Model 28-2 question...

[GunarSailors]

I recently picked up a 28-2 and I love it. But I am wondering whats up with the finish? It's a polished blued finish that looks factory to me, and I know 28-2s didn't come like that (or so I thought) they came as a brushed blue or satin finish. Even if it has been reblued by someone other than the factory, they did a beautiful job. I added the front sight insert, changed out the hammer and trigger (the original hammer and trigger had been polished), and put some factory speedloader cut out stocks on it.

Check out my video of it and let me know what you think. Thanks in advance.
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdwNYjb1N4s&sns=em[/ame]

 

[g8rb8]

The original finishes for model 28's seem to run a gamut from dull to brightly polished. A local collector I am familiar with had a LNIB 28-2 with B++ marked in the finish section on the end label and it displayed a beautiful high level of polish.

I'll go out on a limb and state I think the finish looks appropriate on your model 28. You might look at the side of the butt frame for a refinish stamp - a R-B or R-Bi in a rectangle stamped into the frame.

Regardless it looks like a nice revolver.

John
Scoundrel and Ne'er-Do-Well in Training

Edited after seeing James's (srv1) response: Model 28's I have seen have a matte finish on the underneath side. Other opinions on this matter would be much appreciated.

 

[PA Guns & Ammo]

That has been refinished. Underneath the trigger guard and in front of the yoke is all matte blued. I do not think it came from S&W that way.

James

 

[BigBill]

Can the original dull finish be buffed or polished to a glossy finish?

Either way that's a really Purdy m28.

 

[series guy]

The model 28s had a matt finish on the edges from the factory. I'll bet your revolver is all factory and original. It's a beauty. Enjoy it.

 

[KEN L]

I agree its a re-finish. Nicely done, but a re-finish nonetheless.

 

[El Biblioitecario]

That has been refinished. Underneath the trigger guard and in front of the yoke is all matte blued. I do not think it came from S&W that way.

James

The three new Model 28s I purchased when they were still in production all had matte finish in those areas. Guess they must have slipped through quality control.

 

[skyking749]

I'm no expert, but the 28 that I have and others that I have seen have a matte finish from the factory. The 27 has a gloss blue finish. Being that yours still has that matte finish on the front of the frame and the trigger guard, I'm guessing someone took some compound and a polishing wheel to it. It looks good, either way, but the matte finish is what originally came on the 28.

 

[BobC357]

Mine looks the same and I bought it new and its never been refinished.

 

[Big Cholla]

IMHO, that is an original finish from S&W, because I am sitting here with an identical 28-2 that has never been refinished that is identical with yours. It has the very nice frosty blue everywhere except the edges of the grip, the outside of the trigger guard and the top of the barrel which are all matt blue. Yes, the original pre-28's were dull matt blue, but over the years, the dullness went away on most of the extremities of the handgun. IMHO, It has never become the royal gloss blue of the M 27, but close. ............... Big Cholla

 

[PA Guns & Ammo]

Since when did the 28 come with a polished finish? If S&W indeed did do the bluing, why would they leave those two areas I mentioned a matte finish? I'm still leaning towards a refinish. But I have to say I do like that gun!

James

 

[Yorkie Man]

My 28-2 looks that nice and the backstrap and trigger guard are a matte finish which is how it came form S&W.

 

[Pisgah]

I once sold an as-new 28-2 to a fellow on Gunbroker. When he got it, he insisted the gun had been refinished because he KNEW 28's had a "matte finish"! He actually threatened to sue me for misrepresenting the gun!

When you say "matte", some folks envision something akin to the old Victory model Parkerized-type finish. Fact is, the 28 never had a matte finish except on the edges of the frame. The rest is nicely polished, but with more of a "brushed" look than the mirror-polished 27.

 

[Watchdog]

Since when did the 28 come with a polished finish? If S&W indeed did do the bluing, why would they leave those two areas I mentioned a matte finish? I'm still leaning towards a refinish.

James

As to why S&W would put a matte finish on those areas, I guess you'd have to ask them.

I'm sitting here looking at a 28-2 from April of 1973, that I'm certain has not been refinished. I'm certain because I bought it myself and gave it to my dad for his birthday that year.

