So my in-laws had a little water damage to their house and needed to move a few handguns to my safe until the damage can be repaired. Among the guns was a S&W model 28. I had never seen the gun before and when I went to unwrap from the cloth it was secured in I noticed a beautiful set of target stocks were on the gun. Then I noticed that it had been nickel plated, not good but not terrible right? Then I saw that they had nickel plated the rear sight assembly, not ideal. But when I saw the gold plated hammer, trigger, cylinder release and ejector rod I wanted to cry. According to the serial number it was manufactured in 1962. The metal looked to be in great shape under the nickel plating. I assume he had it plated for corrosion protection on the Texas Gulf Coast. It was his first duty weapon. Still a prized possession but I was thinking what could have been.

Welcome to the forum. I am especially fond on M28's, and 1962 S series guns are among some of the finest. Too bad about the plating, I take it that you have not asked about the plating yet? There were a few nickel ones made, and I think the number is 100 or less, so original ones would be a real prize. I doubt a real factory plating job had a gold trigger. However, I am sure it is a good shooter. BTW, we thrive on pictures here

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

Pictures would be nice.
A lot of those part can be swapped out easily if desired.

Just make sure it isn't 28-1 inside the yoke.

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

It's somebody else's gun, so unless he is giving it to you, what's there to cry about?

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You're shy a few manners.

Mod. 28-1? Im in! Only seen one in 60yrs. Please check. Mike

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Back in the 1970s, I had a Lieutenant that had his Colt Python done the same way. The hammer, trigger and cylinder release were gold plated while the rest of the gun (sights included) was nickle. We were working on the coast (Brazoria County, Texas). Stainless guns were just becoming available but most of the guys still had older revolvers. We were always fighting a losing battle against surface rust in the salt air environment. Lots of originally blue steel revolvers wound up being nickle plated. The gold parts were just to try to be a little different and have something a little fancier. They were working guns and nobody thought about the collector value years later. Back then, a used Model 28 could be bought for about $100. They were standard issue for the Texas Highway Patrol, but we thought they were too big and too heavy compared to the Model 19. I bought the first Model 13 I ever saw at Bailey's House of Guns in Houston. When the Model 65 came out, we thought it was the ultimate law enforcement revolver. Lots of guys liked fixed sights. They didn't get out of alignment, were sturdier and didn't scratch up your holster, coat or right forearm. Lots of regular hammers got replaced with wide target hammers because the wide hammers had less aggressive checkering and didn't tear up the inside lining of your jacket as much. At one time, my partner had a High Standard Model 10B shotgun, I had a Marlin 45-70 with the barrel cut back to 16 inches, he carried a Model 66 four inch and I carried a Model 629 six inch. We felt like we were the best armed team on the planet. Thinking back on those days, maybe we were.

It will probably end up being mine and I would then distribute to his grandkids in time

It is definitely a 28-2

Good story but sad to see a S serial (1967) anything be treated like that... Having said that, I guess it is an opportunity to show what I picked up today... You never know when something cool shows up and begs for a new home. And yes, it appears to be unfired. No paperwork or tools but the box numbers to the gun as well as the stocks.

Attached Images

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S&W factory revolver armorer

At the time it was an in-production gun, not rare, easy enough to get another. Skeeter Skelton wrote that he had one converted to 44 Special, there was the 357 Bain & Davis conversion.

I question that the grips are original, and numbered to the gun. if it was shipped in 1967,

My S&W Bible, 3rd edition, says the diamond grips were eliminated in 1968.......which is a year after your gun was shipped.

Your grips are not diamond grips........

But, as always, never say never with S&W.....



I guess I am not talking about your gun..........a nice 28 by the way.......

And as Paul Harvey said " and now the rest of the story"?

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

Maybe I'm an oddball, but I see nothing "sad" in a solid tool that was modified by its user to perform for him in a way he felt was superior to the standard gun. I can understand the collector's hunger for originality, but as a shooter I can appreciate a working gun for what it has been and is, and there's sufficient worth right there. I certainly would not sporterize a minty Springfield 1903 these days, but I'd welcome a couple of Sedgly Sporters in my gun safe, horribly mutilated as they may be!

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Pisgah

I agree with the back in the day it was just another gun.

Its like this. I have a S serial number, pre model, 5 screw Highway patrolman. Unfortunately some LEO carried it in a leather holster and shot the **** out of it and totally ruined the collectors value!!!!