Need direction in value of a 1978 28-2 6" in 99% condition. Has red ramp front sight. Grips are Pachmayr. Appreciate your opinions……Lou

800- 1000 these days easily- with no box or factory grips- more to the top end in my opinion.

Check under the rubbers. They collect moisture. $700+ is fair.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

I'd say around $800, given that it does not have its original stocks. Less if there is corrosion beneath the rubber stocks.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

I would say if you get it ditch the Goodyears and search for a set of original grips. I think the value is lessened by the cost of a set of OEM grips and be sure to check for corrosion which might lower it further. The gun is worth maybe $800 with factory grips - go from there.

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S&WHF #946
S&WCA #3824

Not long ago I figured that used 28-2’s with 6” barrels were $500 guns and they were plentiful.

Nowadays, I see them offered for $300+ more and they’re not as frequently encountered as they used to be.

I’m still stuck on M28’s being $500 guns so your example would have to be pretty spectacular for me to think about it as an $800 gun.

The rubber grips are exponentially more practical for shooting; the hotter the loads you want to shoot, the more true this is. When I first got into shooting in the late 70s, it was the norm to pitch the wood grips and go with rubber for any serious use. That paradigm is still valid.

The moisture/corrosion issue is not trivial, but is easily checked and corrected.

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NHI, 10-8.

No way I am letting mine go for 800 bucks…..

The feedback is much appreciated and many thanks to everyone….Lou

mine was just at $500 back in 2011... box matching grips.. a today price around here is probably $700-$800 they will ask $950... I will take $850 blurts out quickly.. then the dance begins

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Just paid a grand for a 28 no dash with Diamond targets at a lgs. Couldn’t pass it up. I see -2 going for a grand at Cabelas pretty consistently also.

Sounds like a good deal on the no dash. Cabella's is always high. They must sell them to someone.

I was buying N-Frames at Cabella's all day long for $400 a decade or so ago, but those days are gone.

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You're shy a few manners.

Agree about cabelas, but if you check Guns International there pricing is about the same. Yes those days are long gone, seems like anything in real good shape is over a grand. My thought is if you like it, buy it. Somebody walking in store after you leave might just take it. You might feel it should be priced $150 cheaper, but what’s a $150 these days. I mean a big Mack meal is 14-15 bucks now. Is it worth it..no, but ya still buy it. Bright side is you won’t feel sick after buying a gun.

For some reason, Model 28-2s with 6" bbl. are not as popular as those with the 4" bbl. and tend to be valued slightly lower. However, times are changing and the values of all S&W N-frame revolvers are climbing...it's hard to find an all matching original N-frame for under $1K. What is interesting to me is that you say the HP has a red ramp front sight, which would be extremely unusual. HPs all had Baughman Quick Draw front sights (without an insert). The SCSW 4th Ed. says that only a couple of special orders for State Police units had red ramp front sights. Is the barrel of that 28-2 stamped "Highway Patrolman"? Does it have any "WSP" or "NYSP" stamps? If so, may be a rare and collectable revolver. If not, the bbl. may have been swapped with a Model 27 barrel. If it is just a standard 28-2 with the Pachmayrs, I think that revolver is worth about $850. If it's State Police stamped, it could greatly increase the value.

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Wow I really got a deal on my 6" 28-2. $75 new in the box. Been a few years ago though. Oct of 1966

Hawg Rider…..appreciate the head’s up and will check when it lands at my dealer.

alwslate………you beat me. Mine was a 4" NIB not long after your purchase
and if memory serves me it was $98.50. Best to forget those numbers.

Consider what a new Smith goes for these days, upward of $1,000 and there have a hillery hole and are full of MIM parts. Just look at how beautifully finished the 28’s are and how the new smiths aren’t finished nearly as nicely. What can you buy new for $800-1,000? I’d seriously consider it at $800 but I wouldn’t take a grand for mine.

Edit: I noticed you’re looking at a 78. The one I have is a 78 as well although a 4”. I bought it new and found the receipt not long ago and found that I paid $177 in 78.

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Maybe I paid too much, as after tax and shipping the pre M28 4" I bought was near $1,200. The gun is as new, unfired, and all numbers match including the stocks. Big Larry

I recently bought a pretty nice M28-2....About 6 months ago, it came from a private seller here in Florida who we have had deals in the past.

Mine has very light turn ring with little to no holster wear....1978 vintage. No box, but he threw in a box of Hornady .357 magnum. I like the M28 and I have grown fond of the more satin finish than that of an M27.

Price was $550. I think I did fine.

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I would have made that deal. That's just what prices are now. Especially when it includes tax and shipping (and possibly FFL fees.)

Sometimes you just have to pay the piper (or in this case, the whole orchestra!)

More than just fine.
Pictures are pretty dark so hard to tell, but I'm thinking it's been reblued? (Trigger and possibly hammer look blued). If so, still a great deal. Also looks like someone overdid the varnish on the Target Stocks.

If not a reblue, you paid the 2010 price.

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You're shy a few manners.

The pics are a little dark. I took them inside...Totally original finish on metal and the gun had probably really been taken care of, but someone had put these silly looky period Jay Scott black stag grips on it....

I bought this parts kit from a 27-2 that had N frame targets on it, (see in pics below)...Frankly, I thought the grips were trashed, but with a lot of careful work, they turned out pretty good...The 27-2 had been laying in a wet armory floor before being demilled and I bought it as a parts kit. The 27 was target hammer, trigger and stocks and strangely, the bore was a mirror.

