Whatever finish it is, it doesn't look original to me. I think it was originally blue, but has been refinished in nickel.

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Misty

As I recall something like 55 nickel 4" 28s were made. Do you feel lucky?

S&W records say that 12 model 28-2 were produced in a satin nickel finish in 1972......only 12.....I have heard stories that there may be a "few" more that were salesman's samples......but there are always stories about that one special gun.....there is a nickel 28-2 for sale from one of our forum members....I believe it is listed at $4000.00+

I think i would pass on this one.

SEMPER FI

The salesmens sample story is a myth.
The 28-2s fron 1972 were all brushed nickel and there wasn't 12 of them, there were 54 of them.
Only 11 have ever been found and indentified as true nickel 28-2s.
The one in the picture is a re-nickel finish because the only other nickel 28s were in bright nickel for the Florida HP and they were all 5" guns.
We go over this every time a nickel 28 is found and every one has proven to be a fake so far.
Hope this helps to clarify.

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Dick

the "bible" 3rd edition states " 25 guns with 5" barrels with nickel finish, marked F.H.P. #32 thru #56 shipped in 1959, serial range #S189071-#S192687

Satin Nickel: a few (5) reported with satin nickel finish, reportedly
as sales sample for Adolph Blaick Inc.

I took the 12 number from the website that has one for sale.

SEMPER FI

Well, that "website" is just trying to hype the sale to drive the price up. We know there were 54 brushed nickel and the serial numbers have been documented.

Murphy2000, I think the story about Jinks not having the records 'til next year is bogus. All 54 were shipped within a week or two of each other in June of 1972 to 15 distributors. The only thing a letter would tell you that we don't already know is which distributor it was sent to.
If it is a true nickel the price would be more like $4950 not $950.

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Dick

Do you have a list of the documented serial numbers?

Other than the "N" that theoretically should be somewhere, is there a way to visually tell if it has been "re-nickeled."

Thanks for the responses.

NO Expert, but:
One of the clues on a refinish is how the gun was prepped. Look at the way there's a "trough" where the top of the sideplate fits to the frame- an indication that the parts were prepped/buffed by someone other than the factory. Buffing out the roll marks and stampings is also a giveaway.

The factory will mark the guns that they refinish.

Others will have more to add, I'm sure.

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