Got a Mod 28 Fix

[tacreload]

Well with all this talk of the Highway Patrolman lately and with myself letting one go a few years ago I came across this one last Saturday and picked it up on Tuesday.It is a 28-2,hasn't been fired that much,almost no flame cut.A couple of handling marks but original box,manual and warranty card.SN S333182.My second edition of S&W Standard Catalog gives a build date of 1969 or 1970 if I am reading it correctly,if anyone can confirm that it would be great.I really gotta get that 3rd edition.Thanks for lookin'.

 

[BBQLS1]

Nice looking specimen.

 

[jubela#4]

That is a good looking HP. Congratulations on the purchase!

 

[Jack Flash]

... My second edition of S&W Standard Catalog gives a build date of 1969 or 1970 if I am reading it correctly,if anyone can confirm that it would be great. ...

Per the 3rd Edition:

1969-1970 S330000-S333454​

This was the end of the S prefix Serial Numbers, so you have a very late "S", for whatever that's worth.

If you ever feel inclined to mention what you paid, well, "inquiring minds want to know."

 

[tacreload]

Jack,shop owner was asking 595.00.I have dealt with him in the past.I went home to think it over feeling that was kinda high.Have looked at several locally the past couple months that were half as nice and about a hundred dollars less.Some had rust.I HATE rust.Called him and asked if he would take 600.00 out the door,he said yes,I caved like a house of cards in a wind storm.He sold me a brand new unfired in box 19-6 2-1/2 about 9 years ago for 350.00 so I can't complain.

 

[GF]

It's worth exactly what you paid for it.


That's a great lookin' package, target stocks & box really make it complete.


Now.... you gotta find a SIX INCH Mod 28-2 to go with it!

GF

 

[Flint Ridge]

Job well done! I'm still looking for an S pre-fix one myself and that one is in great condition.

 

[tacreload]

I thank you gentlemen for your comments.GF the one I let get away a few years ago was a 6 inch.I bought it brand new in 1978 for an unbelievable 160.00.Amazing how times and prices change.I traded it with some cash on a 3 inch 657 that I just had to have.No regrets though,I'd probably do it all over again.Question though,the blue finish on this one looks to be a deeper,richer blue than on the one I bought in '78.Is that my imagination?

 

[Doug M.]

I have seen mentions on this forum of wide variances in finish on M28s, some very plain, some much closer to M27s. I have no personal knowledge either way.

 

[Jack Flash]

I second Doug M's comments. There seems to be quite a variation in the quality of finish on these. I have one that lives up to the description "brush blue" perfectly. It really looks like something someone applied rather quickly with a paint brush! I have another that has a rich deep blue, much closer to the quality seen on an M27. I really do not think the latter one was re-blued, but I'm not exactly an expert.

This is pure speculation, but I think it just depeded on who did the polishing & bluing that day, how busy they were, ...

 

[j38]

I've seen quite a variation on 28's myself. My old (sold to a friend) NYSP 28-2 definitely had the brushed look. My current 28-2, a former Wisconsin State Patrol gun has much more shine to it - not quite the Model 27 brilliance - but noticeably brighter than most 28's. Who knows, .. maybe they used 28's as practice fodder for rookie finishers at the factory.

Jerry

 

[John Wyatt]

Well with all this talk of the Highway Patrolman lately and with myself letting one go a few years ago I came across this one last Saturday and picked it up on Tuesday.It is a 28-2,hasn't been fired that much,almost no flame cut.A couple of handling marks but original box,manual and warranty card.SN S333182.My second edition of S&W Standard Catalog gives a build date of 1969 or 1970 if I am reading it correctly,if anyone can confirm that it would be great.I really gotta get that 3rd edition.Thanks for lookin'.

Does the box label show that it shipped with target stocks or standard stocks? I have a 28-2 in the S321xxx range with walnut, black washer target stocks. I don't have the original box, so I can't confirm they are original, but the stocks fit perfectly and are the correct type for a 28-2 that did ship with targets.

 

[fyimo]

I think the difference in finish on the Model 28's from that time frame was from the amount of finish applied to the gun before it was blued. If the metal already had some polish to it or just a smoother surface the blue would be brighter instead of the flat matt. This was suppse to be a budget version of the Model 27 with the flat matt blue and a non steel checkered top strap but in every run of steel the surface of the metal can be slightly different in terms of smoothness. The rest of the model 28 is identical to the Model 27 in 4 inch and 6 inch barrel. I think the hard part for the person assembling the pistol for a matt finish would be to pick the parts with steel with the same same smoothness and bluing prior assembly.

 

[tacreload]

John,the box does say Target Stocks.Took it to the range this am.3"groups at 15yards.Double action only and 125 & 158 magnum loads.That's good for me.