Shoot it or Sell it? 4" Model 28

[Dump1567]

I have a like new Model 28-2 4" with original box and papers enroute to my dealer. I don't know the year of manufacture or any other details. it was bought sight unseen.

Here's the description:

This S&W is like new. It is a model 28 Highway Patrolman revolver chambered in .357 magnum. It is a -2 and features a pinned barrel and recessed cylinder. It has a 4 inch barrel, matte black finish, adjustable sights, 6 shot cylinder and wears the factory small wood grips. Includes the factory box and papers. This gun would be hard to improve on.

I've wanted one of these for an occasional carry / shooter, but my concern is this might be too nice of a gun for that.

I'm not a collector and would like to be able to shoot and enjoy this gun.

Should I sell it to someone that might be looking for a safe queen, or just use it as I like?

Thanks.

 

[JCS&W]

Wow! Tough question. The M28-2 is the tank of S&W, in my opinion, and it was made to carry and to shoot. That being said, that one does sound very nice. With the prices that the M28's are going for these days, you could probably sell that one, and purchase a shooter grade M28-2. I would keep it, shoot it but not carry it much. Just my 2 cents.

 

[OldW]

I don't have any need for safe queens, and I like to shoot all my guns. That being said, if I feel one is a little "too nice" to shoot, I would sell it and use that money to buy a shooter + ammo. My HP is such a sweet shooter that I wouldn't be able to resist it in your situation. Good luck!

 

[CajunBass]

I'd shoot it. I might not carry it, but I'd shoot it.

 

[BaldEagle1313]

JCS&W is right (as usual) that the M28 is a tank. If the M27 was a brand new truck with all the options on the sheet checked off, the M28 is the stripped down work truck meant to be at the job site, whether on road or off.

As much as I think the M28 is a working gun, meant to be used, if it has all the original box, paperwork, tools, and is in nearly new condition I'd not fire it much, if at all. I had the same quandary with my 39-2, and I ended up getting another one that was much more worn to use as a shooter.

On the bad side, they don't make them anymore, and haven't for about 25 years. On the good side, the 4" M28 was the most common one. I would think you should be able to find a shooter grade for a reasonable price. The almost new one will go up in value over the years. Maybe not by 10% a year, but your 401K won't go up by that much a year either.

It was made to shoot, and it does it well. It's up to you. If you had a low mileage '67 Mustang GTA, would you still drive it, or park it?

 

[feralmerril]

I might not shoot a NIB registred magnum, 1st gen colt SAA, or such, but a HP I would! If you bought the gun and then got the pleasent surprise that its NIB, thats a big bonus! I wouldnt look a gift horse in the mouth! A couple years ago I bought a 3" tapered barrel model 36 that also turned out to be NIB from the early 70s. I shoot it, carry it and dont give it a 2nd thought!

 

[tops]

I have a 28-2, 6 in. never fired. I bought it to give to the grand kid but he can't handle it yet. As soon as he can handle it I will give it to him with the stipulation that he has to shoot it enough to try and wear it out. Larry

 

[fyimo]

Well this is always the question that arises on a LNIB revolver. The truth is it's all up to you on what you do with it because you spent your money for it. There are only so many LNIB revolvers out there that are pinned and recessed so if you shoot it a lot that just means there is one less.

The thing that will tear it up and make it look well used is carrying it as holster wear is very hard on revolvers. Shooting it now and then won't put nearly as much wear on it as carrying it.

 

[Camster]

I have a like new Model 28-2 4" with original box and papers enroute to my dealer. I don't know the year of manufacture or any other details. it was bought sight unseen.

Here's the description:



I've wanted one of these for an occasional carry / shooter, but my concern is this might be too nice of a gun for that.

I'm not a collector and would like to be able to shoot and enjoy this gun.

Should I sell it to someone that might be looking for a safe queen, or just use it as I like?

Thanks.

You worked for the money,you bought it for you,so you enjoy it as you would like.I shoot everything that I have(well,handguns that is)...all were new or as new when I got 'em...All still look like new.

