My dad was a California Highway Patrol Motorcycle Officer and before he passed on he presented me with his service revolver which is in great condition but shows holster wear for the 25 years he was with them. It is a model 28-2 and says Highway Patrol on the barrel and the barrel is 6" and colored with a Blue finish. I do not know much about this particular model and hoping someone can tell me more about it . It has three screws holding down the side plate. Dr Dave

I'm no expert, but the Model 28 Highway Patrol in 4" was my first duty gun issued to me back in 1975. It was a fine revolver and you are lucky to have your father's. It had the distinct advantage of still being a formidable club once it was empty.

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Loyalty Above All.. but Honor

It is THE 357 magnum. Not the prettiness, but a work horse that will take lifetimes of full blown magnum rounds and keep on working. Being as it is from your father and is a representation of his career, it is a piece of serious family history that should be passed down through the generations.

Welcome to the forum.

That was S&W's utility grade .357. They were not polished as well as S&W's other revolvers, and as you can see the top, front, back, bottom and trigger guard were given a dull finish that looks like bead blasting. It is the common one of only two adjustable sighted models that do not have serrated barrel ribs and rear sights. They were introduced in 1954 as the Highway Patrolman and all of them were stamped with that name. In 1957 they were given the additional name Model 28.

Despite their utility finish they have become very popular with collectors. A screw visible on the front top of the trigger guard, the 4th screw in collector terms, was deleted in 1961. Dash 2 signifies it has that upgrade. If you post its serial number less the last two or three digits someone will be along with an approximate production date.

Washington State Patrol issued Model 28s and pre-28s for decades. California Highway Patrol's six inch .38 Specials are more famous among collectors.

Working guns are the best kind. Whether it's an old 30-30 off the family ranch, or in your case, a S&W Highway Patrolman service revolver.

Keep it clean and wiped down and whenever you get a chance, take it to the range and run through a box of "Magnums."

The Model 28-2 is very popular and true handgun aficionados will enjoy seeing it at the range. Your father gave you a very special piece of his life, I'm very moved by the jesture and glad to hear he, "gave with a warm hand," as all heirlooms should be passed down.

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Hi Dr. Dave:

Welcome to the Forum. My condolences on the loss of your father.

My guess is you don't plan on refinishing or restoring your Model 28 - I wouldn't either if I were in your place. My recommendation would be to clean the outer surfaces, and then degrease them using isopropyl alcohol , or mineral spirits, or acetone, and then apply a couple of coats of a good wax. I've used Turtle Wax on my firearms for over 50 years without any problems, or even the slightest hint of rust. I usually wax them twice a year when they also get a detailed cleaning and lube job.

Regards,

Dave

Welcome to the FORUM! You are sure to enjoy shooting the HP! I have a 6 incher from 1960. It was my 1st G.B. purchase some years back. Not 1 I will get rid of. Since there are no pictures yet.......... Mine. Bob

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Welcome to the forum Doc! I've been retired from the CHP for 5 years, but I did not ride a motor. I also have a model 28-2 but I just bought it last month. It's a true classic with a respected cult following. There is a lot of info on this forum. My sincerest condolances to you & your family. I consider your father a brother & I feel your sorrow. If you feel like it, send me a private message with information about your father. I may have known him. I also connect with a lot of retirees & we pass on the information statewide. May God bless

Searching for info and his thread came up.

This is my model 28-2. Back in the early '70s my brother let me take if for several years and he asked for it back when I moved out of state in the mid '80s.

He used to melt lead tire weights and reload all his own ammo and he would sell me boxes of 50 rounds of .357 mag for $3 a box. Wish I could buy it for that today.

I used this gun to hunt rabbits and I know that I have shot several thousand rounds thru it.

A couple of years ago he gave it to me to keep along with a .38 Airweight and told me that I was the only one who had ever shot the 357. I really can't remember if it was new when he first lent it to me years ago or not.

The 38 Airweight was his backup gun that he carried for years while he was in law enforcement.

He put the Pachmayr grips on it for me because he said they would be better than the wood grips for hunting rabbits.

I really love this gun and after reading the previous posts I'm embarrassed that its as dirty as it is.

I will take care of that and thank you for all your info.

I have no idea just how old it is. The serial number is N529XXX.

Sometime between 1978 and 80.

I would have sworn I got it earlier than that but apparently not.

I'll blame that on '70s damage.

thank you for the info

I grew up in CA and I recall the CHP officers could carry a personally owned 38 or a 357 as long as they qualified with it. At work one day there was a barricaded subject in a house down the street and city PD and CHP arrived. When the subject opened fire so did all the cops. City PD officers had 38s and the CHP guys had Magnums.

Here's what the gunfire sounded like from 200 yards away: boon...boom...boom...BOOM...boom...boom...boom...boom...BOOM...boom...boom...boom...BOOM...

BTW-Tragic outcome. The barricaded subject was actually a sheriff's deputy with emotional problems. He had killed his girlfriend and he killed the first cop to arrive but nobody realized it until it was all over and they found the officer slumped on the front seat of his cruiser and a bullet hole through the side window.

Anyway, after the Newhall Shooting in 1970 the CHP mandated all officers carry the same sidearm. They choose a 6" S&W in 38 Special because some officers couldn't handle the recoil of the 357s and didn't shoot them well. A special order S&W in stainless with a shrouded ejector rod dubbed the Model 68 was issued.

Are you sure your dad carried the 28-2 for 25 years? Seems like he could not have had it before 1962 when the 28-2 came out and by 10 years later the agency required everyone to give up their 357s. No matter, a great memento to have.

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No life story has happy end.

I just read the last comment about some folks not being able to handle the recoil of a .357 Mag.

I know this is a little off topic but here's one of my daughters shooting my 640 with magnum loads.

She really didn't like it either.

She did a great job keeping the revolver downrange. Good job dad.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

A. Your daughter is hilarious, and B. 640s have made grown men cry when shooting magnums. Good for her for firing what she did! And good for you for getting her to the range!

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Even older, even crankier....

My Model 28 is one of my favorites.



shipped 11/62

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

Thank you Targets Guy and A10. None of my girls have shot much but they want to learn and get their own handgun. I am also wanting them to get their CWPs even if they don't carry. I think the educational part being taught in the class is very valuable.

This is another one of my daughter's shooting my 28-2 with magnum loads the same night.

The biggest problem they have is their hands aren't strong enough to full-pull the triggers. They're just little girls.

I'm in the process of trying to find the right handguns for each of them.

We only had 3 revolvers and a 9mm that night. The 9mm was giving us problems so we spent most of the time shooing .38 loads.

You should treat that gun like the treasure it is.

Thank you and I'm going to.

I've ordered and bore snake and I have some cleaning stuff given to me by a late friend who was a big into guns.

Until I saw this thread I never realized what I had. Its my favorite hand gun for sure.

The night I took my daughters to the shooting range was the night my brother gave it to me. It has lots of sentimental value to me.

on edit - I'm going to do my best to find the original grips - my brother never threw anything out.