28-2 Date of Manufacture?

[cmb3366]

Hello All, I have been a fan of newer Smith revolvers for a few years now and just purchased my first pinned and recessed centerfire, a 28-2 with 4" barrel. The serial is N5826XX, and I am guessing by features that it is a 70's gun, but I was curious if anyone out there could tell me what its year of manufacture was. Also, it's since left its box and gone shooting, which I don't think it had ever done before as my first few shots took a little bluing off the topstrap and front face of the barrel. The way I figure these guns were made to shoot and I was able to pick it up for less than a new 686 so why not

 

[Model52guy]

Cmb,
Per the SCSW, Your 28-2 is from late 1978 or early 79.
Your comment about blueing loss from the first shots seems a bit odd. Pictures of the areas on the top strap and barrel face may shed some light.
Regards

 

[cmb3366]

Before I fired the gun everything was pristine, this is after 200 rounds of 158gr SWC over 6.5gr HP-38 and a thorough cleaning including a lewis lead remover on the forcing cone. I was not alarmed, should I be?

 

[Model52guy]

IMHO it looks like leading on the forcing cone but also looks like flame cutting in the top strap. My old speer manual shows 5 gr max for HP38 behind 158 gr LSWC. With gas checks I guess you can load them a little hotter but you will still get leading.
You might try a good lead removing cloth on a small strip of wood around the forcing cone to see if it truly is blueing loss or just leading. I would be a little concerned if it is blueing loss, not leading.
The other item to check is the barrel gap with a feeler gauge (between the cylinder and the forcing cone). Ideally it should be .006"+_. I think SW specs probably allowed up to .010" back in the 70's.
Regards.

 

[Model52guy]

BTW, nice looking 28. Most of them you find for sale these days look like they were dragged behind a truck for a few miles. Hard to find one that nice.

 

[cmb3366]

Looking at the picture I posted and the gun in person, I realize my photography skills suck. A little digging on how to take a decent up-close picture rendered this, which is a spitting image of what I'm seeing in person. Aside from where the bronze patch of my Lewis tool hit the top strap, I think a better term would be faded bluing rather than removed.

 

[Model52guy]

Wow,
What a difference that photo makes. Looks fine to me. Wouldn't worry about it.
I try to keep my lead bullets down to around 950 fps max to minimize leading. Anytime you "get a little rough" trying to clean lead, you run the risk of blueing loss.
I mostly shoot my lead bullets in Dan Wessons and semi autos (model 52). Both, you remove the barrel for cleaning.
Regards

 

[cmb3366]

Many thanks for the info on date of manufacture, and I'm happy to hear I've got nothing to worry about in terms of premature wear. It's a shooter now, as accurate as I could ask for, and a little different than the run of the mill stuff you see at the range. I'm happy with it.

 

[Raider Rudy]

Beautiful handgun, great acquisition but pleeease get rid of those grips!

 

[cmb3366]

I don't care for the look of them but they fit my huge hands like they were custom made. Any suggestions on a nice looking set of grips for someone with big hands?

 

[KEN L]

Hello All, I have been a fan of newer Smith revolvers for a few years now and just purchased my first pinned and recessed centerfire, a 28-2 with 4" barrel. The serial is N5826XX, and I am guessing by features that it is a 70's gun, but I was curious if anyone out there could tell me what its year of manufacture was. Also, it's since left its box and gone shooting, which I don't think it had ever done before as my first few shots took a little bluing off the topstrap and front face of the barrel. The way I figure these guns were made to shoot and I was able to pick it up for less than a new 686 so why not

Your gun most likely shipped Jan/Feb time frame 1981.

 

[bananaman]

I don't care for the look of them but they fit my huge hands like they were custom made. Any suggestions on a nice looking set of grips for someone with big hands?

Welcome to the FORUM! Good looking 28 you have there! There are some people that will criticize any stocks that are not exactly right to the gun. If they work for you...excellent! The Herrett stocks on it are quite comfortable to me. I have 4 sets of them. 1 set is on my 28 no dash. Enjoy your 28! Bob

 

[griff1955]

Cmb,
Per the SCSW, Your 28-2 is from late 1978 or early 79.
Your comment about blueing loss from the first shots seems a bit odd. Pictures of the areas on the top strap and barrel face may shed some light.
Regards

Can you help me? Mine is. 28-2, N222420...year it was made? Thanks