border patrol model 28-2?

[lug1]

Lets try again. Has anybody heard of a factory stainless 28-2 4" .357? It is supposed to be a 70's model issued to the border patrol in limited quantity. My buddy traded for it and its not in the book. I am skeptical and now so is he. Anybody got anything on this? Can get the s/n don't have it at the moment.
LUG
ps
below i added 2 find examples of Sethro's n frame gun porn! Not to be outdone I also added a pic of my n frame florida highway patrolman one of 25 made. enjoy

 

[Ron H.]

Sir, I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that it's hard-chromed rather than stainless. Being (relatively) inexpensive working-man's guns, Model 28s are often found with various aftermarket things done to them.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[diamonback68]

Lug, I would be willing to bet it's hard chromed as stated.
Think about why would Smith gear up and machine up with all the expense that entails to make a handful of guns and then not make them for regular production. You can't forge and machine stainless the same as carbon steel.
No one that I know of has ever even heard of a stainless HP and I have been following them for quite a number of years. You would think one would have surfaced by now.
I think your buddy traded with a very good salesman.

 

[HAWKEYE10]

Never heard of a SS model 28. Try putting a magnet to
the barrel and see if it sticks. It could have been refinished
and just looks like SS. Don

 

[flagman1776]

It is what it is. By this I mean that model number is for steel frame revolvers. Either blue or plated. So that is what the gun is made of.
Now it is possible that the gun was refinished. There are some finishes that look like stainless, perhaps this is what you have.

Some modern stainless alloys are not magnetic but some are so that is not definative.

 

[Doc44]

S&W made fifty plus 28-2s with a brush nickel finish and shipped them to several distributors in July 1972. All have a 4-inch barrel and a serial number in the N38000 to N45000 range.

I suppose brush nickel could be mistaken for SS and these revolvers do not have the usual N stamped on their frame.

Bill

 

[lug1]

Thanks All,

The magnet trick doesn't work on my 66-1 pinned and and recessed 6". the magnet sticks. Does the same thing on the 28-2.

Next The SN range is N285,20x, so it does contain the N prefix.

One last question will the crane on an L-frame fit on an N-frame? The crane has the following 586x (followed by a lighter stamp )1. Below that in a larger font is B11.

Thanks LUG

 

[VM]

LUG - did you ever get a Factory letter on your Father-in-laws FHP Model 28?

 

[sethrofd]

Hello all, It's my 28-2 that is in question. It will make a great shooter and go with my 629. Thanks for the input currently and in the future. The stamps on the crane aren't random as most of my other Smith's are. The B11 very well may be a post factory stamp. Thanks Lug.

Later Sethro

 

[diamonback68]

Next The SN range is N285,20x, so it does contain the N prefix.

Lug, you will notice the serial numbers Doc referenced are 5 digit numbers and not 6. Also your serial number dates to about 1976-1977 and the 50 odd brushed nickel were all made in 1972. The N he refers to is the one usually stamped one the rear of the cylinder and on the left side of the grip frame, designating nickel finish.
I hope that helps clarify this to some extent.

 

[Camster]

I think Smith would have stamped it as a 628 if they made a stainless version of the 28.

 

[lug1]

VM,

The answer to your question is no I have never gotten it lettered yet. I need to do that in the worst way. Every time I take pictures with a digital camera the flash eats up the S/N with that nickel finish. I really need to solve this problem and get it lettered. I have waited and waited to hear of somebody else who might own one of these rigs. To date I have only heard of two that are authentic. Mine and another guy who was on here. It is crazy that more old high patrolmen don't have their gun or don't know about its rarity. I have put in several calls and emails to Roy Jinks to see if he really needs a close up of the S/N or if a general picture will do. To date I have not gotten a return on any messages. I just keep thinking I want to get it right the first time instead of having to resubmit stuff.
Shoot Straight,
LUG

 

[Sgt 127]

Ya know, being in Texas, I'll just about bet that the model 28 in question was Armoloyed. Armoloy has been hard chroming guns for Texas cops for a very long time. And, the finish has a very grey/silver look that can easily be mistaken for stainless.

The magnet trick won't work either. Most stainless gun parts have enough carbon in them for a magnet to stick pretty well. As a matter of fact, I have a Kahr PM9 stuck to the side of my gun safe with a little high powered magnet from a hard drive...

 

[diamonback68]

I have put in several calls and emails to Roy Jinks to see if he really needs a close up of the S/N or if a general picture will do. To date I have not gotten a return on any messages.
LUG

LUG, I don't think Roy needs a close-up of the serial number, he will take your word for it. In the request, all he needs is a Model number, name of gun, barrel length, current finish and the serial number. Also just a simple picture of the overall gun is helpful as well.
Good luck with your letter and I'm sure we would all like to know the history of it.
Regards

 

[lug1]

Well upon waiting for further scanning of the letter when I get it I will post here goes a little bit.
The FHP 28 in our family was a duty weapon issued to my grandfather in law in 1958 I think maybe 1959. He carried it until his death from a heart attack in early 1961. At which time it was placed in cotton sock. Where it has stayed since 1961. This gun is 95% or better as it was only used for duty for a couple years. He also has the duty belt and ammo keepers for lack of a better term due to my limited knowledge on such matters. I got my buddy sethros collectors book and looked up his gun. At which time I flipped my lid because the gun had the stamp fhp and the s/n matched in the book. I gained membership to this site where a guy named guns4fun put me in touch with doc44. Then I found out how rare this gun is. I have had some very very pricey values thrown out there as estimates of value but this gun has no price on it. Knowing the history and where it came from this gun will be a family heirloom till the 2nd coming! I really can't wait to get the letter on it even though I have been dragging my feet and not sending in the paperwork.
Shoot Straight,
LUG

 

[Doc44]

Lug...Go to Downloads at the top left of the page and click on it. On the left hand side you will see a Factory Letter Request Form. Cick on it, print it, fill it out (no photos necessary) and mail to the address shown with a check for $50. It will be worth you time and money.

Bill

 

[2ninersavo]

Several years ago 1974 or 75 I had a 4" 28 that I had Armaloyed. Depending where the gun was bought at it may be the one I had. It was first Armaloyed and then sent back to have the inside of the barrel done. If you look at the muzzle of the gun it will look almost like the finish is flaking. One thing about Armaloy it is suppose to be self lubricating.Also the Border Patrol did not issue 28's,they did issue 19's.29R

 

[sethrofd]

2Ninersavo,

Thanks on the Border Patrol info, I'll check the barrel end. The most positive of this is I have what should be a durable finish that I can drag around to some extent and shoot without having to worry about wearing the blue, and rust spotting under less than ideal conditions. I'm trying to get a few pictures to Lug to post. They include my current N-Frames.

Sethro

 

[lug1]

sorry for the bump added photos to first post wanted everybody to see.