28-2 pricing craze seen first hand

[PA Guns & Ammo]

I bought my 28-2 6" just recently like new in the box without the original grips for $475. It could pass for new since their is barely a turn line on the cylinder. Now I'm looking for a 27 since I already have the 28 and 29

James

 

[SLT223]

You know what's really disgusting? About four years ago I passed on 4" HP wearing Coke Bottles in excellent condition for $498.

 

[Claysshotgunner]

Recently picked up one on Gunbroker in pretty good condition except for holster wear on the bluing at the end of barrel. Grips are not original. After shipping and transfer fee, I have $460 in it.

Shoots darn good too.

 

[gunny4053]

You know what's really disgusting? About four years ago I passed on 4" HP wearing Coke Bottles in excellent condition for $498.

You, Sir, get a time out.

 

[Axesbold]

Would like to offer up a public thanks to beagleye who, a couple of posts up, offered to tip us off to the 28-2 seen below. It's in great shape, good and tight. Apologies for the fuzzy pics, for some reason it was the best I could do with my phone. No B&P or other accesories. The service stocks are not numbered to the gun so I doubt they are original to it. Five bills, so 535 out the door with tax. So, Thanks beagleye!

 

[nsl]

Just to let you guys know there is a 28-2 4" in Arkansas on Armslist for $525.
About two hours from me, but I'm losing interest in revolvers for now.

 

[PA Guns & Ammo]

Just to let you guys know there is a 28-2 4" in Arkansas on Armslist for $525.
About two hours from me, but I'm losing interest in revolvers for now.

WHAT?!!! BAN THIS MAN!!

 

[gunny4053]

Would like to offer up a public thanks to beagleye who, a couple of posts up, offered to tip us off to the 28-2 seen below. It's in great shape, good and tight. Apologies for the fuzzy pics, for some reason it was the best I could do with my phone. No B&P or other accesories. The service stocks are not numbered to the gun so I doubt they are original to it. Five bills, so 535 out the door with tax. So, Thanks beagleye!

What's the serial number range? If it has an "N" serial number, those may be the original stocks. If I remember correctly, S&W stopped numbering the non-diamond magnas around the time they made the switch away from diamond magnas. Very nice firearm you have there.

 

[Watchdog]

Iwould pay only $450.00 in any condition. They are out there and maybe when dealers price them selves out of business,they still won't know why.

I don't know, but I kinda don't think dealers are going to price themselves out of business on vintage Smith & Wesson revolvers. And there are obviously lots of folks out there who will pay more...a good bit more...than $450.

Pricings are way out of line these days.

Well, they aren't out of line for the buyers who will pay.

As a wholesaler,if I find them at the rigt price from the factory or other wholesalers,I will buy.

Except there won't be any more new 28s coming out of the factory, right price or not...unless S&W decides to bring it back as one of their wannabe "classics".

 

[BigBill]

I remember for one or two decades back we never saw a used s&w, colt or ruger revolver at any lgs. Everyone was hanging on to them. I believe the ones we been seeing now are the orginal owners are either passing on or the ones who are left want to trade them in for plastic. It's like playing musical chairs with the older s&w revolvers. I wonder how long the game will last till they all find homes again. I think once the present offerings slow down the revolvers become more rare the prices will soar to the python level. I believe most of the new owners will try to cash in all over again. The vicious cycle will return and the game of the musical chairs will happen all over again. These selling cycles will drive the cost up?

 

[Axesbold]

Thanks gunny. It's N2502xx which per the SCSW puts it 74-77. I did some checking and you're right. It seems they stopped numbering sometime in the 70s. Didn't really find a definitive date though, if one exists. They fit well.

What's the serial number range? If it has an "N" serial number, those may be the original stocks. If I remember correctly, S&W stopped numbering the non-diamond magnas around the time they made the switch away from diamond magnas. Very nice firearm you have there.

 

[Axesbold]

While some pristine models may be experiencing a bubble it seems a good part off the used Smith supply chain may be permanently drying (dried) up and that is the police and institutional trades. Gun show tables were piled high with LEO guns in the nineties and it was easy to find them in the LGS. That was a huge supply of used guns for us which has been replaced by outstanding values on Glock 22s. Haven't seen a 150.00 model 10 in a while now. And if I do it will be an unusual occurrence rather than an everyday thing. I ain't no expert... trying to predict demand makes my head ache... just a thought on the state of supply.

 

[MajorDude]

I know some of us can remember when the 28 was considered sort of like a boat anchor.

Bill

+1
I'm glad I was buying 27s when the 28s hit $400.

 

[beagleye]

Would like to offer up a public thanks to beagleye who, a couple of posts up, offered to tip us off to the 28-2 seen below. It's in great shape, good and tight. Apologies for the fuzzy pics, for some reason it was the best I could do with my phone. No B&P or other accesories. The service stocks are not numbered to the gun so I doubt they are original to it. Five bills, so 535 out the door with tax. So, Thanks beagleye!

That's a beauty. I'm glad you got it so I can stop thinking about it.

I think that shop and the inventory changed hands. They recently had a "new management" sign up and the nice little shop keeper seems like he's really accepting all reasonable offers. There's a darned nice pre war M&P in there also all original, 90% +. Also marked $799 but I wouldn't be surprised if he came way down on it. I think he wants to move some inventory.

 

[blazelate]

I just got into smith revolvers and a 27/28 is at the top of my list. Unfortunately super tough to find in CA, and they're crazy expensive. Hope they're worth the 7-800$ when I do buy one. I need a k38 target and 29 as well.

 

[petewoodland]

Prices are relative

I bought my first model 28 in 1968 for $98.00. I wanted a model 27 but theywere $125.00. Even the 28 was great luxury for a kid making less than a hundred bucks a week. I still have it 46 years later and shoot it far more than than the "safe queen" presentation cased model 27 that came along much later in life. S&W N frames are a happy addiction.

Remember: Life is short, buy the gun!

 

[rwsmith]

Like almost everything....

Like almost everything when the craze dies down the prices will too, but never near what they were before Sandy Hook. And unfortunately there will still be people that will pay too high prices for them.

 

[Chukar60]

Don't know about Gunny's end of the state, but up here the only people who get those kind of prices are the LGS's. Try that with a private sale and they go begging. I think a lot of less than seasoned buyers keep the pricey Smiths moving at the LGS's.

 

[Wagonmaster]

I bought my first model 28 in 1968 for $98.00. I wanted a model 27 but theywere $125.00. Even the 28 was great luxury for a kid making less than a hundred bucks a week. I still have it 46 years later and shoot it far more than than the "safe queen" presentation cased model 27 that came along much later in life. S&W N frames are a happy addiction.

Remember: Life is short, buy the gun!

Sounds close to my experience, but my first M28 4" was in 1962-63 and got it for $65. Could have purchased a 6" at the same time for the same price but didn't want a 6". In the early 70's I purchased a M629 and a Colt Python, both 6", for a total of $700. Glad to have read this thread to have some idea what they are worth now.