28-2 boxed! 800 (952 after T and F) decent enough deal

[Model29-26.5]

Had to get a Highway Patrolman. 4”.
Real clean.
Import marked. Boxed.
I’m going to call the seller today in ND to find out a little bit about the import marks.
This particular guy seems to get a lot of imports marked.
Maybe as it’s close to the Canadian border?
Or would that be service men overseas coming back in?
How does that usually work?
Nevertheless. I needed a cop’s gun for the collection. Seemed the other bidders just didn’t want to go over $800.


Just a moment...

 

[Hair Trigger]

That's a very clean M28-2. The SN puts it maybe as early as 1969, more likely 1970.

Not sure if the stocks are original, M28's normally came with walnut magna stocks instead of Target size, but those look great.

Probably not from Canada, they melt guns instead of exporting them.

 

[Retired W4]

Ulm (German) proof marks. Good looking 28-2. I think you did OK on the price.

 

[minconrevo]

Don't think I've ever seen a European civilian-owned US made gun that showed much use. Seems like they sit on the wall over there a lot more than they are shot. The European civilians take good care of their guns to boot.

 

[gmarshall99]

I’ve bought from them before. Great seller.

 

[22hipower]

Quite a few guns, no idea how many but a lot, moved to US servicemen, yeah, mostly men then, through Rod & Gun clubs in Germany (and probably elsewhere). Sometimes these had German proofs, sometimes they didn't. I bought a 27-2 at the EUCOM R&G in Stuttgart in 1974 and it has no German proof marks. Also bought a Model 14-3 that was NIB but had German proofs. No idea how the R&Gs sourced their S&W inventory but it was not unusual to see German proof marks. Bought a Browning Superposed about the same time that they ordered direct from the factory in Liege, Belgium and no German proofs on that one.

At the time it was very difficult for German citizens to own handguns so I think many/most of those that came through R&G clubs went back to the US in household goods and eventually re-entered the US domestic market.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Bald1]

What is the consensus on proof marks affecting value ? OP has a fine looking gun there. Would it have brought much more without the marks?
I think they’re neat. Adds to the history.

 

[ameridaddy]

That's a like new gun, not a mark I could see anywhere, book-matched stocks, with box and all the accessories - I think you did very, very well.

 

[Model29-26.5]

What is the consensus on proof marks affecting value ? OP has a fine looking gun there. Would it have brought much more without the marks?
I think they’re neat. Adds to the history.

I’m not sure.
I wasn’t even sure if they bothered me or added to the history as you say.
It’s not like it’s scratched or damaged. It’s an official stamp so I guess it’s different.
I did call the guys there in Minot ND. Imports are their thing.

 

[Model29-26.5]

That's a like new gun, not a mark I could see anywhere, book-matched stocks, with box and all the accessories - I think you did very, very well.

Thanks! I didn’t see a mark apart from the import stamps. Kinda cool I guess.
I’ll shoot it some. Not a ton. I have a 27-2 shooter but I did want a 28 for the history of being a budget police version.
Plus I didn’t have a 4” N frame when first bidding on this.
Cool chunk of steel

 

[Truckman]

I did want at 28 for the history of being a budget police version.

A very good score on that blossoming collection of yours...I think I've winnowed my examples of the Highway Patrolman models down to just the S-prefixed examples including the -2 versions, but that N-prefixed beauty would have easily found a place in my safe...

I'm reminded now of all the missed opportunities I had at the Rod & Gun club at Spangdahlem AB when I opted to invest my GI paycheck in nickel beer night instead of the gun counter where I would at least have some memories......Ben

 

[Model29-26.5]

A very good score on that blossoming collection of yours...I think I've winnowed my examples of the Highway Patrolman models down to just the S-prefixed examples including the -2 versions, but that N-prefixed beauty would have easily found a place in my safe...

I'm reminded now of all the missed opportunities I had at the Rod & Gun club at Spangdahlem AB when I opted to invest my GI paycheck in nickel beer night instead of the gun counter where I would at least have some memories......Ben

I’m lucky that it’s SW in particular, P and R with the shrouded cylinder rod that is my particular interest and focus otherwise I’d want the rest.
I figure maybe I’ll get a Colt 45 1911, I want a Cimarron Tuco (my favorite movie character) and maybe a model 48 as I don’t have a 22 mag.
A 66 6”, 29-2 in 4” and 8 3/8 and I’m done. We shall see.
My needs are few

 

[Retired W4]

Speaking of the Rod & Gun Clubs, a friend of mine went to Germany after Vietnam and bought a Superposed Lightning. It was a salt wood gun. He sent it back to Browning and they really fixed it up. I sold it for him a couple years ago for $2300. Ft. Hood had the best R&G Club I have seen with plenty of pistol, rifle and shotgun ranges.

I think everyone should own at least one Highway Patrolman. No two, a 4" and a 6".

This one was sent to Evaluators Ltd., Quantico, VA on June 9, 1954 so they could break it in for me. That's less than two months after introduction. I would say that is pretty early in production.

 

[Bruceboy]

If you're looking for German proof marks, look very carefully. I have a 29-2 and had it for a couple of years before I discovered that what I thought was a nick on the extractor shroud was actually a German proof mark. Couldn't tell with the naked eye.

Good luck with your Model 28,

Al

 

[LostintheOzone]

I sent 4 or 5 firearms home from Morocco in 1970. I purchased those at the base exchange and mailed them FPO. They came into the country and left the country without any local government involvement. So no proof marks. I think proof marks are an indication that a citizen or government of that country imported the firearm. Just a guess.

 

[Dvus]

Looking at the label on the box, this HP originally shipped with magnas, but I have always preferred targets on my square butt N frames, and that is a nice set of targets. Congratulations. I don't think the proof marks detract much, if any, from the value. It's a testament to the gun's travels and a part of it's individual history. Kinda like that certain scar that bears testimony to that great story from years ago. Not everybody has them, but those that do wouldn't change a thing.