With all the rage for the model 27 in 3-1/2" barrel, has anyone cut a 4" model 28 to 3-1/2"? Although the model 28 has reached it's own status as an affordable N frame is this a doable project and does anyone have one to show? Also for the front sight how much higher will the new front sight have to be for the shortened barrel
Thanks in advance for any replies or pertinent information.

My experience with cutting an N-frame clone from 6” to 3” was that the front sight needed to be *lower*, not higher.

I get the urge for something specific, but for me 1/2” wouldn’t be worth the work.

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Uvidíme se později, aligátore.

If it were mine, I would leave it as is.

Why not just buy a m-27, 3.5" barre? Leave the m-28 alone.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Don’t do it. 28’s are 28’s for a reason. Agree, with the 27 3.5” advice but be ready to pay for it.

I can't see the amount of work vs the gain of trimming a 1/2''. But, If I wanted a 3 1/2" Model 28 I would start with a 6" barrel. Easier to come by, you could cut of the whole ramp and front sight turn it over machine it to have a "key" on the bottom. Then make a slot in the rib of cut down portion to have a good mount up.

Lot of work to loose a 1/2" though.

If you do it, you’ll end up with a gun that most will see as Buba’s weekend project.

All of steelslaver's points are right on! The other side of this is why would you want to spend $300 or so to change a $1000+/- revolver into a $600 dollar gun that no one else would probably want!

The fact is that any 4" S&W revolver barrel can vary from as much as 1/8" longer to 1/4" shorter that nominal length. Would you want to "cut" the barrel to realize only a 1/2" change that could actually be as little as 1/4" to 1/8"? There is absolutely no utility in shortening a 4" barrel to Sure 3 1/2"at all! Can it be done, sure!

Now that is a project that will cost a bundle and take all the value out of your gun. Sell or trade your 28 on a 27 in your chosen barrel length and be done with it.

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S&W factory revolver armorer

3.5 inch 27 barrel on a 28.....makes this a 27 and a half????

Attached Images

3.5.jpg (108.4 KB, 48 views)

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Even older, even crankier....

I concede, it was just a random thought. The 3-1/2" barrel model 27's just seem to be rare as hens teeth in my area. So that got me thinking & that can be a dangerous thing sometimes.
But I do want to thank everyone who replied.

I seem to recall seeing one here that had been converted to 44special. That would be a cool project

I do have several model 28s and a pre model Highway Patrolmen, a 3 1/2" 44 special barrel as well as a 44 special reamer