This 28-3, (number AJK37xx) I believe was near the end of production for the 28 as it looks like parts to assemble it were the bottom of the barrel. Look close at the rear sight, besides the crooked milling, the flat area in front of the screw is wavy up and down.
Where the barrel meets the frame, its not as square as my 28-2.
The logo stamping is deeper on the right than on the left.
The back of the barrel is square cut, not beveled like a -2
The trigger is smooth but it and the hammer have a great color to them.
The build numbers on the inside of the crane match the frame.
I'll add more pics below.
EXCEPT FOR THE CYL CHAMFER, IT IS BONE STOCK.
NO BUBBA GUN HERE.

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Taking more pics.

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Everything looks normal to me for a 28-3. Your trigger is correct as the standard .265" grooved trigger was replaced with a smooth .312" version in the early 80's, if I recall correctly

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FBINA, 204th Session

Yeah, that isn't exactly the prettiest specimen I've seen.
How does it shoot?

I've collected the box label data of it's brother, AJK36xx. It had a.....

March 24, 1984...

ship date and had been the last -3 I'd seen.

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~ S&W aficionado in training ~

Has to be Photoshopped as everyone knows only recent S&W's have problems.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

Once again the enthusiasm for a "grail revolver", overpowered the need for a close 'buyer's inspection' before plunking the money down on the table.

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S&WHF 366

That Model 28-3 is definitely "quality control challenged"! Many contend that the quality of S&W revolvers began to decline when they deleted pinned barrels and recessed chambers. I dunno, but it does seem that quality was better during the days of P&R revolvers.

Ya, that one isn't the best example to look at. The ramp up to rear sight is "interesting". Also looks like somebody did a bitt of cambering on chambers.

The real question is. How does it shoot. 28s were made to be shooters not lookers. Hopefully it shoots way better than it looks. Enjoy

I won't go into a bunch of detail here, but my opinion is that someone other than the factory has monkeyed with that gun.

If it truly is straight from the factory (minus the red paint on the front sight), that's kinda sad.

It sort of tells me not to mess with any model beyond a dash-2.

Other than the chamfer on the chambers, I'd make a fair sized wager that gun is stock. There is no indication it has been refinished, which would have been required for any other work.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

BUT I'd lean towards blaming Bubba, OR a bad day at the factory, OR some combo of both. Next to the Buttler, Bubba always did it. The cylinder looks chamfered, NOT by the factory. The side plate seams look a little off, for factory work. MIGHT the barrel have been replaced??? The screw on the rear sight aint exactly pristine looking. IF THAT INTERESTED, & no box, a letter would say what barrel length it originally came with.

Would this one be from the notorious Bangor-Punta era?

Go ahead and offer me your lousy Bangors. I'd buy em 40 cents on the $.

I have many of these, all pre-lock and among all of them my later ones such as 28-3, 57-1, 29-5 and my most beloved 29-6 are all tremendous shooters with exquisite actions highly tunable and perfect in every way.

As a very rough generalization I'd say late 1960s and very early 1970s seems very smooth, som nice touches such as chamfers here and there, mid 1970s maybe a little less so on occasion but any 1984 and up until 1997 I am crazy about.

Nothing wrong with Bangor Punta era guns. 1984 puts it at the beginning of the Lear Sigler era which doesn't surprise me at all.

I’ll second that.

Beyond 1961, I haven’t found that the era matters much, except for aesthetics. I’ve seen P&R junk and pre-war guns with gawd-awful triggers.

That thing's messed up, if it is in original condition.

If you are that disgusted with the revolver, keep it for a year and sell it for a profit. Even bad examples of Model 28's aren't getting any cheaper.

Guys, except for cyl chamfer, and a little red paint, it’s bone stock.
I was using it for IDPA matches.

Like others have posted.....send me that 28 and I'll send you money....maybe not what you paid but since I don't know what you paid..you might get a smoking deal from me!

I have only bought two (2) brand new vehicles in my 60 years of driving. 1st one was a 1978 Chevy "Big Ten" pickup with 350 V8 and 4 speed manual. Did not get home from the dealer before the first of four (4) transmissions....just could not keep synchronizers...build date turned out to be right before Christmas shut-down. 2nd was a 1986 Ford E-150 full size Club Wagon...again A/C compressor blew out within 50 miles, high pressure fuel pump ( 1 of 2) blew after 2 weeks...build date was 3 days before plant shutdown for model year switchover.

Never bought another "brand new" vehicle...all have been used and usually 1 or 2 years old at time of purchase, so someone else fixed "factory" or QC oversights... probably same with guns as those old "craftsman...bench work ethics" may just have faded away at that Model 28 build date.

As the T shirt says "$&*! Happens".

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Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570