Model 28 no dash

[Dino44]

Good day all,

I recently came across and purchased a Highway Patrolman in the four screw configuration. Serial number S 20228X indicates late 1959 to early 1960. My 3rd edition makes no mention of a 4 screw. Is this a rare piece, or was there very many produced during a transitional period?

 

[JP@AK]

All Model 28 Highway Patrolman revolvers had four screws. The fifth screw went away in 1956, before model numbering started. The fourth screw was eliminated in 1961ish, with the advent of the Model 28-2.

Edit: I pulled my 3d Edition off the shelf and looked. See page 196, under Engineering and Production Changes.
28-2 (1961): Cylinder stop changed, eliminate trigger guard screw.

 

[PeteC]

I have one, s/n S1900xx. I think they are less common, but not rare. The SCSW 4th edition, does mention it, indirectly, page 231...

• 28-2 1961 Cylinder stop changed, eliminate trigger guard screw.

One can assume that there were Model 28-no-dash versions with the trigger guard screw after 1957 and before 1961, otherwise there would be nothing to eliminate,


edit: @JP@AK: Damn you're fast on the draw!

 

[Dino44]

Thank you for the education JP@AK. I did not put two and two together. I have a pre-28 5 screw and a 28-2 3 screw. Both have S serial numbers. I have not seen any other Highway Patrolman in the last ten years of collecting in the four screw configuration. I also didn't realize S serial numbers ran up until 1970.

 

[RKmesa]

Dino:

We are looking forward to seeing some photos of your Model 28. In the meantime, here is a 4-screw Model 28, SN S192649. They are nice guns...

 

[JP@AK]

I have a pre-28 5 screw and a 28-2 3 screw.

Good for you. The HP is one of my very favorite S&W revolvers.

Here's a tip: Don't bother looking for a 28-1 to fill the "gap" in your collection. Chicken teeth are far more common. We in the collector community are aware of exactly ONE Model 28-1 that exists.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Chicken teeth are far more common. We in the collector community are aware of exactly ONE Model 28-1 that exists.

And I was lucky enough to have the privilege of holding it and seeing the model stamp with my own eyes. Wish now that I'd had the wisdom to take video of the encounter...

 

[PeteC]

...We in the collector community are aware of exactly ONE Model 28-1 that exists.

Does this mean that the "28-1... one reported" in SCSW 4th edition, and the one mentioned in the Highway Patrolman thread, AND the one you speak of above are the same ONE gun?? ...never even occurred to me! (good thing I feel no compulsion to fill any of my gaps,

 

[JP@AK]

Does this mean that the "28-1... one reported" in SCSW 4th edition, and the one mentioned in the Highway Patrolman thread, AND the one you speak of above are the same ONE gun?

Yes. The last I heard of it (and saw photos) it was living in Arizona. I think I heard more recently that it was purchased by someone who lives farther east. But that may not be true.

In any case, no other example has surfaced that I know of.

 

[PeteC]

I can just imagine someone at the factory thinking, "so, we made a lot of 27-1 guns, and no 28-1? Let's make at least one of them this year to fill the gap between 28-no-dash and 28-2..."

 

[Dino44]

Update, finally received back round check and picked it up. Last pictures shows all three (Pre 28, No dash 28, and 28-2)

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Nice catch, Dino! And a good start on a set of every dash numbers.

The last I heard of it (and saw photos) it was living in Arizona.

Jack, it no longer resides with the AZ owner that allowed me to cuddle with it in 2014. He purchased it in AZ for a shooter price but didn't know what he had until he got home because he didn't have his reading glasses with him. A couple of years later, he sold it on gunbroker for about 8 times what he paid for it and I believe it left the state.

 

[Doug M.]

There was a long string about the discovery of the 28-1 back at that time. I'm sure some searching would find it. I'm not a collector nor into that kind of minutiae, and even I found the string interesting.

 

[PeteC]

...A couple of years later, he sold it on gunbroker for about 8 times what he paid for it and I believe it left the state.

Hmmm, maybe I should start bringing my reading glasses to gun shows...

 

[CA Escapee]

Not to steal the thread, but with all the experts gathered here, can anyone tell me approximately when my model 28 no dash left the factory? S/N S182428.

Thanks!

 

[PeteC]

...can anyone tell me approximately when my model 28 no dash left the factory? S/N S182428...

Most likely 1958. Possibly 1959.

 

[RKmesa]

Update, finally received back round check and picked it up. Last pictures shows all three (Pre 28, No dash 28, and 28-2)

Very nice collection of 4" HPs!!!

Thanks for sharing and congrats!

 

[KEN L]

Not to steal the thread, but with all the experts gathered here, can anyone tell me approximately when my model 28 no dash left the factory? S/N S182428.

Thanks!

Most likely Oct 1958, give or take a month or so.