Highway Patrolman - Ugly Duckling

[hiwaycruzer]

I bought a model 28-2 that the previous owner had Cerakoted; grey cylinder, black frame and barrel. The case-hardened trigger and hammer were coated grey as well. So I nick-named her my Ugly Duckling.

I'd like to have the finish restored to original as well as having the internals cleaned and checked. Would appreciate any comments or recommendations on who to contact to have this work performed (as long as I don't have to take out a second mortgage to pay for it...)

Thanks and Semper Fi!

 

[hardcase60]

Pic's, we really like pics!!

I would suggest Ford's Guns in Crystal River, Fl. Go ahead and apply for that second mortgage. While I have never Cerakoted a S&W, I have had a couple of lesser specimens professionally done. That process can hide a multitude of sins(pitting). IMHO if that were the case with your Mdl 28 you might want to leave well enough alone. Just a thought.
Best of Luck, hardcase60

 

[Pig Hunter]

Cerakote has to be media blasted off. Then you have to decide the level of polish you want to go to. Either shoot it as is, Cerakote is a tough finish, or sell it and buy the quality 28 you want. Unless you do the work yourself you will be so far upside down you won't believe it. ymmv

 

[Old_Cop]

From an economic point of view, enjoy it as is or move it down the road.

 

[Targets Guy]

Keep it in your truck and look for one you want to show off with.

 

[410bore]

I have a 5 screw HP "ugly duckling." It wears its original finish, although not much is left. I'm glad no one cerakoted it, I like it as-is - perfect woods gun


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[hiwaycruzer]

Thanks to all for your comments. I didn't think about the possibility that it was coated to hide a multitude of sins. I will take your advice and leave it as is. Maybe it's not so ugly after all...

 

[steelslaver]

Thing is HP were never made to be pretty. Working shooting guns. Sounds like yours is kinda on the raw side though. Thing is refinishing does little or nothing to value and now days is spendy. If I was going to have an older working revolver refinished about the only thing I would consider is some kind of hard chrome. If I was going to do anything myself I would either reblue in my own small tank or apply a phosphate type finish.

 

[Steve912]

Gotta wonder if it's the revolver an ex-gf had...

Either a HP or Trooper .357, it's been a few years. The revolver had some
minor rust here and there, from living on the floor of her Cherokee for
years. I told her about the spray n bake finishes from Brownells, and she liked the idea. A few weeks later she brought me the revolver and a can (Parkerizing Gray? its' been a while)...she thoughtfully prepped it with a wire brush & angle grinder. It looked as awful as it sounds.

I sprayed it heavily enough to fill the wire brushing, taking care to mask side plate edges, charge holes, bore etc, and left the internals unsprayed (she had disassembled EVERY removeable part). Baked it up, and it looked pretty good. When she finally saw it, she was incensed that I hadn't sprayed all the frame internals and said she'd "do it right" herself...

We went our separate ways not long after that and I never saw the revolver again. If the revolver was hers, she may well have re-sprayed parts of it with who know's what...I had used almost all of the Brownells can.

 

[nachogrande]

FORDS

Yes they do great work. Some is shown on their web site. My former work would take me near there at times & ANY opportunity to go look is a good one. Some of their best work IMO is their TOP-O- THE line bluing old colts, S&W's don't come out too shabby. They did a Marlin waffle top for me once & didn't try to soak me for the deluxe package. At that time they were only taking walk in work. IDK about their current turn around time.

 

[hittman77]

I'd call Tyler Gun Works just to see what they say.
Know they're big into single actions and Rugers ..... not sure about the HP finish. Sure couldn't hurt to ask and they're nice folks in my experience.

 

[woodsltc]

Just my opinion, but a refinish is a "refinish"..... & will never be original. The money you spend to try and get it to look original will be as much as you would spend to just buy a nice original M-28.

IMO.....I would either sell the M-28 and use the $ to buy an original finish model 28 to your liking .... or....keep the one you have as a truck gun/knock around shooter and just buy another model 28 with original finish to your liking.

My main point is....if you want an original finish model 28 you will have to get another one .....the one you now have will "never" have a real original finish. That's just my opinion.

Don

 

[JohnRippert]

I know what you mean about a "ugly duckling" Highway Patrolman. This first year HP had already been refinished once and had that finish ruined. Plus the hammer and trigger were polished. I had the case hardening redone on the hammer and trigger but there was a miscommunication about what prep I wanted done before a reblue and it needs to be refinished again. He only charged me for the case hardening so I am not out too much. I thought about sending it to Fords but I have been hearing things that make me leery lately about them. I may break down and see what Turnbull will charge me to do it right and get it redone in nickel. Meanwhile it is wearing a nice set of american holly grips from the Culinas.

 

[gmborkovic]

Im old and confused. Why do you buy a Mod-28 that needs a finish.
Just buy the one you want. You take a $400 gun and sink more money in it.
Old and confused Mike

 

[JohnRippert]

Im old and confused. Why do you buy a Mod-28 that needs a finish.
Just buy the one you want. You take a $400 gun and sink more money in it.
Old and confused Mike

I bought mine just to have a N frame in the accumulation. I prefer K frames overall. It is in such good shape mechanically that I believe it deserves to be brought back to stunning again. Plus, I could always use a BBQ gun.

I know I will never get my money back, although who knows what will happen in 20-30 years when I am getting up there. It is not about the money for me. I just think a first year HP deserves to be brought back.

 

[RKmesa]

I have a 5 screw HP "ugly duckling." It wears its original finish, although not much is left. I'm glad no one cerakoted it, I like it as-is - perfect woods gun

Kris: Post up a photo or two of that holster shiny HP...please?

 

[richiecotite]

OP, I recently went through the same thing with a model 28. Bought off gunbroker, it was spray painted tan and black. Truly ugly as sin, lots of rust and pitting. I sent it to a semi local place where they bead blasted and reblued it. It was still pitted and scratched pretty good, but it was much less ugly and something I could live with. I took it to. A local shop and had to fix the rear sight, and the shop owner/smith said he had a guy that could make it look almost as good as new and that it'd take a month or so to get it back.

Got it back and it looks so much better. Unfortunately, they had to polish out the HP logo on The barrel and the S&W logo on the side plate, and there's some pitting on the cylinder, but it was in real bad shape before.

Fiscally it makes more sense to just get a good one, but I say there's a little karma with picking up a good gun that's been abused and making it great again.
Would also like to find these $400 N frames lots of people mention all the time.


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