Like New 28-2

Doug627

Doug627

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I have an opportunity to purchase a LNIB Model 28-2 4". It has the correct box but no papers or tools. I have an unopened set of tools I can put in the box. There is no turn ring on the cylinder. It is $799.99. The shop will not come off the price. Is it a good deal now and will it increase in value over the next few years? This would be my first safe queen.
 
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In that condition and with the box, that is a reasonable retail price at a LGS. Whether you shoot it some or just store it, it will probably hold its value if well cared for. I like to shoot my 4" model 28 - and it still looks and shoots mighty fine.
 
It would seem to me to be a fairly good deal...… The model just seems to be increasing in price/value as people continue to find them in the condition that you have found. Obviously, there are many model 28s out there but in unfired or mostly unfired, there are fewer. Having the box is really good as papers and tools are easier to find. I bought one similar to your find for $1000 and it didn't have the box/ tools but it was an "S" serial (for what that's worth). My $.02..... buy it. You won't be disappointed.
 
Maybe a bit high in our neck of the woods.....I got a similar 4" 28-2 three maybe four(?) years ago here in W.Pa. at a small rural local gun shop (not far from Ohio) for $600 out the door.

At the time the shop had 4 nice 28s ..... three six inch guns and this four inch gun; done a fair amount of business there over the years and the owner had someone bringing in 'a few guns" and wasn't opposed to turning some stock into dollars.

28s were 'working men's" guns...... doubt you'll come across another like that next week! :D If you over pay by $100 and have the gun for 20 years; that a Starbucks a year...... if you get it shoot it and enjoy it..... a well kept/maintained Smith will, at worse, will keep pace with inflation.......
 
Being a 4" it is certainly worth more than a six-inch and I think that the price is fairly reasonable in todays market. You will find over the years that you won't regret buying it at the price they ask.

Ask yourself what other present day production revolver of its quality can you buy today for $800.
 
Buy it. I'd rather regret buying something than passing on it.

I let my friend have a 4" Highway Patrolman because I'm a nice guy. :D

I love my 28-2 6".
 
Good luck on picking it up. I just bought a couple of model 28's off GB the last few days. They are cheaper than yours but neither has the box and the 4" shows a bit of usage. The 6" looks like it's hardly been shot though and I can hardly wait for them to get to my FFL guy, even though I won't be able to pick them up until the middle of the month (will be away at work).
 
Yes that is a good price if as described. It is a poor man's M27. By that I mean it is the same gun without the options. I bought three last year, 2 @4" and one @6". They were less than yours but no box or tools. They are however lightly used and well cared for. Do you know the serial number and production year?

Go get it!!
 
Yes, that's the going price these days! I was a bit surprised when I found out how strong the old 28's had become but it didn't stop me from grabbing this one when I found it!. Didn't like the feel of the target grips on my smallish hands so I got a set of Altamont Magna style which run a bit smaller.
 

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dave1918a2 said:
Anybody look at Model 28's on Guns International lately. OMG!
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I have but that is not where the market is. Those are dealers trying to get a home run on a base hit. I made an offer on one that the dealer said was good condition, and it was fair at best according to the S&W Ed#4 book grading system. He was not reasonable, and I just moved on. I bought 3 in 2018, well cared for nice examples from people willing to sell at a reasonable price point. I once made the mistake of buying off that site. Not a bad example, but I paid 15% too much. Not my worst blunder. I buy from forum members here. i think the product is better, and if somebody needs to sell for financial reasons, I would rather be in a position to help them. maybe they just want to thin the herd, if they have what I want, I would rather deal with them.

Actually I am going to look for one for my son for his Bday
 
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While we might pay too much sometimes other deals make up for it. Anyway down the road the prices will increase.

A decade + ago the m28-0 & m28-2 were $695. For 99.99% condition revolver only.

Before the plastic guns were offered locally n frames were none to be found used, the Colts in 357mag too.
 
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I have a similar 28-2 4" with serial matching box, paperwork and tools. I was asking $1200 for it and turned down several offers for $1000. One gentlemen asked if grips were matching and I said I assumed they did from the condition of the rest of the revolver. He mentioned if I would verify he was interested at asking price. Low and behold, the grips are not serialized to the gun. Doesn't matter to me, I put it back in the safe for now. I picked up a shooter 6" and have been having a blast with it. I imagine the 4" will get used sometime in the near future as collector value is diminished with non matching grips. I am thinking either a set of Grasshorn's or maybe ivory micarta are in it's future.
 
Keith Hayes said:
I have a similar 28-2 4" with serial matching box, paperwork and tools. I was asking $1200 for it and turned down several offers for $1000. One gentlemen asked if grips were matching and I said I assumed they did from the condition of the rest of the revolver. He mentioned if I would verify he was interested at asking price. Low and behold, the grips are not serialized to the gun. Doesn't matter to me, I put it back in the safe for now. I picked up a shooter 6" and have been having a blast with it. I imagine the 4" will get used sometime in the near future as collector value is diminished with non matching grips. I am thinking either a set of Grasshorn's or maybe ivory micarta are in it's future.
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I'm not sure the grips are not original to the gun. I have a 28-2 in near perfect condition. I took the grips off and the numbers are close but do not match. What are the odds of the numbers being that close if they were just some random magna grips stuck on there, given the obvious little to no use the gun has seen?

Since the 28's were the working man's version of the 27, with less refinement and less attention to detail, it's not far off to think the grips were pulled out from a box in the assembly line and not checked to make sure they matched.
 
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kbm6893 said:
I'm not sure the grips are not original to the gun. I have a 28-2 in near perfect condition. I took the grips off and the numbers are close but do not match. What are the odds of the numbers being that close if they were just some random magna grips stuck on there, given the obvious little to no use the gun has seen?

Since the 28's were the working man's version of the 27, with less refinement and less attention to detail, it's not far off to think the grips were pulled out from a box in the assembly line and not checked to make sure they matched.
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I have 3 M28's, all fine well cared for examples. None have the box or the original grips. back in the day, nobody cared about the box, and you could change grips for 25.00. The LGS used to have boxes of magna grips free is you needed a set. If i were collecting them as new, i would care about the grips, but as far as shooters go, I could care less. They are one of the best guns Smith ever made
 
Dan Carey said:
Yes, that's the going price these days! I was a bit surprised when I found out how strong the old 28's had become but it didn't stop me from grabbing this one when I found it!. Didn't like the feel of the target grips on my smallish hands so I got a set of Altamont Magna style which run a bit smaller.
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I love those Altamont grips. I was looking at those exact ones last night for my 66. I too don't like the feel of S&W Target grips, and I have large hands. Come to think of it, I don't like the feel of square-butt frames period. :(
 
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