I sold the 27 kit and the Jay Scott grips on Ebay which got all of my money back and it took a week of gentle work to make them look like this now....At least the grips were resurrected from that Police buy-back armory where they had laid for 5 years in water...From the serial numbers I gathered from it, the 27 had a ship date of around 1972, so it's older than my 1978 28-2.

I would imagine that my 28-2 originally came with magnas, but since the gun was so nice and all it needed was decent period grips and I already had these, that's the path I took.

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For what you just described, that's fine! More than fine.

I've had mine since '79 when I was 25 years old, bought it new from Ron Peterson's in ABQ NM. it is an "N" prefix 6", shot very little, no turn line even evident. It normally wears the Pachmayrs. I paid around $185 for it, a buddy and I each bought one, he still has his too! I carried it hunting for a few years, even dispatched an Elk with it.

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I kinda like the 6 inch better than my 4....I know I have read that 4 inch M28's usually bring a little more in like condition, but I think your 6 inch fits the frame a little better.

Picked the 6" 28-2 that left the factory in April 1978. It is pristine! If it has been shot then very few rounds have been run through it. The rear sight is typical of the M 28. The barrel is marked as most 28’s are. No other markings save for some very light etching on the grip frame ( see photos ) that are difficult to read. It is a fine example of the M 28.
My total cost, including shipping and transfer fees, is $760.00

In this day and age, I think you did very well....I like the 6 inch version too.

You did good for $750! I'd say the crudely scratched numbers on the grip frame were done by a previous owner.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

I have a pair of S-prefix 28s and love 'em! The 6" is a mint 4-screw no dash from 1959/60, and has the smoothest action I have ever felt on an S&W. The 4" is a dash 2 from '63/'64 and went back to the factory for a complete makeover a number of years ago. Wouldn't let go of either.

Great couple of 28’s. Understand why you would not let them go. Beauty’s!

Very nice HPs and Model 28s, but I'm still confused about the red insert in the front sight. To the best of my knowledge, HPs did not have colored inserts in the Baughman front sight. Were the inserts factory installed as an option, or were they added as a later modification? Any ideas?

I think you did very well, gun is in great shape, I can't see a turn line. You should look for a set of walnut magna stocks, which were the standard factory issue on M28's.

SCSW mentions red ramp and white outline sights, but were usually on police-ordered and purchased guns (Washington State Patrol and NYSP). In the historical data paragraph it doesn't mention the RR or WO in the details.

Mine is a 1973 vintage (N189xxx), I paid a premium 5 years ago, and at the time had no turn line. I shoot this one more than any of my S&W's. Love the balance. Mine has a smooth .400" combat trigger and feels the best of all my S&W's.

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Like you say something has been changed here. I have seen these revolvers for years and I do not recall ever seeing one with a colored sight insert. Perhaps an owner modification?

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S&WHF #946
S&WCA #3824

The NYSP 28 came from the factory with red insert, many also had the white outline rear-at one time I had 4 in my collection, all purchased in 1985. It’s a relatively easy mod and many ‘smiths did/do the insert as well as them returned to S&W to have it done.

Glad I got mine long ago when they were $225.00 NIB.

I installed a RR/WO sights. A smooth Ranger trigger & target hammer in my 4 in. Did it myself.......Left the 6 in natural.

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S&W Accumulator

Top to bottom
Highway Patrolman 4” (Pre 28)
Model 28’s ND 4” & 6”
Model 28-2’s 4” & 6”



All 28-2’s LE Stamped
Top to bottom
Washington State Patrol 4” & 6”
DPS (Likely TX) refinished and NYSP



I missed out on a SFPD 28-2 recently

Could you take a pic of the 4 inch WSP stamping? If it's an original WSP gun it's a bit unusual. All of the one's I'm familiar with were 6 inch guns.

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Even older, even crankier....

I will in a moment
It’s on my list to letter as well…

…is on opposites sides of frame








4” serial bottom

Back when M-28s were working tools and not treasured collectables I had a green insert added to my S-series 4" along with Mustang rubber finger groove grips. I sold the diamond magnas and threw away the box. The rear sight blade broke off and was replaced with a white outline. After about 15 years of faithful service I sold or traded it. There was a significant amount of blue wear, but no rust. I felt like I broke even and was thankful to be alive to do it.

The purists can shudder, but it served the purpose for which it was purchased.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

I have a 6" that was made '54/'55 that I have said the same thing about. It is so smooth.

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You're shy a few manners.

Very nice Model 28 OP. The red ramp was not standard, but it could be ordered that way. Because I was only 90 miles from the factory, I used to take all my revolvers to the factory for the red ramp and other mods. They did this for free if you were a LEO.

Your price at 760 all in was fine. That gun is 900-1K IMO. I had 7 examples, but gave one away and sold 2. I now have 2@ 4" and 2 @ 6" all S prefix 1961 to 1966 I believe.

They are a plain Jane M27 and a working man's gun

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

Like Narragansett above - back in the 70s/ 80s I also took revolvers to Factory for same day service as LEO. No charge. Drop revolver off, go have lunch and tour the Springfield Armory museum and go back to pick it up. And they usually offered a set of grips from the blister pack carousel on the counter. But I liked my Pachmyers …. Who knew … !!!! Home by 5.
I’m hoping to acquire this 6” when my friends estate is settled. I took it to Smith for trigger work and the red ramp.

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