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S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present All NON-PINNED Barrels, the L-Frames, and the New Era Revolvers


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  #1  
Old 12-01-2020, 11:35 PM
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Default Help Needed! What did I buy? 28-2

Well I'm perplexed. Posted this 28-2 a few weeks back that I ended up picking up from a gentlemen who inherited it from his uncle here in CA.

I purchased it thinking it was most likely a Magnaport conversion with a brushed hard chrome finish(?), porting and round butt conversion. Not sure if the barrel was shortened or not.

After breaking it out of its 10 day jail stint here in CA I got it home and found it is definitely not a 357. After doing some research on here it seems it was a trend to convert some of these to 44 special or 44 mag. I don't have any 44 special ammo currently (thanks CA) but a few of the pictures show what a 44 mag looks like in the cylinder. The cylinder won't close as you can tell. Obviously I'll snag some 44 special as soon as I can find it but does this look like a conversion to 44 special to you?

What's the best way to confirm the barrel as I do value all my digits?

Still excited to have snagged it for a steal considering the grips but curious about the details.

Thank you in advance


















Last edited by damngato; 12-02-2020 at 01:34 PM.
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Old 12-01-2020, 11:51 PM
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Certainly looks like a conversion. Check the serial number on the butt to be sure it is all there. I don’t recall HPs coming with a round butt.
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Old 12-02-2020, 01:16 AM
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Whoever did the conversion seems to have done a good job, especially turning the square into round butt. Appears to be a .44 Special based on your ammo photo...good caliber. Enjoy that 1-of-a-kind revolver.
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Old 12-02-2020, 01:23 AM
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Please show us the model number stamp inside the yoke!
Looks nice.
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Old 12-02-2020, 01:28 AM
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Yup, converted to a 44 special, including re-boring and re-rifling the original barrel. Round-butted, ported, and hard chromed. Very nicely done.

My only concern would be if they butchered the original serial number on the bottom of the butt when they rounded it.

I looked at a 1917 Brazilian the other day that had a nice shrouded 5" barrel installed and the butt rounded. Unfortunately the butt modification altered the serial number, so I had to pass, even though it was a very attractive shooter priced right at $440 OTD.

Broke my heart...
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Old 12-02-2020, 01:40 AM
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Thanks guys, appreciate the insight. All serial numbers are in good shape. I'll post pictures in the morning. Thought it was cool when I picked it up, now I'm even more intrigued.

44 special makes sense since I snagged a 624 and a 24-3 from the same guy
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Old 12-02-2020, 07:38 AM
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Way back when Model 28's were still in production and about the least expensive N-frame revolver available, a good number of them were rechambered to 44 Special. Yours has also been converted to the round butt grip profile, magnaported, and the finish looks like hard chrome. All of it looks to have been done correctly, so it should be a real nice shooter, but not a collector piece.
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Old 12-02-2020, 07:40 AM
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Good looking 28-2 conversion. Not a fan of the ports but everything else is choice! I did one to 45 ACP but left the finish a matte/polished blue. The hard chrome looks great.

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Old 12-02-2020, 07:47 AM
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PERFECT...FLAT PERFECT.... PERFECT CAL PERFECT WORK. Im not a Fan of altering a Good N frame but this is flat PERFECT.
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Old 12-02-2020, 08:58 AM
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Beautiful conversion of a 28-2 to .44 Special. In every respect, excellent work. Personally would be thrilled to own it ... and shoot it. Sincerely. bruce.
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Old 12-02-2020, 10:10 AM
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Kool gun.

Since it is Mag-Na-Ported it might be worthwhile to contact them and ask for any information they have on your particular gun. Mag-Na-Port did a lot of custom gunsmithing back then.
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Old 12-02-2020, 12:41 PM
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How much velocity do those ports cost?

