Hi everyone. This is my first post.
I've been reading about S & W Model 28-2 revolvers with this Satin or Polished Nickel finish.
I also have one.
Its Serial# is N256XXX stamped the same both at the yoke and butt of the grip.
Its a Highway Patrol, .357 CTG with the 4" barrel.
It has a fixed blade front sight and an adjustable rear sight.
Its a three screw model.


Do you think this gun is worth a letter once the moratorium is lifted?

Unless the serial # begins with FSP (or FHP or something thereabouts, for the Florida State Police/Highway Patrol. Somebody will be along shortly to say what I mean...) there would be little point, as the gun has been refinished and has no collectability. It is, however, an excellent shooter/all weather outdoor carry gun. Even though it has been refinished, post a couple of pics of it. A lot uf us here like these guns for what they were meant to be, a utilitarian, working man's gun designed to be used, not *****-footed around in a velvet lined case.

Dvus, from what I've read in a different thread here, the "N" at the beginning of the serial# on the grip butt indicates it was nickel plated at the factory?

Muser - Welcome to the forum. The "N" you are talking about is just a prefix to the serial number. It used to be "S" up until 1969. It has no bearing on the guns finish. If it were factory nickel, there is usually an "N" stamped on the inside of the lower grip frame, seperate from the serial number, which is on the outside bottom of the grip frame. Those older 28's are excellent shooters. I believe the only nickel model 28's to come from the factory were a small run made for the Florida Highway Patrol, and very rare. They were made in about the 1959 time frame, and would be much earlier than your N prefix gun. Post a few pics when you get the chance. We like pics here. I attached a pic of my 4 inch 1963 "S" prefix model 28.

Larry

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Doc44 has told us in past threads that the nickel 4” guns shipped in 1972 in the N28000 to N59000 serial range. Also, no “N” stamped on the gun (for finish)

A New York distributor also ordered a few. There are 2 YouTube videos on this. One before the owner got a letter and one after showing the letter.

The Model 28-2 revolvers with a brushed nickel finish were shipped to approximately fifteen distributors in 1972.

Bill

Welcome to the forum! We would love to see some photos!!! Here's a link to Wiregrass' informative video on how to post photos: Video Tutorials on Posting Pictures

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Thank-you gentlemen for all of your helpful answers.
Pics are a process for me. I'll be working on some.

Boy Fishinful, mine looks like yours from what I can tell.


Thank-you for the welcome RKmesa.

Welcome to the Forum.

Fishinfool has a blue M28. Standard features on the M28 were a brushed (satin) blue and the choice of a 4" or 6" barrel.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

My M28-2 and not one of the rare ones.....

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

Have you lettered this to determine if it's original?
Steve

The OP's SN dates it several years later than that, 1974-1977.

OP, if it is a factory plating job, the extractor star will still be blued, and the hammer and trigger will be color case hardened. Aftermarket plating (yours sounds more like a hard chrome finish than nickel) generally plates the hammer, trigger and extractor star.

We still want pictures, I bet it looks pretty good.

There are many advanced collectors on this forum. Does anyone have a satin nickel model 28 ?

Here's some pics of two legit/lettered Satin Nickel M28's that used to be in my collection:







The s/n's were - as noted above - in the N40xxx and N43xxx series, (N and 5 digits, not 6), I'm not aware of any reportedly with an N and 6 digits following.

Someone mentioned Florida Highway Patrol nickel guns, those were bright nickel and with 5 inch barrels as I recall.

Enjoy

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.............SmithNut

Thanks guys, from all of the information and photos you've shared, I apparently have a very nice 28-2 that was re-coated at some point after manufacture.
Mine has its front sight blade, hammer, and trigger all coated with the same satin nickel? finish .
I'm afraid my gun has proven to be yet another case of false alarm.

Thank-you for all of your interest and help.


Now I just need to find out its value?
.

It's just a shooter. 4 or 500. Probably not even that. Hammer, trigger all finished too? Minimal value as just a shooter.

Run of the mill 28’s are bringing $700-800 around here.
I would expect your gun to fall in that range.
2 years ago it was a $400 -450 gun.
Times change and prices with them.

When the zombies are coming over the trench, your .223/5.56 ammo is gone, your 12 ga. is gone, all your other ammo is depleted except the .357 Mag, and all you have to shoot it is your nickel M28, then think about it's value.......... priceless....

Nothing wrong with a good shooter...... when you need it...

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.............SmithNut

I would venture a guess of $600 - 800, depending on condition and how well the refinish was done.
And here is a pic of my 1965 S serial numbered 28-2

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I haven't read this whole thread but, wondering Gardner11 have you lettered yours?
Steve

That might be a nickel plating, but hard chrome plating was a really popular refinishing back in the 1970's through 90's. If it is hard chrome, then you have the best finish possible for a firearm that is to be carried and used. Please post some pics of your plated Model 28, would love to see them.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Value.

IMHO a model 28-2 that was hard chromed, which is often mistaken for satin nickel or stainless, would be one extremely durable 357. I have a selection of 6 Highway Patrolmen, 2 of them early 5 screws. I would trade a shooter grade one for one that has been completely hard chromed.