The blue on it is not a dull blue by any means. And the trigger guard, top strap, sight ramp and top of the barrel are all a nice flat matte finish. From the factory.

The label on the original box says the finish is "BH".

 

[Watchdog]

When you say "matte", some folks envision something akin to the old Victory model Parkerized-type finish. Fact is, the 28 never had a matte finish except on the edges of the frame. The rest is nicely polished, but with more of a "brushed" look than the mirror-polished 27.

Exactly. For an example of Smith & Wesson's matte finish, all you have to do is look at the 25-7 with the unfluted cylinder. That's matte. The 28-2 is simply S&W's regular ol' polished blue. The Model 28 wasn't made to be "pretty".

That said, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The Model 28 is a textbook example of the everything-you-need-nothing-you-don't-need school of thought and design.

 

[fyimo]

I had a 28-2 with 6 inch barrel that was a shiny blue like the one in your picture and it wasn't refinished.

 

[BigBill]

I thought coming from the surplus military guns was bad when it came to restoring and refinishing. You guys are just as bad picky wise. If your a avid serious collector that's a good thing you want the best original piece as you can get.

No flames intended but from my past experiences I have to ask do you find yourselves having two collections? One pristine collection of NIB unshot examples, and a second collection of shooters?

I ask this because in the surplus collecting world you can find one rare gun in good condition, then a very good one will show up, then a excellent condition one, then an unfired one will show up. You end up with two collections non shooters and shooters?

I feel the m28 is the industrial version of the m27. With its heavy duty industrial double dipped blue finish. Polished or not polished they do look Purdy.

 

[PA Guns & Ammo]

I should have said "satin" blue finish. It seems the model 28 had many variances when made from what I have read on here. My model 28 is an odd ball as well. Still what I do not understand is how did S&W have a satin finish on one model 28 and the next it had a polished blue? The OP's has a polished blue but underneath it is finished in satin. That part had to be done with some kind of media blaster before it was blued otherwise it would be shiny like the rest of the gun. For those who own one like the OP's, is the bottom of your trigger guard like his or is it shiny like the rest of the gun? In the OP's video you can see the mirror finish of the gun. It just strikes me as odd as why S&W would do this.

James

 

[Watchdog]

For those who own one like the OP's, is the bottom of your trigger guard like his or is it shiny like the rest of the gun?
James

I'm certainly no expert, and maybe they're out there somewhere in the market, but I've never seen a 28-2 with a polished blue finish on the trigger guard and top strap, unless it had been refinished. Every factory finished 28-2 I've seen has the matte finish in those areas.

Just as an aside, I knew a guy who wanted his 28-2 to be finished like a 27, so he sent it off to S&W to get refinished. When it came back, it was stunningly beautiful...the finish looked as if you could fall into it. Thing is, it was so pretty, the guy was afraid to take it out and shoot it. He ended up selling the thing at a loss, and then bought a standard finish 28-2 to shoot.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Both my M28 and M28-2 are finished similar to that. The M28 isn't polished as much as the -2 but the top and bottom are both the satin grit blasted finish. If you scroll through the "Ultimate Highway Patrolman" thread you will see this with most of them.

I've wondered before if maybe the polishing wheels for the M27's went to the M28 line or something once they were worn down enough. Not sure if that's how that really works.

 

[jdlii]

That is cool as a cucumber!

Nice video too!

 

[GunarSailors]

He ended up selling the thing at a loss, and then bought a standard finish 28-2 to shoot.

That makes absolutely no sense to me...

 

[mr-mom]

I have two Model 28-2s. One is a 4" "S" series, while the other is a 6" "N" series. Both appear to be finished very similar to the one the OP displayed. Mine likely have a bit more shine due to the fact I wax them in order to make cleaning a more enjoyable task.
Dave
SWCA #2778

 

[Watchdog]

That makes absolutely no sense to me...

Made no sense to me, either. Except for some minor holster wear at the muzzle and on the front edge of the cylinder, and the ubiquitous cylinder ring, the gun was pretty much flawless. It was apparently just not shiny enough for him, and when he got it back, it was too shiny. Although it looked great, it no longer looked like a "real" 28-2 to me.

This little story sort of gives credence to that old saying of "Be careful what you wish for."