This looks like a very practical, business-like gun, also effective on a bear.
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Old 12-02-2020, 02:14 PM
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I put a 357 bore brush down the barrel and it was definitely larger than 357 so I feel fairly comfortable in believing it was done right but just to be on the safe side, any better way to confirm the caliber of the barrel other than using a caliper?
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Old 12-02-2020, 02:14 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BSA1 View Post
Kool gun.

Since it is Mag-Na-Ported it might be worthwhile to contact them and ask for any information they have on your particular gun. Mag-Na-Port did a lot of custom gunsmithing back then.
Great idea, I'll give that a shot. Thank you
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Old 12-02-2020, 03:38 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by damngato View Post
I put a 357 bore brush down the barrel and it was definitely larger than 357 so I feel fairly comfortable in believing it was done right but just to be on the safe side, any better way to confirm the caliber of the barrel other than using a caliper?
It's 99% a .44 Special based on your pictures. The length of the cylinder is a dead giveaway. If a .44 Magnum doesn't fit, other cartridges like the .45 Colt and .44-40 won't either. The list of modern big bores with cases as short or shorter than the .44 Special is a very...short...one.

It's just extremely unlikely it's chambered in anything else. The muzzle indicates the caliber starts with a 4. It's not a .45ACP gun and I've never heard of a .45AR only conversion. There are some other obscure wildcats from the 70s and 80s that might match...but as mentioned before it's almost certainly a .44 Special.
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Old 12-02-2020, 03:40 PM
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You may have ended up with a real gem. If the work is well done you have one of the nicest, most versatile revolvers in existence. Plus you can always pick up another Model 28, they made truckloads of them
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Old 12-02-2020, 03:50 PM
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As others mention, almost certainly a .44 Spl conversion. Don't attempt to reload these up to .44 mag levels as it could produce a blown revolver.

Bore looks like it may have been drilled out, then a .44 liner installed. Works okay when done properly.

Potentially you have a fine, enjoyable shooter there just as it is.
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Old 12-02-2020, 04:16 PM
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I'm not sure what pics the previous posters were looking at, but your 5th and sixth pics show that a .44 mag case will not fit in the chamber recesses!
Try a .41 mag case, or measure the recess diameter. The case rim diameter diameter specified for .41 mag is .492 versus a .44 mag case rim diameter of .514 (.022 difference). The specified case lengths only differ by .005.
George

I agree with minconrevo; it looks like the a liner in the barrel.
Also, if you reload, Starline has .41 special cases and load data for them can be found.

Last edited by george_lehr; 12-02-2020 at 04:21 PM.
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Old 12-02-2020, 04:31 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by george_lehr View Post
I'm not sure what pics the previous posters were looking at, but your 5th and sixth pics show that a .44 mag case will not fit in the chamber recesses!
Try a .41 mag case, or measure the recess diameter. The case rim diameter diameter specified for .41 mag is .492 versus a .44 mag case rim diameter of .514 (.022 difference). The specified case lengths only differ by .005.
George

I agree with minconrevo; it looks like the a liner in the barrel.
Also, if you reload, Starline has .41 special cases and load data for them can be found.
If it were .41 Magnum, the .44 Magnum cartridge that is in the chamber wouldn't even fit in the chamber; the case rim is the same diameter as the recess in the picture, but the .44 Magnum cartridge is just too long for it to fully seat in the .44 Special chamber.

Last edited by Hair Trigger; 12-02-2020 at 04:38 PM.
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Old 12-02-2020, 04:38 PM
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damngato,

Take a look at the model 657 .41 magnum 3" barrel, round butt, product code 103951 shown in this thread:

657-41 Magnum-Lew Horton-RSR-Davidson's-Dealer Specials and Regular Production

Scroll down to the 9th pic. Perhaps that's what your gun started as and someone replaced the barrel with a 4" model 28 barrel.
Please do check the model number of your gun shown when the cylinder is opened.

George

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Of course your right. DOH!
Please ignore my posts.

