28-2 HP high polish refinish??

[Model29-26.5]

Definitely looks like it had to be a refinish, even though I have been told it is original by the seller.
Did they ever make a 28–2 with a high polish??
I thought The bead blast was one of the reasons it was the less expensive Version of a 27?

With this said, I have have a polished blue 4” 28-2 refinish With some non-original parts that I actually quite like, So this would pair up with it nicely.

Any thoughts on that finish?
I also got a close-up of the roll mark. Looks a little weaker on the left side like it has been polished out some?
It also has a red ramp sight which is not original as far as I am aware, But I like a red ramp site so the price is right….

Thanks

 

[Old_Cop]

Looks nice, could be you will corner the market!

 

[murphydog]

Hard to be sure without an in-person exam. The model 28s showed varying degrees of polishing, from semi-bright to pretty dull.

The photos don't show the bottom of the trigger guard and frame, but with every HP I've seen these areas were matte blue. If someone refinished this one they would have been tempted to polish up those areas.

Also, the upper part of image 3 looks like someone tried to machine a Picatinny rail into the barrel. That is not right.

 

[sodacan]

It looks refinished just by looking at the fit of the sideplate. Also, if the top of the frame and barrel rib match the rest of the gun, that would be a dead giveaway that it was re-blued.

 

[Richard Simmons]

Hard to be sure without an in-person exam. The model 28s showed varying degrees of polishing, from semi-bright to pretty dull.

The photos don't show the bottom of the trigger guard and frame, but with every HP I've seen these areas were matte blue. If someone refinished this one they would have been tempted to polish up those areas.

Also, the upper part of image 3 looks like someone tried to machine a Picatinny rail into the barrel. That is not right.

Looks like the photo has been photoshopped to remove the background from the original photo.

 

[moralem]

Go see it, if the price is right, and you like it then what is the big deal, buy it. You’re not looking at it for collector value.

 

[sophie]

I agree it looks like the pictures have been altered by removing the backgrounds as Richard Simmons mentioned above.
I see the same thing murphydog is seeing on the underside of the barrel. The edges are wavy, irregular and not distinct, which happens trying to eliminate original background.
The gun does look more polished than most Model 28’s and I like the red ramp sight.

 

[stansdds]

I agree, the side plate seam does not appear to be tight and some of the roll marks on the frame and S&W seal appear to be shallow in some spots. I'd put my money on this one being refinished.

 

[bobsguns]

Encyclopedia doesn't say anything about a 28 being polished from the factory. Some were made in satin & polished nickel, but always satin blue.

But, as already mentioned, if you like it & the price, buy it.

 

[DR505]

Comparison photos for you of a 1969 28-2:

 

[rubiranch]

I think my M28-2's original finish looks OK.






But it doesn't have that nice blue finish that my 1960 M27 has.

I couldn't tell if the OPs was refinished or not.

 

[Model29-26.5]

A stunner, though

 

[Wyo]

Mine went back to the factory for a refinish. The patridge front sight with gold bead was added later. It isn’t original any more but, frankly, I like it better than the rather ordinary 4” HP.

 

[Retired W4]

You mentioned bead blast finish being the reason it was less expensive. The sides of the frame, barrel and cylinder were not bead blasted. They just did not get the same treatment on the polishing wheel as the M-27. The bead blast portion of the HP consist of the outer edges of the frame from the front of the yoke area down under the trigger guard, the outer face of the grip frame and up around the hammer. Also the inside of the trigger guard, the barrel rib and top frame strap. The gun pictured below was shipped to Evaluators Limited June 9, 1954 and I have it sitting on the table in front of me. Picture #4 illustrates the difference in finish on the grip frame up to just aft of the hammer and on the area along side the hammer.

Hopefully someone with inside knowledge of the process at the factory can better explain how these two distinctly different surfaces were applied. I use the term "bead blast" for those areas for lack of a better term but I know the sides of the frame, barrel and cylinder were not bead blasted.

 

[Model29-26.5]

These photos don’t really show much of a difference between the two, but one is more polished than the other.
Pretty sure it was a refinish.
I’ll get some better pictures