to find in nice condition at an affordable price these days. I finally found a 4 inch S serial number Highway Patrolman last year at an end price of $550. Other than that one I have seen none locally at all for sale.

As others have said, not an issue. Rather, it's not unusual on other N frames as well.

After reading this I had to go to the gun safe and check my Highway Patrolman. It is a Pre 28 4 screw S number. No gap on mine.

Walt

Thanks for the responses. I never really noticed it on my other Smiths. I just looked in the safe at my other Smiths with an ejector shroud. A 19 and an unfired 66 from the 1970s. The other smiths are all much older. Very slight gap the 66 bet none on the 19. Thanks everyone. Guess it is nothing to worry about. I will try to send pics if I can figure out how to do that again.