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Old 12-02-2020, 05:43 PM
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Thanks for all the insight, my goal is to go by some shops on the way home tonight and see if I can find some 44 special ammo to test the fit. I'll check out the measurements mentioned above as well. Heck, since I snagged a 57-1 in the same deal if they have 41 mag I'll grab that too.

Definitely started life as a 28-2 as shown below


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Old 12-02-2020, 06:08 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by george_lehr View Post
I'm not sure what pics the previous posters were looking at, but your 5th and sixth pics show that a .44 mag case will not fit in the chamber recesses!
Try a .41 mag case, or measure the recess diameter. The case rim diameter diameter specified for .41 mag is .492 versus a .44 mag case rim diameter of .514 (.022 difference). The specified case lengths only differ by .005.
George

I agree with minconrevo; it looks like the a liner in the barrel.
Also, if you reload, Starline has .41 special cases and load data for them can be found.
The OP's pics show exactly what we'd expect from a .44 Special charge hole properly cut so that the case mouth sets against the step-cut (terminology escapes me at the moment). A .44 Magnum wouldn't get very far into a .41 Magnum charge hole, no more than the case mouth itself.
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Old 12-02-2020, 06:09 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by damngato View Post
...any better way to confirm the caliber of the barrel other than using a caliper?...
Have any lead bullets? If yes, it is easy to shove either a 44 or 45 (little more difficult), down the bore and then measure it. Unless you are a handloader the actual diameter is of little matter as long as it is nominally .42 or .43.

As far as it starting as a 41 or other stretches, when you hear hoofbeats, think horse not zebra!

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Old 12-02-2020, 08:48 PM
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Skeeter Skelton would be proud.

Sent from my SM-A516V using Tapatalk
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Old 12-02-2020, 11:09 PM
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Welp, no luck finding 44 special. Tried 3 shops on the way home and only found 1 box of 41 mag which I needed so grabbed it. The search continues
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Old 12-02-2020, 11:12 PM
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Between the rush and being in CA, you are likely to be frustrated for a while. That looks like a nicely done conversion, and as others have noted, it was a pretty popular one in the 70s for good cause.
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Old 12-03-2020, 02:50 AM
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Kool Kat Gato!
What type of finish is it sporting?
Since you are in CA,what did your ffl
describe it as on the DROS?
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Old 12-03-2020, 03:46 AM
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Missed out on a square butt nickle one just like that with brown Rogers grips on it a few years ago on Armslist. was real cool looking. no poerting though.
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Old 12-04-2020, 09:47 PM
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Success! Found one random box at the 3rd pawn shop I went to on the way home.

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Old 12-04-2020, 11:16 PM
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Like Cinderella’s slipper, a perfect fit!

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Old 12-05-2020, 02:55 AM
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Love to find it's twin, well, maybe kissing cousin. Not real fond of ported barrels myself, unless it's on a Marlin Guide Gun in 45/70.

Congratulations on the revolver AND finding some ammo.
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Old 12-05-2020, 03:12 AM
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Congrats. If you find a box of .44 Russian ammo, it will work too.
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Old 12-05-2020, 07:25 AM
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It is a very nice and well done handgun conversion, only problem is that who ever did it screwed up. All conversion firearms I have ever seen always marked on the firearm what the caliber was changed to.
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Old 12-05-2020, 10:57 AM
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I usually don’t care for conversions but I would be proud to own this one.
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  #35  
Old 12-05-2020, 06:13 PM
Muley Gil Muley Gil is offline
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Originally Posted by kenjen View Post
It is a very nice and well done handgun conversion, only problem is that who ever did it screwed up. All conversion firearms I have ever seen always marked on the firearm what the caliber was changed to.
I had two Old Model .357 Ruger Blackhawks converted to .44 Special. I had one, a 5 1/2" using a Colt New Frontier barrel, marked .44 Special on the frame and left the other, a 4 5/8" using a Super Blackhawk barrel, alone. I didn't spring for the extra cost on the short one.
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Last edited by Muley Gil; 12-05-2020 at 06:15 PM.
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  #36  
Old 12-05-2020, 08:44 PM
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Curious if you've reached out to Magnaport to see if they can tell if it was one of their conversions? Regardless, looks well done and you're fortunate to have come across it, enjoy!
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  #37  
Old 12-05-2020, 09:17 PM
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damngato damngato is offline
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Originally Posted by S&W Fan View Post
Curious if you've reached out to Magnaport to see if they can tell if it was one of their conversions? Regardless, looks well done and you're fortunate to have come across it, enjoy!
Been a busy week but did get an e-mail out to them. Haven't heard back yet but my fingers are crossed. Thanks again
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  #38  
Old 12-06-2020, 08:38 AM
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Add my name to the "love it" crowd!
I would typically be wary of a modified gun; this work was definitely not done by "Bubba!"

