I'm looking at buying this smith and wesson model 28-2, everything looks and feels good mechanically but the aesthetics are compromised( it has some surface rusting/tarnishing)and it has black grips instead of the wooden grips it comes with, what should I expect to pay for this, it's n1922xx so it's supposedly around 1973. Thank you
Looking to buy my first revolver
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Welcome to the Forum. As described, I would guess about $350-400. If you can post photos we can give you a more accurate quote.
I agree with murphydog. Maybe $400 if it had the original grips.
Todd
Todd
lagavulin62
Member
from the picture it looks like they are asking $279.00? that rust looks pretty bad.
maybe the experts can explain how it got like that. sitting in a wet holster for a few years?
maybe the experts can explain how it got like that. sitting in a wet holster for a few years?
If you can get it for $279, then you may want to have it refinished, as it looks pretty rough. Any collector's value is already gone, so why not? The pics above are of mine after a bead-blasted rebluing, which was done by a previous owner. Parkerizing is another low-gloss, no-nonsense finish you may want to consider.
Will they let you give it a quick rubdown with oil and maybe fine copper or steel wool? If the rust is only on the surface, and not pitted into the metal, then it might be worth it. It'll be ugly until you get the rust taken care of and get rid of the Michelins(or Goodyears, depending on who is discussing the rubber grips), but I'd buy a blaster-grade HP for $270. I'd probably have it blasted and parkerized so at least it would be the same color all over, but that's just me.
mtime7
Member
$270, I say, mark it a buy
I'd say it had been sitting in a gun rug for a good amount of time, then stored in a garage/basement/storage unit, someplace that isn't climate-controlled. Maybe it was a Katrina gun, too, who knows?
Having established that it's a ****, finish wise, I'd have someone you know take a look at it in order to verify it's mechanical condition and check the timing.
If it functions well, then you "could" buy it and just shoot the hell out of it and get your money's worth in fun because you'd never have to worry about collectability due to it's condition.
Or...
It's tempting to buy a "cheap" pistol like that, and another way to look at it would be that if you had it Metaloy'd and put a new set of wood grips on it, you'd have a total of $600 into a "brand new" pistol that could be your shooter for a lifetime and not ever worry about the finish again, nor worrying about ever wearing it out (it's a 28 after all). In this case, you'd be proud of it because it would always look like a new pistol, but you still wouldn't have to be concerned about collectability.
In that case, you'd have more into it than you would had you waited for a very nice original example of a 28 that would retain collectability, but the nasty looking finish of the original wouldn't weigh on your brain all the time.
I don't want to suggest what to do. I'm just showing some options that might help to better decide if $270 is really a good price for this pistol.
If it functions well, then you "could" buy it and just shoot the hell out of it and get your money's worth in fun because you'd never have to worry about collectability due to it's condition.
Or...
It's tempting to buy a "cheap" pistol like that, and another way to look at it would be that if you had it Metaloy'd and put a new set of wood grips on it, you'd have a total of $600 into a "brand new" pistol that could be your shooter for a lifetime and not ever worry about the finish again, nor worrying about ever wearing it out (it's a 28 after all). In this case, you'd be proud of it because it would always look like a new pistol, but you still wouldn't have to be concerned about collectability.
In that case, you'd have more into it than you would had you waited for a very nice original example of a 28 that would retain collectability, but the nasty looking finish of the original wouldn't weigh on your brain all the time.
I don't want to suggest what to do. I'm just showing some options that might help to better decide if $270 is really a good price for this pistol.
sw44spl
Member
I would buy it at that price.
Maximumbob54
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I would snap it up at that price. I bought a 28 a while back and I love it. But then again I love all the N frame guns. There are dozens of wood replacements out there to choose from or you can find some original magnas to put on it. I have taken care of some rust issues not quite that bad but close with just some steel wool and some good thick oil. But if the outside looks that bad I would worry about the inside as well. The side plate screws don't appear to be all buggered up so I doubt it has been bubba'ed up inside but it may have internal rust. But you would be spending $300 on a gun that is very repairable at worst. I second sending it to be hardchromed in Metalife. The few of them I have seen look amazing and that is one bomb proof finish.
Hard Chrome Plating & Electroless Nickel Plating, Armalloy & Gun Bluing by Mahovsky's Metalife
This is their link. Check out the photos they have. Impressive.
Hard Chrome Plating & Electroless Nickel Plating, Armalloy & Gun Bluing by Mahovsky's Metalife
This is their link. Check out the photos they have. Impressive.
You have recieved many options and they are all good ones and I would say buy the revolver and go over it with 4 (0000) steel wool and gun oil to get all the surface rust off and see what you end up with. It will look a lot better then it's current condition and then I would shoot the **** out of it as it is.
Or
Quite frankly even at the price you are getting it for having a refinish put on it will will cost you more then a 28-2 revolver in 95% or better condition would cost and you would have an original revolver.
Or
Quite frankly even at the price you are getting it for having a refinish put on it will will cost you more then a 28-2 revolver in 95% or better condition would cost and you would have an original revolver.
redcoat
Member
M28-2 Revolver
If I were you, I'd stay away from this revolver and wait until a better example of a 28 shows up. There are lots of them available out there, many in great condition at prices far below what you'd end up paying first to buy, then refinish this badly corroded piece. It's your decision, but as this is going to be your first revolver, you owe it to yourself to make the best choice that is within your means, and purchasing this revolver is most definitely not the best choice!
If I were you, I'd stay away from this revolver and wait until a better example of a 28 shows up. There are lots of them available out there, many in great condition at prices far below what you'd end up paying first to buy, then refinish this badly corroded piece. It's your decision, but as this is going to be your first revolver, you owe it to yourself to make the best choice that is within your means, and purchasing this revolver is most definitely not the best choice!
For $270 OTD I'd buy it, clean it up with some bronze wool and oil, and shoot it like it is. To me, buying it with plans to refinish it wouldn't be cost effective.
samandglove1
Member
I agree with this. I would have already bought it if I ran into it for $270 (but I would make sure the bore and cylinders were in good shape). I would then take out my surface cleaning tools/supplies and spend a good hour or two seeing what I could do with it. You may surprise yourself. You also will have an opportunity to shoot the &%#& out of it and confirm that you like the platform, this being your first revolver.
I personally would not get it refinished as I like the look of a very experienced HP. You call always buy a better conditioned example for a couple of hundred dollars more. Sometimes a shooter should just stay a shooter