 

[feralmerril]

I once bought a used/new colt new frontier for $250s. 45 colt, 5 1/2" barrel from a pawn shop receda california back in the early 70s. I happly shot it a few times, still looked new. Then I saw in a book "post war colt single actons" by george garton a picture of a identical one numbered next to mine that it was one of two consecatively numbered that audie murphy bought new and willed to his two sons. Of course mine could have been numbered on either side of the one in the book so I called garton. Yes, you own the missing colt he said, and wanted to buy mine! He bought his from one son and evidently the other son just took his to the pawn shop and didnt inform them just who he or his dad was who owned the colt! I got a letter on it and made a safe queen of it. Latter I got married. My ex ran off with it and many more! The serial # is 5355NF. Made in 1965. I WISH I HAD SHOT THE SNOT OUT OF IT!
I have news for all of us. Most of the guns that we make safe queens of in reality will be sold for next to nothing, stolen, or whatever! It`s a lucky man that has a gun savey son or daughter that appricates and wants that exact gun and will hold on to it and pass it on! Yes a very darn few will and do. The truth is everybody gets financhaly pinched once in awhile. Often your kids intrest and taste are far different than ours. They seldom think like we do. Maybe you or I might have a huge collection of safe queens. Probley the kid will keep several that turn them on and sell the rest cheap because they dont know the true worth or even how to sell them like you might.
Over time many things blind side us that changes all things. Yes, hopefully, we all have kids that think just like us, love the very same things, are respondsable and all that. BUT IT`S RARE!
I had a batchlor uncle that the last time I seen him alive that he was leaveing me some money. He instructed me to blow it on something, anything I always wanted or on anything I always wanted to do. He said I WISH I WOULD HAVE! Then he commited suicide! I bought a airplane and learned to fly with that money!

 

[Sportsterguy]

Buy it, shoot it and then clean it well. Repeat as needed. If you don't lug it around in a holster it'll look good for many years. I only have 3 semi safe queen revolvers BUT I still shoot them with only light loads. One is my nickel 19-3 snub that was my motorcycle weapon, a 4" no dash 57 also in nickel and a model 58 in primo condition with the nicest set of matching diamond magnas I've ever personally seen. All but the 58 (98%) are ANIB, have the boxes, tools ect. and I've kept the round count down through them. They still look great IMO. These 3 are the finest and favorite S&W's I own, are very beautiful with nearly perfect finishes. Firing them with light loads isn't going to do much damage to them. Carried the 19 in a lined Alessi shoulder holster so did zero damage to it's finish even after 2 season of riding through t-storms and getting it soaking wet on the Harley. If I'd have left it in that holster wet overnight the nickel probably would have suffered.

I have a beautiful Weatherby MK V in .270 Weatherby in 99.9% condition and it is my only true safe queen. Have shot it so little I thought it had a Leupold 4X12 mounted when in fact it was a 3X9. Shows ya how infrequently I put rounds through it. I don't like shooting it as I'm afraid to put a single blemish on it. Consider it very good money in the bank as it's an older model with a beautiful deep blue mirror finish, gorgeous wood and grain and I could not afford to replace it at todays prices. Bought the whole outfit for $750.00 years ago and do love oogling over when I bring it out for it's yearly wax job. The only reason I don't shoot it is I'm selling it to help with my Grandaughters college bills here in a few years.

I could on the other hand afford to replace a 28 so the decision is yours.

Sounds like it has already been fired from your post. I'd shoot it and maintain it well. It'll look good and outlast you years from now. Keep the round count down, clean it very well after shooting, keep a good coat of wax on it and you'll be surprized at how well and long the finish lasts.

 

[Murphy2000]

My vote is shoot it. The only exception being is if it is truly a 'safe queen'. If you enjoy having a 'safe queen'...have at it my friend.

Another choice is to 'flip it' for profit worth the time and effort in finding one you won't mind shooting.

I'll never forget my 1st Model 28. It was a 28-3 I picked up used in a pawn shop 9 years ago. I swapped out the Goodyear grips for some Ahrend Retro Targets, chamfered the cylinders and worked that puppy like a Government Mule.