-Perfect concept & execution.

I join those looking forward to your update, Gato.
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Last edited by bill-in-texas; 12-06-2020 at 08:40 AM.
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  #39  
Old 12-06-2020, 10:30 PM
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Beautiful 28. Got any photos of the 57-1 that came with it?
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  #40  
Old 12-06-2020, 10:38 PM
Loyaljeeper Loyaljeeper is offline
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If you decide you don’t want it let me know. I would rather have that than anything S&W makes today.
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  #41  
Old 12-06-2020, 11:41 PM
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Well I'm perplexed. Posted this 28-2 a few weeks back that I ended up picking up from a gentlemen who inherited it from his uncle here in CA.

I purchased it thinking it was most likely a Magnaport conversion with a brushed hard chrome finish(?), porting and round butt conversion. Not sure if the barrel was shortened or not.

After breaking it out of its 10 day jail stint here in CA I got it home and found it is definitely not a 357. After doing some research on here it seems it was a trend to convert some of these to 44 special or 44 mag. I don't have any 44 special ammo currently (thanks CA) but a few of the pictures show what a 44 mag looks like in the cylinder. The cylinder won't close as you can tell. Obviously I'll snag some 44 special as soon as I can find it but does this look like a conversion to 44 special to you?

What's the best way to confirm the barrel as I do value all my digits?

Still excited to have snagged it for a steal considering the grips but curious about the details.

Thank you in advance


Maybe it's the angle, but given the difference between case length of a 44 Special and a 44 Magnum I'm curious as to why this 44 Magnum almost makes it to fully seated. Does this round carry a semi-wadcutter with a full shoulder, does a 44 mag empty fully seat?

Last edited by dsf; 12-06-2020 at 11:43 PM.
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  #42  
Old 12-07-2020, 12:01 AM
Dino44 Dino44 is offline
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This weekend, I stopped by a favorite gun shop and saw a pre-model 27 3 1/2 inch, that had similar modifications done to it. The barrel was magna-ported and it was also hard chromed. It looked very unique but the buff job under the finish showed through.
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  #43  
Old 12-07-2020, 07:48 AM
stansdds stansdds is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dsf View Post
Maybe it's the angle, but given the difference between case length of a 44 Special and a 44 Magnum I'm curious as to why this 44 Magnum almost makes it to fully seated. Does this round carry a semi-wadcutter with a full shoulder, does a 44 mag empty fully seat?

Given a nominal rim thickness of 0.060" and the fact that the cylinder has countersunk chamber bores, that case is sticking out a little more than twice the rim thickness. The 44 Special case is 0.125" shorter than the 44 Magnum, so I'd say that cylinder was bored to factory 44 Special dimensions.
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  #44  
Old 12-07-2020, 12:42 PM
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Heard back from Magnaport. They were nice enough to respond very quickly but unfortunately weren't able to provide any information other than the ports look like theirs. Ah well, was worth a shot
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  #45  
Old 12-07-2020, 12:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Bhfromme View Post
Beautiful 28. Got any photos of the 57-1 that came with it?
I have a few, it was a mess but is cleaning up nicely.





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