My local pawn/gunstore has a model 28 Highway Patrolman with a 4 inch pinned barreland recessed cylinder. I saw it in the case yesterday and I love the satin finish. I have never been a fan of standard blued guns but matte or satin or stainless is what I prefer. No offense to anybody just my preference. I didn't have him get the gun out because the store was very busy and I was on lunch break. Just looking from about a foot away through the glass it appeared to be in very good shape. His sticker price is always high but he loves to negotiate. He had 750 on the tag but from my experience with him if I ask he'll say 600 or 650 and then I'll counter offer. My question is I am not sure of the value. I know there are a lot of variables and I would examine it closer of course but I just don't even know where to go on an offer. I know him pretty well and he knows what he has especially Smith and Wesson revolvers. I have the Standard catalog of S&W downloaded on my phone for reference but since the last publication was several years ago the values seem low to me. They list a model 28 ANIB as only 475. Just judging from what I've seen from S&W revolver prices that seems low. I know area has a lot to do with value as well but I am looking for a ballpark figure. Thanks for the help guys.

He's about $200 too high. Offer him that!

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Dick

$450-$500 in good shape.

In my area a LGS asking $750 for a 28 would be an outrage. As the experts will tell you shortly it's all based on three things, condition, condition, condition.
I do not have a 28. I'd like one but I sure wouldn't pay close to $750 for one. I'm not an expert but in my area when you do find one it would go for about $400-$550 based on any of the above three criteria.
Len

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Endeavor to persevere

In Ohio 98% or better no box or documents $500.00 to $600.00. 28'S are addicting.

Yeah I know his sticker price is too high it always is but he always drops the price but I was thinking 5-600 but I wasn't really sure. I'll have to see what he will take for it.

Just as another price reference point, I paid $600 plus tax, etc. (for a total just shy of $650) for my ANIB with all the goodies 4" 28 about a year ago - also from a LGS. First I had seen in that condition up close and for sale in years. I wouldn't trade this "Plain Jane" S&W for a $2,000 Python, so I guess perceived value and asking price are still pretty relative things in life.

$750 for a model 28? Crazy...

I will chime in and say the price is too high. Locally, if you can find one in the 4" model, they are going for $525 to $600 in really good conditon with no box.

I just bought a 6" 28-2 SN N2094XX in the box yesterday in VGC. One very little spot of freckles at the sight, a bit of holster rub right at the muzzle and a very faint cyl ring. Out the door $ 535 (after tax) from my LGS. He also thru in a box of Critical Defense Ammo. Hope that helps!

Not to hog the post but....can anyone put a date on this? I thought I saw the old post a while back but I can't find it today (strictly user error)!!!! Thanks!

N200000 1974.

You'd be lucky to get one here for 750.00 bucks...and then you'd never be able to register it without taking it to the Cave of the Gun Fairy and have wave her magic wand and give the arm a miraculous caliber and model change, as well as the refinish...which would add another chunk of change bringing your grand total to around 1,000.00 bucks.

It all depends on where you are and the availability on the market as to what something is worth, I guess. But for 750.00 bucks, around here, a Model 28 wouldn't be "on sale" for very darn long.

I know I can get it for much less than 750 I think he likes to price everything high so it looks like he's giving you a great deal by dropping 100-125 off of the price. It's just how he does business and I'm used to it I just wanted a good counter offer to throw at him. It doesn't look like this gun was ever carried.

Go buy it. Shoot it. Take good care of it. Enjoy it.
rayb

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"cumplo pero no obedezco"

5-6 around here would be normal. If you can afford it and you want it, don't worry about it.

If it is really a 28 and original, buy it. If it is 28-2, offer $550.

5 bills sounds about right. It would be Ok at 550, and I'd have a hard time paying 6 for it.

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Even older, even crankier....

This one was $450.



Offer him $500 and see where that leads. Good Luck

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SFC, US Army, Retired

I think I know who you are talking about, if you want you can PM me I have a 28-2 4" I might consider selling its about a 90% shooter, no box or goodies.

Paid $350 OTD less than a year ago for this one.



But the Goodyears had to go, so now it looks like this.



Keep looking, they're still out there...................

Oh, I like your "after" photo much, much better!!! The gun looks a lot happier!
Jack

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

A few very short years ago model 28's were considered pedestrian, work horses for daily holster carry and sold for 50% less most of the time than their highfalutin sisters, the 27's.

Then came the internet, the lock, MIM parts, and a sea change in the attitude about values on guns that are not produced any more and likely never will be again.

I think the price stated to the OP is high, even for Kalifornistan and places like that in the netherworld of regulatory paradises; but those who still buy decent serviceable N frames of any kind for less than $500 are either living in a time warp area of the country where folks just don't get out much or sleep on beds of four leaf clovers and ride their unicorns to work.

Yeah, we all groan at and envy the occasional poster who comes here to brag about the pre 29 he snagged for $300 bucks from his buddy at work, but those are well and truly the aberrations these days and certainly not indicative of the the skewed but current true market value of the old (pre-lock) N
frames. And to those who seem to think this is a 'bubble' and are waiting for those prices to come back down to "reasonable" levels . . . good luck with that . . . .

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Qui plantavit curabit

S&W Model 28-2 357 4" and Model 29-2 44 mag 4" are the best buy on the market today. Think about it, any new production revolver or pistol with any interest will run $800. These Smith's are going to explode in value over the next few years, especially for a clean or unfired one.

$450 - recently? I'm drooling right now... Nice!

Not real recently, March of last year. My LGS has another, but "N" serial numbered, and they're asking $600 for it. I'm sure $550 would take it home, but that price has been on it for the last 6 months.

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SFC, US Army, Retired

Aren't the 4" barrels worth more than the 6" barrels?

IMO, typically they are and prolly even so three years ago.