In other words I believe a hard chromed one would worth as much as a finish worn one. Thee days of N frames for under $500 is history. Even your run of the mill 80% Brazilian will bring more than that. In fact there is one on GB and they are asking $1500 for it wearing Goodyears. They are nuts of course, but none of the 1917 or Brazilians are under $800

There are only 3 of the 14 28s listed under $1000, 4 days left at $500 for a bead blasted one (I bet it goes for over $750 at least), a 6" wearing rubber is buy it now at $795 and the best deal is a decent looking 4" with 2 sets of targets at $825 with 2 days left and I seriously doubt the $825 will hold.

The cheap functioning N frames are gone unless you get real lucky.

OK, here are some photos of my 28-2.
I've been told at a gun shop that whoever did the finish di a nice job.
The grips are older Pachmeyers.

If I were to keep this gun, any suggestions for different grips to help its value?

And back to its current value now that you can better see it?

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Mine was nickel when I found it at a pawn shop. It was done well.

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Muser, no expert here but that looks more like hard chrome to me.

Golphin, your right that is a great looking piece.
Mine has a more satin-like finish than yours, not quite as reflective of light.
After seeing your wooden grips I can see some nice dark wooden grips on mine with its finish.


Thanks bamabiker, that's another unanswered question about the gun at this point?
Just what is the finish on it?


Steelslaver- right, I'm following a number of those for sale at gunbroker to see what they sell for. Obviously mine isn't comparable with the best of them.

My two favorite N frame grips are Ahrend’s or Altamont. That fine looking Model 28 will be a trusted companion for life.

series guy, I checked out both sites. Oh yeah.
Like this one from Altamont-

That should look nice on your M28-2. I have that pattern of stocks in rosewood on my M57.

Hair Trigger I agree.

They're beautiful and functional for good grip at the same time.
In Rosewood would be striking.

And it looks like that's the finish on mine.

That looks more like hard chrome and not nickel. Changing stocks is not going to help its value as alteration of the factory finish eliminates this revolver from collector status. It is a shooter, but with a really durable, corrosion resistant finish.

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Hard Chrome, I'll bet. Get some full power 357 ammo and have at it. You will be glad you did.

Just happened to have my S prefix -2 sitting on my lap.

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Love the gun I have one that was plated at a local bumper shop, fortunately Ford's custom fixed that for me. If you want to part with those pachymars please let me know. I would be interested I like the look of wood grips I like shooting with the goodyears. I don't think they make N frame grips anymore.

While collectors like original I don't think a nice refinish hurts the highway patrol that much unless it was new in box to start with. Many like myself like a strong N frame made for shooting. They are not on the top of the value list as smiths go anyway and will bring about as much with a good refinish and a well used one with the original finish will. I see it that way anyhow and it holds true in the used resale in my area price wise.

Yours are darker than the ones I have in rosewood finish, maybe it's the light, but there is variation in the color. here's what my M57 looks like with those grips.

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Wouldn't the bottom line on either coating be possibility of rust reduction?

Steve

S.B.- My understanding is that there definitely is an increased protection from rust with coatings.
A gun with a blued coating has a better resistance as compared to the gun's metals being fully exposed with no bluing.
After that I don't know which offers the best protection?
Whether nickel or chrome, or some other?

I think it would look awesome with a set of stag grips on it...

Exactly what I was thinking. Our own @bigmtnman makes some nice ones.

So you have an apples to apples comparison, here are elk grips on a matte stainless revolver.

Kevin

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Welcome aboard!
If I crossed paths with a nice 4” 28 that had been properly hard chromed or matte nickeled, I’d happily drop $1000+ for it.
Speaking of FHP 357s, I found this 5” nickel 27-2 (FHP1582) at the Reno Cabelas a few years ago. I’ve heard there were 500 made, but never verified it.

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213th FBINA

I can remember reading in Guns & Ammo years back that famous gunsmen of our past prefered nickel(the gun in question was one Bat Masterson ordered direct from the factory when located at a gunshow here in Illinois)) as it offered the best corrosion protection(true or not?).
Steve

As I see it, rating a finish based on corrosion protection would be blued as better than bare carbon steel. Nickel plating is better than blued so long as the nickel plating completely covers the underlying carbon steel. Damage to the nickel presents a spot where rust can gain a foothold. Hard chrome forms a bond to the carbon steel and also has a very hard surface, quite a bit harder than nickel. The combination of the bond to the steel and the hard surface makes hard chrome scratch and damage resistant and highly corrosion resistant.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

One has to take into consideration the article I referred to dealt with revolvers in the 19th century not today of course?
Steve

Decorative chrome plating came into use in the early 20th century, but I don't think hard chrome came about until after WW II. In the 19th and first 1/2 of the 20th century, the two finishes on firearms were typically blue or nickel. Phosphate came into use during WW II and the British painted firearms with enamel paint.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

"Decorative chrome plating came into use in the early 20th century, but I don't think hard chrome came about until after WW II. In the 19th and first 1/2 of the 20th century, the two finishes on firearms were typically blue or nickel. Phosphate came into use during WW II and the British painted firearms with enamel paint."


That's interesting. I didn't realize there are two separate chrome finishes.
So hard chrome as a finish has a dull, flat appearance?
Unlike a bright, shiny chrome?

My Colt Gold Cup was refinished in hard chrome by Checkmate in Florida (no longer in business)...I specified the rounds to be matte and the flats polished...But as an industrial finish it is usually seen as matte, or non-glare......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

Picture vintage car trim and bumpers when you think of conventional chrome plating. Industrial hard chrome has a matte finish and is often mistaken for stainless steel.

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"I also cook."

Is not bumper chrome a different technique from the chrome plating used by S&W?

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.