 

[MrTrolleyguy]

Mine looks the same and I bought it new and its never been refinished.

Hi Bob, Two things, do you still have the box and what was marked, if any thing, for the finish.

And second, could you post some pictures of you 28. That would be great to see.

Joe

 

[fyimo]

I thought coming from the surplus military guns was bad when it came to restoring and refinishing. You guys are just as bad picky wise. If your a avid serious collector that's a good thing you want the best original piece as you can get.

No flames intended but from my past experiences I have to ask do you find yourselves having two collections? One pristine collection of NIB unshot examples, and a second collection of shooters?

I ask this because in the surplus collecting world you can find one rare gun in good condition, then a very good one will show up, then a excellent condition one, then an unfired one will show up. You end up with two collections non shooters and shooters?

I feel the m28 is the industrial version of the m27. With its heavy duty industrial double dipped blue finish. Polished or not polished they do look Purdy.

Actually when I built my Collection of some 37 S&W Revolvers I did just that as I had 7 Modell 27-2's in various barrel lengths my 3.5 inch had a name carved under the grip area and it was my Shooter model 27-2. I had 7 Model 29-2's of both Nickel finish and blued in various barrel lengths and I sold them all and my 629 no dash 4 inch, 629 no dash 8 3/8 inch, and I kept my 6 inch 629 no dash that I still have and it's my shooter 44 Magnum.

I sold my 3.5 inch Model 27-2 shooter, a mint 28-2 with 4 inch barrel, and my 6 inch Model 28-2 and I kept a 4 inch 28-2 in excellent condition as my shooter.

I'm sure every collector is different but I felt someone had to save the near mint and mint examples in pristine condition for the future.

 

[PA Guns & Ammo]

So I decided to venture into the safe and drag out the 28. What I found was very weird but answers I think most question even my own. Depending on the angle of the light and the camera, mine looks just like the OP's. The camera picks up more than your eye can see. Mine has a satin finish throughout. So I took some pictures and it amazes me how I missed this before:

 

[GunarSailors]

So I decided to venture into the safe and drag out the 28. What I found was very weird but answers I think most question even my own. Depending on the angle of the light and the camera, mine looks just like the OP's. The camera picks up more than your eye can see. Mine has a satin finish throughout. So I took some pictures and it amazes me how I missed this before:

Beautiful satin finish. But I think mine has a little more shine to it. Your edges are just like mine it looks like.

 

[Retired W4]

My 3 remaining Highway Patrolman's, a second month of production 4" HP, an S prefix 28-2 (4") and a N prefix 6" 28-2 all have the same finish, with slight variations in the sides. It actually looks like a bead blasted finish in the following areas. Starting at the barrel rib and around the front sight, the top of the rear sight and top strap, frame around hammer, down back strap, rear strap, butt, front strap, under trigger guard and inside trigger guard, and front of trigger guard up to and including the frame and yoke, AND a light treatment of the inside of the frame where the cylinder resides. That is a round the clock description of what I call the bead blasted area, if that is in fact what S&W did. That is what they all look like including, as I remember, the 4" 28-2 I recently sold. I believe I have posted pictures of all of these guns over the years.

A while back some one mentioned to me that simichrome/flitz would be bad for the original finish, but if you had to do that it is a shooter grade gun any way. Waxing one would also change the appearance of the finish (more gloss) but not hurt the finish. That is just my opinion on the waxing of a HP but it definitely changes the look by imparting more gloss to the satin finish.

 

[Nightowl]

I don't think I have ever seen a model 28 with as nice a finish as the OP's gun. That is much more polished than the usual 28. From that standpoint it would be easy to draw the conclusion that it has been refinished. But, it does not display any of the usual refinish indicators that I have been taught to look for. (On this forum mostly). The sideplate fits perfectly, no indication of dishing around the screw holes. Lettering and logo sharp. The edges of the cylinder flutes do not appear to be rounded, the cylinder stop notches are also sharp. The ratchets appear to be in the white, and the underneath of the trigger guard is still in the roughed finish that is normal for 28s. The last place I looked was the front of the ejector rod. It is not in the white as one that has been fitted would look, but this one has sharp edges, like it never needed fitting. So, If it is a refinish, its a darn good one, but I think it shipped like it looks currently.