Highway Patrolman

[The bucket]

I have a guy local to me that is wanting to sell hos revolver. Looks pretty clean. The grips are not numbered, but are they okay? Does this fun look refinished? Anything you can see that is wrong? Any help on the age, serial number N952408?

What would be a good price to pay?

 

[Muley Gil]

A good price would be $600-700. A realistic price, these days, will be $800 and up.

Target stocks wouldn't be numbered to the gun. and no, it doesn't look refinished.

 

[Bobbysixkiller]

It may be my eyes or the pictures but the hammer and trigger look blued to me. Not saying it’s refinished but they should be color case finished not blued. If it helps I gave $600 for mine about 5 years ago in good condition no box etc.

 

[JP@AK]

The 4" HPs have been rising in price significantly for the past decade. An $800 price, even for one that has been refinished, would not be surprising in this inflated market.

It's hard to be sure from those pictures, but the hammer and trigger do look fishy. On the other hand, the side plate seam is tight and the screws look pretty good. If it was refinished, someone did a very good job of it.

As for the stocks, they appear to be period correct targets, but the HP normally came with Magna stocks, not targets. Only a letter would reveal whether this one was special ordered with target stocks. As Gil mentioned, targets were not numbered, especially at that late date. (Only a few early N frame targets were numbered to the gun, and only on specific models.)

Note the non-pinned barrel and the serial number. This Model 28-2 is from 1982, right at the end of the -2 series. It appears to me that the cylinder still has counterbored charge holes. Entirely possible at this stage.

 

[sodacan]

As others have stated, the hammer and trigger being blued are are a red flag. Does the top strap have a matte finish? The red ramp is probably not original to the gun. All of those are deal breakers for me. You can check completed sales on gunbroker.com to get an idea of the market. Keep in mind the 28-2 is far from rare.

 

[Hawg Rider]

This is an interesting Highway Patrolman, with quite a few unanswered questions. Yes, it's a very late Model 28-2 (1982) that was manufactured at the same time the Model 28-3 was being introduced. The barrel is not pinned but the cylinder is counterbored. It's wearing checkered target stocks which are not usual for HPs, but the more common magna stocks could have easily been changed at any time. The revolver does not look re-blued to me, but the hammer and trigger could have been blued for some unknown reason. Red ramp front sights are also not usual for HPs, but there were some shipped that way for several LE departments so perhaps they were leftovers or were available by special order. All things considered, I think that this is still a nice example of a Model 28-2 that's in really nice condition. With the unknowns, it's definitely not a collector piece but should be a fine and dependable shooter. I wouldn't want to pay more than $700.

 

[LostintheOzone]

I would be a buyer for $700 if I didn't have one already. I'm not a collector so the off finish and non-original parts wouldn't matter to me.

There is also the local seller thing. Another plus by not having to pay fees and commissions form a dealer or auction sight.

Those just don't pop up very often in my neck of the woods. When they do they get scooped up and end up on GB for some ridiculous price that nobody will pay.

 

[stansdds]

Not entirely certain, but I think I see a star stamped into the lower left part of the grip frame. That is usually an indicator of a trip back to the factory for significant service, often a refinishing. The hammer and trigger should be color case hardened, but appear to be blued and even the factory would not refinish those in blue. It is definitely NOT a $1000 example. I'd say it's more of a $700 Model 28.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

28-2 is far from rare." ? The M-28 was discontinued 1986. I bought my 6" in 1981 because I couldn't find a 4".

 

[bobsguns]

Others have clearly pointed out the flaws in/on this gun, so I won't beat them to death again.

Refinish or not, that's a good looking gun & for a moderate price, I'd be taking it home PDQ.

I often shoot .38 wadcutters in my 4" 28. It's like shooting a .22, it's that mild.

I agree a local buy saves enough $$$ to allow a wee bit higher buy price, IMO.

My .o2

 

[sodacan]

28-2 is far from rare." ? The M-28 was discontinued 1986. I bought my 6" in 1981 because I couldn't find a 4".

Currently there are 78 of them on gunbroker.com and 65 on GunsInternational.com. Hope this information answers your question.

 

[stanmerrell]

I'd walk right past that one. The hammer and trigger have been blued. They should be case hardened. To me it indicates an amateur worked it. That's a no go for me.

 

[Jack Flash]

One thing I noticed is that the stocks appear to be modified. At least to my eyes, it looks like someone removed some wood around the football cutout, for what reason I can't imagine. The changes didn't do their resale value any favors.

 

[LostintheOzone]

Resale or shooter?

Two different approaches to buying a firearm. I honestly can't think of any I've owned for less than 20 years that I actually sold for more than I paid.

So if you want one in original excellent condition go ahead and buy it but don't be looking for the low end price because they just aren't out there for the general public to find, even here. Of course there's always a friend or an aunt that would sell you that high condition model 28 for $700 but you're chances would be better with a lottery ticket.

I'd give you some suggestions as to where to look for prices but references to such places will be ruinous to ones continued participation here.

 

[Yendor357]

I tend to factor in price on things like that.

What’s he want for it?

 

[schutz5]

I think I see a tint of color case on the hammer. Consider that many color case hardened triggers and hammers are black.
Often the more colorful shades are on the body that is hidden by the frame. I have bought factory new N frame T hammers that were basically black. And also L frame T hammers and triggers that were mostly black on visible surfaces but mottled cc on the areas hidden by the frame.
That revolver looks nice. Probably a nice shooter for 7 Benjamin. Best is that it is local and can be physically inspected!

 

[chief38]

It's hard to tell if the gun has been refinished or not from the pictures. The M28 is distinguished from its more refined brother, the M27 in that the M27 has a high gloss bluing job instead of the mat finish on the Hwy. Ptm. Other than the finish, they are the same gun.

Yes, I see the hammer and trigger have been blued - too bad, a deal breaker for me. The Target Grips are also not original. Personally I'd pass on that one, but that's just me.

 

[ken158]

Ask the owner why he had it re-blued, not if he had it re-blued…

 

[haroldj]

highway patrolman

Found a nice 5 screw 4inch in a hock shop a few years back. 425.00
Serial # indicates 1954/55 production. Grips replaced with rosewood
diamond magnas.It followed me home. The place turned out to be a honey hole, also found a really nice 17-1 and several High Standards including a model 102 Citation 8 inch space gun with a 22 short conversion kit.