I had 2 rather unsettling events with that particular gun. The first one I was wearing an inside the waistband holster that wasn't of the best quality. I was using a climbing deer stand when suddenly I heard..Clang! Clack! Clang! Thud... It'd fallen out of the holster and hit the upper and lower part of the climbing stand. No serious damage, but yeah it got scratched. The 2nd event, I was 4-wheeling and had stopped to get a drink of water at a creek. I parked the 4 wheeler and just as I leaned over...yep, same dang holster. A nice kiss off the finished cement and a lil ride down the unfinished portion. Humm, I hate front sight dings...oh well. I sold that gun later and got more out of it than I had in it.

Yeah...I shoot em' or sell em'!

Murphy2000

 

[tjtoolbox]

Model 28 Shoot the hell out of it

I have a like new Model 28-2 4" with original box and papers enroute to my dealer. I don't know the year of manufacture or any other details. it was bought sight unseen.

Here's the description:



I've wanted one of these for an occasional carry / shooter, but my concern is this might be too nice of a gun for that.

I'm not a collector and would like to be able to shoot and enjoy this gun.

Should I sell it to someone that might be looking for a safe queen, or just use it as I like?

Thanks.

I have a M 28 and I love this gun. I will shoot the hell out of it because that is what is is meant for, it is a TOOL not a thing to treasure like Gold, Pictures or Memories.
Have fun with it and keep it as your home protection for your family.Way to many collectors out there that will not shoot and defend because the gun is a SAFE QUEEN.
Just my opinion.

 

[phenson]

I agree with feralmerril totally, and what a story! I bought a more than likely unfired 4" 28-2 last month. I asked the same question here to the forum as to shoot it or not. I kinda sorta already knew the answer. I took it to the range the next morning and shot some mild .38 Spl's through it. That afternoon about dusk, I shot some hot .357's at some steel targets, and what a hoot that was. I don't regret shooting it. I don't have anyone to leave a safe queen to. I shot an unfired model 1895 Winchester this evening too, but that's another story.

 

[tops]

Owning something nice and using something less nice is too me the same as owning a throughbred and riding a mule. Several years ago I bought a nice, original M21 Winchester and now it is well worn and by the time I die I hope it is wore out. It has never crossed my mind to shoot a 311 Stevens and keep the M21 in mint condition.

 

[M3Stuart]

What a timely thread!

I'm in the exact same situation today. I picked up this Colt Det Spec, 2nd edition with a 3" barrel in .38 spec, virtually zero turn line. The gun is the most flawless gun I've ever owned. I like 3 inchers, but geez...if I start shooting it a lot it will lose a fair amount of its value.

When I found this one, I was actually looking for a .22 LR like a 617, 18 or smaller 34 or 63. So on the thread I started over in the lounge; should I keep this one or trade it even for a 22? Truth is, I'd shoot the bejeezus out of a 22, but this one will end up as a safe queen because I have a handful of other guns to shoot .38 out of.

The Colt is (obviously) the one in between 2 of my favorite shooters (note the goodyears for shooting).

 

[Steve in Vermont]

I don't have any need for safe queens, and I like to shoot all my guns. That being said, if I feel one is a little "too nice" to shoot, I would sell it and use that money to buy a shooter + ammo. My HP is such a sweet shooter that I wouldn't be able to resist it in your situation. Good luck!

I was given that same gun for my HS graduation in the 60's. Carried it as a LEO and shoot it today. Shows holster wear but is still as tight and accurate as the day it was made. Cars are made to drive, guns are made to shoot (unless they are very old and/or very rare).

 

[Engine49guy]

JCS&W is right (as usual) that the M28 is a tank. If the M27 was a brand new truck with all the options on the sheet checked off, the M28 is the stripped down work truck meant to be at the job site, whether on road or off.
the 4" M28 was the most common one. I would think you should be able to find a shooter grade for a reasonable price.

DITTO ...
If you can make a healthy profit sell it and buy two shooter grade guns.
Otherwise the Model 28 is definately a work truck...shoot it.

 

[Dump1567]

Thanks for all the info.

I'll wait and see how it looks before I decide what to do.

 

[iflyem1]

My vote goes to shooting it, and cleaning it well everytime. It will still look new. You only live once and who knows when your number is up. have fun while you still can!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!